Lockleys

Lockleys has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Lockleys's population is approximately 14,257 as of November 2025. This represents an increase of 805 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,452. The growth was inferred from ABS estimated resident population figures of 14,210 in June 2024 and an additional 84 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2,501 persons per square kilometer, placing Lockleys in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's growth rate of 6.0% since Census is within 1.1 percentage points of South Australia's state average (7.1%). Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.1% of 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 and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Based on projected demographic shifts, Lockleys is expected to have above median population growth. By 2041, its population is projected to increase by 2,237 persons from the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 15.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lockleys among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lockleys has averaged approximately 80 new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 404 homes were approved, with an additional 27 approved so far in FY26. On average, about two people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during this period, suggesting balanced supply and demand, leading to stable market conditions.

The average construction cost value of new properties is around $310,000. This financial year has seen $34.7 million in commercial development approvals, indicating robust commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Lockleys shows 10.0% lower construction activity per person but ranks among the 73rd percentile nationally when assessed against other areas.

Recent construction comprises 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a mix of medium-density options across various price brackets. Lockleys has an approximate population density of 182 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Lockleys is projected to add 2,190 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Lockleys has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects expected to affect this region: Project Flight - Adelaide Airport Terminal and Infrastructure Upgrade, Harbour Town Premium Outlets Adelaide Expansion, Thebarton Technology Hub, and Henley Beach Road Visioning Project.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Lockleys significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Lockleys has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, and there was a 4.3% employment growth over the past year as of September 2025.

At this time, 8,128 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.3% lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation stands at 64.7%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 61.7%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Manufacturing has limited presence with 5.8% employment compared to the regional average of 7.0%. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, while the labour force grew by 4.1%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Adelaide saw employment rise by 3.0% and labour force grow by 2.9%. State-level data from 25-Nov shows SA employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.0%, outperforming the national average of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Lockleys' employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Lockleys SA2 had a median income of $53,468 and an average of $66,786. This is slightly above the national average. In comparison, Greater Adelaide had a median income of $52,592 and an average of $64,886. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Lockleys as of September 2025 would be approximately $60,328 (median) and $75,355 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Lockleys rank modestly, between the 43rd and 54th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.5% of residents (4,490 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the surrounding region where 31.8% occupy this range. After housing costs, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Lockleys displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Lockleys' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 68.1% houses and 31.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Adelaide metro's 63.9% houses and 36.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lockleys was at 35.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 32.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,745. Median weekly rent in Lockleys was $300, compared to Adelaide metro's $310. Nationally, Lockleys' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Lockleys features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.8 percent of all households, including 29.8 percent couples with children, 24.8 percent couples without children, and 8.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.2 percent, with lone person households at 30.9 percent and group households comprising 4.4 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.3.

The educational profile of Lockleys exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 33.6% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the South Australian average of 25.7% and that of Greater Adelaide (28.9%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 10.9% while certificates make up 18.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 6.3% in tertiary education, and 5.7% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Lockleys has 58 active public transport stops. These are served by buses on 34 different routes. Together, these provide 2,530 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 187 meters to the nearest stop. Services run frequently, with 361 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 43 weekly trips per stop.

Lockleys's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Lockleys residents have relatively positive health outcomes, with common conditions seen across both young and old age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area (~7,470 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (7.6%) and mental health issues (6.7%), while 71.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.9% in Greater Adelaide. Lockleys has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.4% (2,904 people), compared to Greater Adelaide's 17.6%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with the general population's health profile.

Lockleys was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lockleys was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.6% of its population born overseas and 32.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lockleys, making up 53.1% of people residing there. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprises 3.8% of the population, slightly higher than the 3.1% average across Greater Adelaide.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (20.5%), Australian (19.1%), and Other (12.2%). Some ethnic groups have notable representations: Greek (6.5%, compared to 6.1% regionally), Italian (10.9%, compared to 6.7%), and Serbian (0.7%, compared to 0.5%).

Lockleys's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Lockleys is 40 years, similar to Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years, and slightly older than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 15.6% of Lockleys' population, higher than Greater Adelaide's figure, while the 15-24 cohort makes up 10.8%. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 65-74 age group has increased from 9.4% to 10.1%, whereas the 55-64 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 11.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Lockleys. Notably, the 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 55% (528 people), reaching 1,488 from 959. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 53% of total population growth, reflecting Lockleys' aging demographic trend. In contrast, the 0-4 age cohort is forecasted to show minimal growth of just 0% (1 person).