SA · Kangaroo Island Council
Western River, SA, 5223
Current weather
10.8°CMainly clear
95% humidity · 26 km/h wind · 13.2° / 10.2° today · 21.6 mm rain
Suburb snapshot
Western River is a small locality in the Kangaroo Island area, home to around 16 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 16
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,624
- Dwelling vacancy
- 50%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 6 of 12
- Median monthly mortgage
- $997
- Employment rate
- 62.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 0 / 0
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
15 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
September 2025
- Alterations to existing homestead and change of use to tourist accommodation, 2 x 1-bed tents (tourist accommodation), new outbuilding and extension to existing shed, convert existing rainwater tank to swimming pool with safety fence, and re-roof existing outbuilding (ruin) - Re-notification742 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Under Assessment
2024· 1 proposal
October 2024
- Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of a replacement single storey detached dwelling and associated earthworks and landscaping6644 NORTH COAST RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- 1 into 3 land division105 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
August 2023
- Single storey detached dwelling, shed and 50,000 litre water tank.LOT 41 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
February 2023
- Prescribed Earthworks (retrospective) and Water Tanks84 SHERIDAN RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Construction of agricultural building for storage of farming machinery and equipment.LOT 701 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
- Construction of an agricultural building.6644 NORTH COAST RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
September 2022
- new detached dwelling601 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Under Assessment
August 2022
- Construction of single storey dwelling and outbuilding (domestic shed)1172 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Under Assessment
May 2022
- Construction of an outbuilding (boat and implement storage)300 SHERIDAN RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
March 2022
- Construction of an agricultural building for machinery storage.601 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
- Telecommunications Facility - comprising a slim-line lattice tower supported by 3 anchored guy wires, 2.3 metre high security fenced compound and 2x equipment cabinets, ground-mounted solar array and protective barriers428 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
January 2022
- Temporary accommodation in an area affected by bushfire and construction of a carport976 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2021· 2 proposals
November 2021
- Maintenance dredging including repairs to existing western sea wall of private harbour (measuring 40 metres)84 SHERIDAN RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
August 2021
- Construction of a detached dwelling, tourist accommodation building and outbuilding including associated earthworks and landscapingLOT 100 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Under Assessment
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 17
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Recent changes
- 1 into 3 land divisionplanning105 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 30 Dec 2023 · Decision Made
- Alterations to existing homestead and change of use to tourist accommodation, 2 x 1-bed tents (tourist accommodation), new outbuilding and extension to existing shed, convert existing rainwater tank to swimming pool with safety fence, and re-roof existing outbuilding (ruin) - Re-notificationplanning742 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 09 Sep 2025 · Under Assessment
- Construction of a detached dwelling, tourist accommodation building and outbuilding including associated earthworks and landscapingplanningLOT 100 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 24 Aug 2021 · Under Assessment
- Construction of agricultural building for storage of farming machinery and equipment.planningLOT 701 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 03 Nov 2022 · Decision Made
- Construction of an agricultural building for machinery storage.planning601 COLMANS RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 03 Mar 2022 · Decision Made
- Construction of an agricultural building.planning6644 NORTH COAST RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 01 Nov 2022 · Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (boat and implement storage)planning300 SHERIDAN RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 30 May 2022 · Decision Made
- Construction of single storey dwelling and outbuilding (domestic shed)planning1172 WESTERN RIVER RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 09 Aug 2022 · Under Assessment
- Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of a replacement single storey detached dwelling and associated earthworks and landscapingplanning6644 NORTH COAST RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 01 Oct 2024 · Decision Made
- Maintenance dredging including repairs to existing western sea wall of private harbour (measuring 40 metres)planning84 SHERIDAN RD WESTERN RIVER SA 5223Lodged 16 Nov 2021 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site