Willaston is an outer metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, in Gawler Council, characterised by heritage streetscapes alongside mixed commercial and residential development. Notable landmarks include Willaston Memorial Hall and Willaston Hotel, former Victoria Hotel.
Local amenities are a relative strength, with local amenities 110% above the peer median. Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs. Rents sit a little below those in comparable places. Green cover is an exceptional strength, and heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places.
Overall, the suburb suits people prioritising heritage character and lower rents.
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
Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in South Australia (64)
Strengths
Green cover is a relative strength
Heritage listings are more concentrated than in comparable places
Rents sit a little below those in comparable places
Local school ICSEA scores sit well above the peer median
Local amenities are a relative strength
Weaknesses
No relative weaknesses against comparable places.
What stands out
Heritage streetscapes
Willaston Memorial Hall
Willaston Hotel, former Victoria Hotel
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★☆☆
Professionals★☆☆☆☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★★☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Willaston compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$760k
+20% change
Median rent
$520/wk
Houses $550 · Units $490
Population (ERP)
3,704
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#124
among Metro Adelaide · Emerging
Crime rate
63rd
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
92nd
percentile in SA
Rented dwellings
25%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
49th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
35.3/100 — Below average
National rank
5551st in Australia
State rank
522nd in SA
Peer rank
#124 among Metro Adelaide · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#283 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
93%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$490
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$550
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$520
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
20
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$760,000
Median price change
+20.2%
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Median house sale prices cover metropolitan Adelaide and selected fringe councils (19 LGAs, including Adelaide Hills and Gawler), not all of regional South Australia.
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
SA rent report & metro median house sales — Government of South Australia · 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated · Quarterly; metro-fringe sales only
Population
Estimated resident population
3,704(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +8.7% over 5 years · 92th percentile in SA
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.9%
5-year growth
+8.7%
Change in 1 year
+68
Change in 5 years
+295
Growth rank in SA
92th 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 (~3,900), extrapolated at +1.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
3,458
Median age
42
Median household income / week
$1,254
Dwelling vacancy
6.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
95 of 1,567
Median monthly mortgage
$1,213
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$300
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
34% / 41.2% / 24.8%
Employment rate
54.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
5.4% / 1.4% / 78.6%
Walked or cycled to work
1.2%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,262 / 199 / 5
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.
11.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 22.6% across South Australia. 24.7% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified11.7% · 22.6% SA
Diploma qualified8.2% · 8.6% SA
Trade / vocational24.7% · 17.5% SA
Year 12 or below55.3% · 51.2% SA
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Engineering and related technologies21.3%
Management and commerce17%
Society and culture16%
Health14.2%
Education7.9%
Architecture and building6.9%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 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)
$60,019
77th percentile in SA · +2% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$64,472
80th percentile in SA · -1% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
12.0%
52nd percentile in SA · -13% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$89,124
63rd percentile in SA · +41% vs Australia
Residents with business income
8.0%
21st percentile in SA · -23% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 5118 — 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
12,379
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,502
Median net rent
-$591
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,020
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+12%
Rental investment vs state median
0%
Super vs state median
+15%
