SA · Murray Bridge Council

White Sands, 5253

Est. population · Jun 2025

198

Growth (1 yr)

+1.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+4.2%

Median age

57

Median income

$1,149/wk

Employment rate

52.9%

University qualified

5.2%

Work from home

10.2%

Languages at home

1.8%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

  • Rural living
What White Sands is known for: Rural living

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White Sands, SA suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “White Sands, SA Suburb Guide”, updated 1 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/sa/white-sands

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Suburb profile

White Sands is a semi-rural locality near Adelaide, in Murray Bridge Council. The Murray River is part of the surrounding geography.

Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places, with recorded road crashes 78% below the peer median. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. The clearer weaknesses are thinner local amenities and lower socio-economic advantage, with local amenities 100% below the peer median.

Local amenities are the most material weakness.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Semi-rural locality · compared with semi-rural and lifestyle localities in South Australia (227)

Strengths

  • Recorded road-crash rates are lower than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Local amenity access is relatively limited
  • Socio-economic advantage sits below the peer median

What stands out

  • Murray River
  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • StudentsInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How White Sands compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$300/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

198

+1.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

13.2%

Census unoccupied dwellings

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Crime rate

20th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

86th

percentile in SA

Rented dwellings

18%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

2/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Population

Estimated resident population

198(June 2025)

+1.5% annual · +4.2% over 5 years · 86th percentile in SA

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.5%
5-year growth
+4.2%
Change in 1 year
+3
Change in 5 years
+8
Growth rank in SA
86th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~200), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
194
Median age
57
Median household income / week
$1,149
Dwelling vacancy
13.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
12 of 91
Median monthly mortgage
$1,213
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
57.8% / 24.1% / 18.1%
Employment rate
52.9%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
10.2% / 0% / 72.7%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
43 / 0 / 0 (+ 32 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

5.2% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 22.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified5.2% · 22.6% SA
  • Diploma qualified8.1% · 8.6% SA
  • Trade / vocational22.1% · 17.5% SA
  • Year 12 or below64.5% · 51.2% SA

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies17.3%
  • Health17.3%
  • Management and commerce16%
  • Education12%
  • Society and culture12%
  • Agriculture and environment10.7%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$49,192

28th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$54,693

40th percentile in SA · -16% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
8.0%

7th percentile in SA · -42% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$48,939

15th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Residents with business income
8.0%

17th percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5253 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
11,168
Taxpayers reporting net rent
929
Median net rent
$650
Taxpayers reporting business income
895
Taxable income vs state median
-9%
Salary / wages vs state median
-5%
Rental investment vs state median
-33%
Super vs state median
-37%
Business income vs state median
-27%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in SA, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

1.8% speak a language other than English at home; 7.6% born overseas

Language at home
163 English only · 3 other
Non-English at home
1.8%
Born overseas
13 (7.6%)
Australian citizens
165

Religion

44.8%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 44.8%, while 37.6% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion37.6%45.2%
Christianity44.8%40%
Other / not stated17.5%14.7%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic13.4%15.5%
Lutheran11.3%2.4%
Anglican9.3%7.2%
Uniting Church5.7%4.8%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
3
Against the person
1
Against property
2
Rate per 1,000 residents
15.2
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 194 residents
State crime-rate percentile
19.6th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
400
Decrease (daily rate)
-50%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
2
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
10.1

Most common offence types

  • Serious Assault1
  • Theft From A Person2

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
0
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
29°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Murray Bridge Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (8.2 km)
Nearest hospital type
Public Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
6
Participants per 1,000 residents
30.3

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
29° / 14°
Rainfall
67 mm · ~8 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
23° / 10°
Rainfall
97 mm · ~12 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
16° / 6°
Rainfall
148 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
119 mm · ~15 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.

2026· 3 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Shipping container to accommodate an electrical battery energy storage system associated with the existing solar PV installation on the adjoining property.
    30 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • March 2026

  • Detached Colourbond Outbuilding (Shed) Dimensions: 8m x 7.756m wide x 3.921m high (overall)
    7 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • January 2026

  • Land Division - Boundary realignment
    11 WHITE SANDS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253;899 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
2025· 11 proposals
  • October 2025

  • Land division to create an additional (1) allotment (total 2)
    1155 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • September 2025

  • Change of use of existing hotel and associated restaurant areas to be utilised as a single storey detached dwelling
    1014 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Land Division 1 into 6 (Community Title)
    LOT 10 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • July 2025

  • Outbuilding
    5 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • May 2025

  • Development consisting of; - Detached Dwelling with Carport and Alfresco - Agricultural Building
    1191 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • Land Division - Community Title to create 4 allotments
    29 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253;30 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • Land division - two lots to three lots
    29 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253;30 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • March 2025

