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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Outback has an estimated 1,952 residents, down from 2,030 at the 2021 Census — a change of 78 people, or 3.8%. The population has thinned by an average 2.9% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Outback stands at approximately 1,952 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 78 residents (3.8%) from the 2,030 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 1,952 from June 2025 alongside 42 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The density of the population is 0.00 residents per square kilometer, indicating a very low density with significant physical space per individual. The primary contributor to local population increases was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 68.1% of the total demographic gains in recent times.
AreaSearch utilizes population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, using 2022 as the anchor year. For locations lacking this coverage, or for periods extending past 2032, projection models from the SA State Government released in 2023 based on 2021 data are utilized, using a weighted aggregation technique to translate LGA growth to the SA2 level. Based on this methodology, future population trajectories point to a contraction, with the total count expected to fall by 17 people by 2041. Despite this overall reduction, expansion is projected in specific age brackets, particularly the 75 to 84 cohort, which is expected to rise by 62 individuals. Further breakdowns are available in the age section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in Outback remains very limited, averaging 1 dwelling approval per year, or 8 approvals over a five-year period. This minimal level of building is typical for rural regions where housing demands are quiet and local construction is constrained by demand levels and infrastructure availability. Because total approval numbers are low, individual projects can create large percentage variations in yearly metrics. Construction volumes in Outback are substantially lower than those in Rest of SA, and fall below the national average. Additionally, recent building approvals consist entirely of standalone houses, preserving the low-density rural character of the locality.
The ratio of 1953 residents per dwelling approval highlights this quiet construction environment. Given that future demographic projections indicate stable or contracting numbers, Outback is likely to experience less pressure on housing demand, which may assist prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Outback
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 10 current infrastructure and development projects inside Outback, worth an estimated $28.3 billion. A further 64 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $48 billion. 22 are already under construction and 14 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning play a significant role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 116 projects that are expected to influence the region. Significant projects include the Olympic Dam Underground Growth Projects, Olympic Dam Smelter Refinery Expansion Project, Roxby Downs Area School Refurbishment, and Oak Dam Underground Access Project, with key details provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Oak Dam Underground Access Project
Advanced exploration project to establish underground access via twin declines to the deep iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) mineralised system at Oak Dam, located on Kokatha country. The project is designed to enable efficient underground drilling for resource definition and geotechnical characterisation. Surface infrastructure includes an exploration village capable of housing 150 personnel, core processing facilities, and the use of up to 14 drill rigs. The project scope includes bulk earthworks, box cut construction, non-process infrastructure, and decline development operations.
Woomera Redevelopment Program
The project involves redeveloping the Airforce's Woomera Range Complex using a Managing Contractor model. Scope includes refurbishment and upgrades across Base Sector North (technical area and airfield, including hangars, aprons, taxiways, roads, ordnance loading areas, headquarters, workshops, and infrastructure like water, power, sewer, firefighting, communications, drainage, lighting), Base Sector West (living accommodations, headquarters, syndicate room, dining facility, and infrastructure), and Base Sector South - Woomera Village (new accommodations, social and community facilities, and upgraded infrastructure including power, wastewater treatment, communications, water, firefighting, drainage, erosion control, irrigation).Also includes demolition of redundant facilities.
Northern Water Supply Project
The Northern Water Supply Project is a transformational water infrastructure initiative to enhance water security in Far North South Australia. The project involves construction of a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant at Cape Hardy in the Spencer Gulf with up to 260 megalitres per day capacity, connected by a 600-kilometre pipeline network to the Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North regions. The project aims to service mining operations, industry (including hydrogen), Department of Defence, remote communities, pastoralists and SA Water, reducing reliance on the Great Artesian Basin, River Murray and local groundwater resources.The main transfer pipeline will link Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Woomera, Carapateena, Roxby Downs, Pimba, Oak Dam and Olympic Dam. Supporting infrastructure includes pumping stations, large storage facilities, flow regulation valves, control facilities, and electricity transmission lines. The project supports the South Australian Government's Copper Strategy to triple copper production to 1 million tonnes per year by 2030 and enables growth in clean energy and hydrogen industries.
