Mount Gambier - East

Mount Gambier - East is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Mount Gambier - East's population is around 15,734 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 787 people (5.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,947 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,490 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 249 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 235 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Mount Gambier - East's 5.3% growth since the census positions it within 1.6 percentage points of the SA3 area (6.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 81.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 850 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 3.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mount Gambier - East recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Mount Gambier - East has experienced around 77 dwellings receiving development approval per year, totalling 387 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 47 approvals have been recorded. Given an average of only 0.4 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $259,000. Additionally, $89.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Compared to the Rest of SA, Mount Gambier - East maintains similar construction rates (per person), keeping market balance consistent with the broader area. New building activity consists of 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low-density nature with an emphasis on detached housing that attracts space-seeking buyers. At around 228 people per approval, Mount Gambier - East reflects a low-density area.

Future projections show Mount Gambier - East adding 606 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Mount Gambier - East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 6thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 23 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Mount Gambier Technical College & Research Education Training Precinct, the Forestry Centre of Excellence, the Mount Gambier Hospital Redevelopment, and the Mount Gambier Marketplace Large Format Retail Expansion, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment conditions in Mount Gambier - East remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Mount Gambier - East has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 4.2%, and 2.0% estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 8,115 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.5% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (65.7% compared to Regional SA's 58.8%). Based on Census responses, a low 4.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in retail trade, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 7.5% of local workers, below Regional SA's 14.5%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 2.0% alongside the labour force increasing by 3.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 3.1%, with a 2.2 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Mount Gambier - East. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Mount Gambier - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Mount Gambier - East SA2 shows a median taxpayer income of $50,979 and an average of $58,893 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. This is lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Regional SA's median income of $48,920 and average income of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $55,465 (median) and $64,076 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Mount Gambier - East, between the 23rd and 35th percentiles. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.7% of the community (4,987 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 27.5% in the same category. While housing costs are modest with 87.5% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 28th percentile nationally.

Mount Gambier - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Mount Gambier - East, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 83.7% houses and 16.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Mount Gambier - East lagged that of Regional SA, at 32.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (37.8%) or rented (29.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Regional SA average at $1,200, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $220, compared to Regional SA's $1,153 and $220. Nationally, Mount Gambier - East's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mount Gambier - East has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 67.9% of all households, comprising 25.5% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.1%, with lone person households at 29.6% and group households comprising 2.5% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people is larger than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Mount Gambier - East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (14.6%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 38.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (8.2%) and certificates (30.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 1 active transport stop operating within Mount Gambier - East. These stops are serviced by 2 individual routes, collectively providing 27 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1602 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling. A relatively low 4.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 3 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 27 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mount Gambier - East is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Mount Gambier - East, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~7,615 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.0% and 8.9% of residents, respectively, while 63.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,441 people), which is lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Mount Gambier - East is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Gambier - East was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 90.4% of its population being citizens, 88.7% born in Australia, and 93.8% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Mount Gambier - East is Christianity, which makes up 41.5% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 0.0% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Mount Gambier - East are Australian, comprising 31.8% of the population, English, comprising 31.1% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 8.1% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 2.1% of Mount Gambier - East (vs 1.3% regionally), German at 6.0% (vs 8.2%) and Polish at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).

Mount Gambier - East's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Mount Gambier - East's median age of 41 years stands notably under Regional SA's 47, though somewhat older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional SA average, the 15 - 24 cohort is notably over-represented (12.5% locally), while 65 - 74 year-olds are under-represented (11.5%). Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.1% to 7.3% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 11.5% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 13.2% to 11.5% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.2% to 11.9%. Demographic modeling suggests Mount Gambier - East's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 485 people (102%) from 473 to 959. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 83% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts.