Goolwa - Port Elliot

Population growth drivers in Goolwa - Port Elliot are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Goolwa - Port Elliot's population was approximately 13,791 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,275 people (10.2%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 12,516. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 13,463 in June 2024 and an additional 444 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 76 persons per square kilometer. Goolwa - Port Elliot's growth of 10.2% since the 2021 census surpassed both the non-metro area (6.8%) and the state average, indicating significant growth in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 83.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. According to population projections, regional areas across the nation are expected to experience above median growth, with Goolwa - Port Elliot projected to expand by 1,879 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.2% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Goolwa - Port Elliot among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Goolwa - Port Elliot has granted approximately 196 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 980 homes have been approved, with an additional 74 approved in FY26 so far. On average, about 1.6 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years.

This suggests a balanced supply and demand, maintaining stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost value for new homes is $292,000. In terms of commercial investment, approximately $22.2 million in approvals have been registered this financial year. Comparatively, Goolwa - Port Elliot has recorded 19.0% higher construction activity per person than the rest of South Australia over the past five years, indicating strong buyer choice and support for current property values.

This level is significantly higher than the national average, suggesting robust developer confidence in the location. The area's new building activity primarily consists of detached houses (97.0%), with a smaller percentage of medium and high-density housing (3.0%), preserving its traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With approximately 70 people moving to the area per dwelling approval, Goolwa - Port Elliot exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the region is projected to grow by around 1,551 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand effectively, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Goolwa - Port Elliot has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. Ten projects identified by AreaSearch may affect the region. Notable ones are Airpark Estate, Riverhaven Estate, Goolwa Wharf Precinct, and Goolwa Oval Recreation Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Goolwa - Port Elliot shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Goolwa-Port Elliot has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.5% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.8%. There were 4,760 residents in work while the unemployment rate was 1.8% below Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 38.5%, compared to Rest of SA's 54.1%. Leading employment industries among residents comprised health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

The area showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing had lower representation at 3.5% versus the regional average of 14.5%. Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.8%, labour force increased by 1.9%, resulting in unemployment rising by 1.0 percentage points. Rest of SA recorded employment growth of 0.3%, labour force growth of 2.3%, with unemployment rising 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offered further insight into potential future demand within Goolwa-Port Elliot, projecting national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Goolwa-Port Elliot's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Goolwa - Port Elliot SA2 is $38,708. Average income stands at $51,975. This contrasts with Rest of SA's median income of $46,889 and average income of $56,582. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $43,674, with average income at $58,643. Census 2021 data reveals that incomes in Goolwa - Port Elliot fall between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally for household, family, and personal incomes. The $800 - 1,499 earnings band captures 33.4% of the community (4,606 individuals), unlike metropolitan trends where 27.5% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. After housing costs, 86.4% of income remains, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

Goolwa - Port Elliot is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Goolwa - Port Elliot, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro SA's 92.1% houses and 7.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Goolwa - Port Elliot stood at 52.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.0% and rented ones at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,196, below Non-Metro SA's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent figure was $280, matching Non-Metro SA's figure. Nationally, Goolwa - Port Elliot's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Goolwa - Port Elliot features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 64.6% of all households, including 14.5% couples with children, 41.7% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.4%, with lone person households at 33.4% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.2.

Educational outcomes in Goolwa - Port Elliot fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 11.7% and certificates make up 27.7%.

School and university attendance accounts for 18.3% of the community, including 7.4% in primary education, 5.2% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Goolwa - Port Elliot is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Goolwa - Port Elliot faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 46%, covering around 6,371 people, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 14.3% of residents) and mental health issues (9.3%). Conversely, 53.3% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 58.3% in the rest of South Australia. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over, with 46.4%, or approximately 6,405 people, compared to 37.0% in the rest of SA.

Goolwa - Port Elliot ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Goolwa-Port Elliot had a lower-than-average cultural diversity, with 79.4% of its residents born in Australia, 92.0% being citizens, and 97.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 44.5% of the population. The most notable deviation was in Judaism, which constituted 0.1% of Goolwa-Port Elliot's population compared to none across the rest of South Australia.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (38.9%), Australian (26.5%), and Scottish (8.7%). There were notable differences in the representation of certain ethnicities: German was overrepresented at 6.7% (compared to 6.7% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.6%), and Dutch at 1.7% (vs 1.6%).

Goolwa - Port Elliot ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Goolwa - Port Elliot's median age is 61 years, significantly higher than the Rest of SA average of 47 years and substantially exceeding the Australian median of 38 years. The 75-84 age group shows strong representation at 17.8%, compared to the Rest of SA's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 5.5%. This 75-84 concentration is well above the national average of 6.0%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 15.6% to 17.8%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 5.0% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 15.7% to 13.9%. By 2041, Goolwa - Port Elliot is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 1,100 people (132%) from 834 to 1,935. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 88% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.