  • Addition to existing jetty
    3 -4 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253;Lat :-35.1897918 Long: 139.3243059Under Assessment
  • Agricultural building 18m x 36m x 7.6m
    LOT 1107 FLAGSTAFF RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • February 2025

  • Change of use from irrigated pasture to include storage (swimming pool shells) and four outbuildings (shipping containers). Two shipping containers for permanent use and two temporary.
    855 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • January 2025

  • Swimming Pool and safety barriers
    7 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
2024· 6 proposals
  • December 2024

  • New House Dwelling New Shed Associated retaining wall
    8 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • November 2024

  • Two storey dwelling alterations and additions, deck and above ground water tanks
    855 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Variation to 417/170/2020 - relocation of proposed outbuilding with mezzanine
    2 RIVER VINE CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • September 2024

  • Single storey detached dwelling
    5 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • April 2024

  • Jetty & replacement retaining wall
    959 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253;971 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Variation to DA 415/235/2019 consisting of the following changes to the detached dwelling: - Rainwater tanks to be relocated to be installed within SA Power Networks easement; - Northern external wall of the dwelling to be extended 200mm to the north; - Northern verandah extended an additional 1.6m; - Eastern balcony extended by an additional 400mm; - Eastern window added for Study: - Northern second-storey kitchen windows joined together; - Western laundry window relocated to northern side of t
    12 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
  • October 2023

  • for 4.15mt x 7.3mtr x 2.7mtr single car garage
    72 ROBINSONS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Extension of pump building
    1041 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • September 2023

  • Elevated detached dwelling with carport, and front and rear balconies; and Garage (Outbuilding); and Colorbond Fencing along the eastern and southern allotment boundaries
    7 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • August 2023

  • Agricultual Shed
    1065 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
2022· 11 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Swimming pool and safety fence
    855 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • November 2022

  • Verandah to the side of existing house and gable end verandah over existing deck.
    10 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • September 2022

  • Garage (Outbuilding) and associated earthworks; and 2.1-metre-high Fencing along the southern and western allotment boundaries
    15 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • July 2022

  • Retaining wall, located adjacent to the easement for 963 Lot 13 Jervois Road, on the rivers edge
    963 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253;971 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Retaining wall at rivers edge adjacent to easement identified as G
    961 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253;971 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • June 2022

  • Construction of a post and rail fence in a flood plain.
    12 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Construction of retaining walls and associated cutting / filling of land.
    13 HANN RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • May 2022

  • Alterations and additions to the existing Willow Point Wines cellar door/café and shop to incorporate a new café/restaurant with additional floor area, altered vehicle access and new car parking and erection of advertising signage
    1041 JERVOIS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
  • Swimming Pool and Safety Fence
    6 OSGOOD CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • Two Storey Detached Dwelling with UMR Garage, Verandah, Porch and Balcony
    7 RIVERGLEN DR WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • April 2022

  • Alterations and additions to an existing accommodation building (internal and external) and construction of new verandah
    11 WHITE SANDS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Under Assessment
2021· 2 proposals
  • August 2021

  • Outbuilding (boat storage shed)
    11 WHITE SANDS RD WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
  • June 2021

  • Two-storey detached dwelling with balcony and verandah under main roof, outbuilding, rainwater tank, associated earthworks and retaining walls
    17 RIVER VINE CT WHITE SANDS SA 5253Decision Made
Other· 3 proposals
  • CARVON PTY. LTD.
    Animal Husbandry and Other ActivitiesEPA licence
  • INGHAMS ENTERPRISES PTY. LIMITED
    Hydrocarbon and ChemicalEPA licence
  • INGHAMS ENTERPRISES PTY. LIMITED
    Materials Handling and TransportationEPA licence

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
100% of suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Flood cover is the share of the suburb boundary overlapping current SA Planning flood overlays (flooding and evidence required). Safer places from CFS designated locations.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Barker
Member of Parliament
Tony PASIN (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
127,045
Turnout (2025)
92.6%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+3.6 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 15.9 km away).

Coalition 61.5%Labor 38.5%

1.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.3 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Woods PointLabor 32.2% · Coalition 67.8% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
  • Murray Bridge SouthLabor 48.6% · Coalition 51.4% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
  • Murray Bridge EastLabor 36.2% · Coalition 63.8% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
  • Murray Bridge WestLabor 40.8% · Coalition 59.2% TPP (2025)9.2 km away
  • Murray BridgeLabor 47.1% · Coalition 52.9% TPP (2025)9.8 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Murray Bridge Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.