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
3.1% speak a language other than English at home; 15.4% born overseas
Language at home
3,220 English only · 104 other
Non-English at home
3.1%
Born overseas
514 (15.4%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
79 (2.3%)
Australian citizens
3,190
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
7
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Mandarin9 · 28.1%
Sinhalese5 · 15.6%
Cantonese4 · 12.5%
Greek4 · 12.5%
Italian4 · 12.5%
Afrikaans3 · 9.4%
Spanish3 · 9.4%
Religion
54.3%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 54.3%, while Christianity accounts for 38.3%.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
54.3%
45.2%
Christianity
38.3%
40%
Other / not stated
7.5%
14.7%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
12.6%
15.5%
Anglican
8.9%
7.2%
Uniting Church
5.5%
4.8%
Lutheran
4.1%
2.4%
Christian (not further defined)
2.1%
2.6%
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2025–26)
174
Against the person
32
Against property
142
Rate per 1,000 residents
47
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 108 residents
State crime-rate percentile
62.8th (higher = more crime)
Family & domestic abuse offences
139
Increase (daily rate)
+13%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
79
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
21.33
Most common offence types
Damage Or Destroy Property28
Motor Vehicle Theft And Related Offences13
Serious Assault21
Theft From A Person13
Theft From Retail Premises53
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Gawler Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 954 · 26th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 168 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
Xavier CollegeCombined · Catholic · ICSEA 1001 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 2,532 students · Top SEA quarter 7% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
Hewett Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1006 · 50th percentile · LBOTE 2% · 400 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Immanuel GawlerPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 353 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
1 pubs · 3 playgrounds · 1 dog parks · 26 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
A car helps for daily needs
Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 19 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 32 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
31/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.29
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.58
Food & drink(1)
Willaston HotelPub
33 Main North Road
Shopping(2)
BWSBottle shop
33 Main North Road
Stratco GawlerHardware store
16 Main North Road
Everyday services(3)
DC paymentsATM
AM/PM WillastonPetrol station
24-30 Main North Road
Willaston Post OfficePost office
Health & services(1)
Gawler Veterinary ClinicVeterinary
8-12 Redbanks Road, Willaston
Sport & outdoors(36)
Gawler Rivers Tapa Pariara PathCycling route
Dog park
Clonlea ParkPark
Elliot Goodger Memorial ParkPark
Playground (3)
Public toilets
Sports field
Willaston OvalSports field
Swimming pool (26)
Places to stay(1)
The ChurchGuest house
37A Main North Road
Transport(12)
12 bus stops
Other(26)
Bench (3)
Gawler BooksBooks
7 Main North Road
Gawler BodyworksCar repair
16B Paxton Street
Les Haldane MechanicalCar repair
3 Redbanks Road
Northern Star Diesel ServiceCar repair
86 Main North Road
Willaston Auto Body RepairsCar repair
84 Main North Road
Bohemian BeansCoffee
Independent Battery DistributorsElectronics
32 Main North Road
Adorè Hair Body BeautyHairdresser
15A Main North Road
Hair by Stephanie WhalesHairdresser
10 Main North Road
Les Haldane MechanicalParking
Parking (44)
Coffee with CaninesPet
Unit Shop 2 5 Main North Road
The Injury HubPhysiotherapist
6-8 Main North Road
Australia PostPost Box
Sonder Centre - GawlerPsychotherapist
36 Main North Road
Scout Recycling CentreRecycling
10 Paxton Street
Shelter
KompleteCare Community and Home Care GawlerSocial Facility
34 Main North Road
Keira Stone Speech PathologySpeech Therapist
52 Paxton Street
Telephone
Track
Reece Plumbing CentreTrade
10B Paxton Street
TradelinkTrade
12 Paxton Street
Vacant
Waste Basket
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
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
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap and the SA Sports Vouchers venue list, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
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
Gawler Health Service (1.5 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%)
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.
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° / 13°
Rainfall
69 mm · ~9 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 9°
Rainfall
80 mm · ~10 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
14° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 8°
Rainfall
125 mm · ~16 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Development applications from PlanSA register and EPA licensed activities.
