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

Mount Gambier - East's population was approximately 15,744 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure represents a growth of 797 people (5.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,947. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,591 in June 2025 and an additional 247 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 235 persons per square kilometer. Mount Gambier - East's growth rate exceeded that of the SA3 area (4.9%), making it a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 97.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, it adopts the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the area expected to grow by 834 persons to reach approximately 16,578 by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 4.3% in total over the 16 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 received approximately 77 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 387 homes. As of FY26, 62 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.4 new residents have moved into each newly constructed dwelling annually between FY21 and FY25. This rate suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current projections.

The average expected construction cost of new properties is $259,000. In the current financial year, Mount Gambier - East has registered $89.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of SA, Mount Gambier - East maintains similar construction rates per capita, reflecting a balanced market consistent with the broader area.

New building activity in Mount Gambier - East is dominated by detached dwellings (97.0%) and townhouses or apartments (3.0%), preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The population density reflects this, with around 228 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Mount Gambier - East is projected to add 681 residents by 2041. Given current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Mount Gambier - East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Mount Gambier Technical College & Research Education Training Precinct, Forestry Centre of Excellence, Mount Gambier Hospital Redevelopment, and Mount Gambier Marketplace Large Format Retail Expansion. Below is a list of 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.

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

Mount Gambier - East has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 2.0%.

As of December 2025, 8,115 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Regional SA's rate of 5.7%. Workforce participation is 65.4%, higher than Regional SA's 58.3%. Only 4.9% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing.

Retail trade employment levels are at 1.3 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 7.5%, below Regional SA's 14.5%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison of working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 2.0% while labour force grew by 3.7%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points. National employment forecasts project growth of 6.6% over five years and 12.6% over ten years for Mount Gambier - East, based on its employment mix.

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

Mount Gambier - East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $50,979 and an average income of $58,893 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than the national average, contrasting with Regional SA's median income of $48,920 and average income of $58,933. By March 2026, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% suggest a median income of approximately $56,164 and an average income of $64,882 in Mount Gambier - East. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes all rank modestly in the area, between the 23rd and 35th percentiles. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.7% of the community (4,990 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, 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

Mount Gambier - East's dwellings were 83.7% houses and 16.4% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') at the latest Census, compared to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% others. Home ownership in Mount Gambier - East was 32.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.8% and rented at 29.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,200, above Regional SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent in Mount Gambier - East was $220, the same as Regional SA. Nationally, mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents were $375.

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

Family households comprise 67.9% of all households, including 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%. The median household size is 2.4 people, 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's university qualification rate is 14.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 30.1%. Educational participation is 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

Mount Gambier - East has one active public transport stop operating within its boundaries. This stop is serviced by two routes which collectively provide 27 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1602 meters from the nearest transport stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.9% of residents work from home, which 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

Mount Gambier - East faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Notably, both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is low, with approximately 48% of the total population (~7,620 people) having it, compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.0 and 8.9% of residents respectively. However, 63.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 62.5% figure across Regional SA. The working-age population faces substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, 21.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (3,411 people), lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally aligning with those of the broader 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 showed cultural diversity below average, with 90.4% citizens, 88.7% born in Australia, and 93.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity dominated at 41.5%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0% regionally.

Top ancestry groups were Australian (31.8%), English (31.1%), and Scottish (8.1%). Dutch (2.1%) and German (6.0%) were notably overrepresented in Mount Gambier-East, while Polish was slightly higher at 0.7%.

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

Mount Gambier - East has a median age of 41 years, which is notably lower than Regional South Australia's average of 47 but somewhat older than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional SA average, the 15-24 age cohort is notably over-represented in Mount Gambier - East at 12.7%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 11.5%. Between 2021 and the present, the percentage of the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.5% to 12.7%, while the 75 to 84 age cohort has increased from 6.1% to 7.2%. Conversely, the percentage of the population aged 5 to 14 has declined from 13.2% to 11.6%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 13.2% to 12.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that Mount Gambier - East's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand notably, increasing by 485 people (43%) from 1,138 to 1,624. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 82% 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 age cohorts.