2026· 56 proposals
September 2026
Variation of Development Application 26003555 - Change of use to an Indoor Recreation Facility: comprising an increase in floor area of the Indoor Recreation Facility and inclusion of Consulting Rooms ancillary to (and in association with) the Indoor Recreation Facility
9 THEEN AV WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Three single storey detached dwellings and combined retaining walls and fencing
41 CHAMBERLAIN RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Partial demolition of Representative Building, Construction of multi-use building comprising Conulting Rooms (6), Indoor Recreation Facility (gymnasium and pilates) and Change in use to Shop (cafe), Tree-Damaging Activity (removal of Regulated Tree and Pruning of Significant Tree), Retaining Walls and Fencing, together with Filling within a Floodplain, and associated Car Parking and Landscaping
1 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
3.103m x 6.151m Garage used for Storage
23 KNIGHT ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Community Title Land Division - 1 allotment into 5 including common property driveway
34 HAINES RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
garage/storage shed
56 REDBANKS RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Dwelling Alterations and Additions (including conversion of existing garage to habitable space)
140 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Retaining Walls & Fencing with a combined height exceeding 2.1m
UNIT 1 2B MCGONIGAL DR WILLASTON SA 5118;UNIT 2 2B MCGONIGAL DR WILLASTON SA 5118;UNIT 3 2B MCGONIGAL DR WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 6 (with associated common driveway) - Community Title
59 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Installation of fibreglass swimming pool and safety features
67 HAINES RD WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Construction of Six (6) Single Storey Group Dwellings and associated Retaining Walls and Fencing, with associated Tree-Damaging Activity (removal of one Regulated Tree)
59 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
August 2026
Verandah
10 MCGONIGAL DR WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Swimming pool and associated swimming pool safety features
39 PANTER ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Land Division - 1 into 2 - Torrens Title
11 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
July 2026
Verandah (freestanding)
24 PRINCESS ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Land Division - 1 into 13 (with associated common property) - Community Title
78 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Tree-Damaging Activity (removal of One (1) Significant Tree)
10 JANE ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Carport
5 BARKER ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Swimming Pool and Safety Fence
1 KIMPTON CL WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Tree-damaging Activity (Removal of One Regulated Tree)
39 PANTER ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
June 2026
Land Division - 1 into 7 - Community Title
2 PAXTON ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Construction of Six (6) Group Dwellings (with Garage and Verandah under main roof) for independent living within an existing Retirement Facility, with associated Retaining Walls and Fencing, Driveway, Carparking and Landscaping
LOT 1 DAWKINS AV WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
patio
8 WILLS CL WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Erect Black Granite Memorial
LOT 17 DAWKINS AV WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Five (5) Single Storey Group Dwellings and Removal of One (1) Significant Tree and four (4) Regulated Trees and retaining and fencing with a maximum combined height of 2.2m
34 HAINES RD WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Verandahs to rear
39 PANTER ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
amendment to Form 1 ESP Schedule only
25 -33 MAIN NORTH RD WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
May 2026
Ancillary Accommodation
2 PARKERS CT WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Verandah made to order -3800mm wide x 6810mm long x 2690mm high
UNIT 2 18 BROWN ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Detached Dwelling (transportable) and garage
LOT 101 COLVILLE DR WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 3 (together with common driveway) - Community Title, over the balance of Lot 740 of DA Ref: 26012070; and associated Tree-Damaging Activity (removal of four (4) Regulated Trees)
12 DAWKINS AV WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Land Division - 1 into 4 - Torrens Title
12 DAWKINS AV WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Variation to 24003349 - Demolition of existing verandah and garage, additions and alterations to existing dwelling including new verandah and new outbuilding (garage) - changes to proposed garage
33 REDBANKS RD WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Colorbond Verandah attached to timber framed home
3A PANTER ST WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Construction of Light Industry and Warehouse building comprising two (2) tenancies (together with mezzanine levels), with associated Car Parking and Landscaping, and Advertising Signs
12 LITTLE PAXTON ST WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Construction of two (2) buildings comprising seven (7) Light Industry tenancies with associated Fencing, retaining walls, car parking, and landscaping
2 PAXTON ST WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed)
9 CHAMBERLAIN RD WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
April 2026
Land Division - 1 into 4 (with additional common driveway) - Community Title
9 JANE ST WILLASTON SA 5118Under Assessment
Outbuilding (shed)
32B DAWKINS AV WILLASTON SA 5118Decision Made
Community Title Land Division (1 into 4) with common driveway
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.
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.7 km away).
Coalition 39.0%Labor 61.0%
4.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
WillastonLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
Gawler WestLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
HewettLabor 59.5% · Coalition 40.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
GawlerLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
Gawler EastLabor 56.7% · Coalition 43.3% TPP (2025)2.4 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.
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%)