Olympic Dam Underground Growth Projects
A series of growth-enabling underground mining and processing projects representing an A$840 million investment by BHP at Olympic Dam in South Australia. Key elements include: a new underground access decline into the Southern Mine Area to improve access and streamline transport of people and equipment; a new paste backfill delivery system using underground pipes to stabilise mined areas and unlock previously inaccessible ore sections; expansion of ore pass capacity with 6 new locomotives and an extended underground electric rail network from 4.85 km to over 6 km; and installation of a new oxygen plant to support smelter debottlenecking, targeting an increase in copper concentrate smelting rates from 80 to 85 tonnes per hour.Together these projects underpin BHP's strategy to grow Copper SA annual output from 1.7 million to 2.5 million tonnes. Approximately 200 construction jobs are being created.
Olympic Dam Smelter Refinery Expansion Project
BHP Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd proposes to expand smelting and refining activities at Olympic Dam as part of Copper South Australia growth. The project would lift smelting and refinery capacity from about 200,000 tonnes per annum of copper cathode and associated products to up to 650,000 tonnes per annum, including a second smelter furnace, repurposing of the existing Direct-to-Blister Flash Furnace, refinery extensions, water infrastructure linked to Northern Water, and electricity transmission upgrades. The South Australian impact-assessed development process is underway, with EIS assessment requirements approved on 5 November 2025 and the EIS pending.BHP has also awarded staged EPCM work to a Fluor and Hatch joint venture while the project progresses toward final investment decisions.
Roxby Downs Area School Refurbishment
$7 million facility upgrade including refurbishment of four buildings with general learning areas, teacher preparation and breakout spaces, refreshed food technology areas, soundproofed music and drama studios, a new amphitheatre for open-air performances, broader landscaped outdoor learning areas, and a nature playground integrated with the desert landscape. The project reached completion in December 2021 and was officially opened in June 2024.
Strzelecki Track Upgrade And Mobile Coverage
Upgrading 426 km of Strzelecki Track and 26 km of Adventure Way, enhancing connection, road safety, and mobile coverage between South Australia and Queensland. Initial works began in October 2020.
Gawler Craton Rail Access
The proposal is for a third party to build, own, and operate a 350 km railway in the Gawler Craton province, linking to the existing interstate rail network. It aims to provide significant transport connections to mines such as Prominent Hill, Olympic Dam, and Carrapateena, and open up other potential reserves including Wirrda Well, Acropolis, Vulcan, Titan, and Millers Creek. The project could facilitate exploration and development in the remote mineral region, which contains extensive copper, gold, silver, and iron ore deposits.
1,146 residents of Outback are employed, from a labour force of 1,269. Unemployment sits at 9.7%, with participation at 72.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,894, about 148% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Outback features a workforce distributed across manual and professional roles, with significant representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors, alongside an unemployment rate of 9.7%. In March 2026, 1,146 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate sat 4.2% higher than the Regional SA average of 5.5%, while the workforce participation rate was high at 72.9% compared to the Regional SA benchmark of 58.4%. According to Census data, a moderate 20.0% of the working population operated from home, though this figure reflects historical Covid-19 restrictions. Local employment is largely concentrated in accommodation & food, mining, and agriculture, forestry & fishing.
The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector exhibits a strong local specialization, employing workers at a rate 2.3 times the regional standard. In contrast, health care & social assistance is underrepresented at 3.6% compared to the regional benchmark of 13.9%. With a ratio of 1.6 workers for every local resident at the time of the Census, the area serves as a regional job center, drawing in commuters and hosting more positions than it has residents. Based on the assessment of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch, the local labour force contracted by 2.5% during the 12 months ending March 2026, while total employment fell by 7.7%, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate of 5.1 percentage points. This dynamic diverges from Regional SA, which experienced a 1.2% rise in employment, a 2.6% expansion of the labour force, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future demand trends for Outback. These projections, spanning five and ten years, are mapped against the local industry profile to estimate future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of change vary by industry. Applying these national rates to the current local mix suggests that employment in Outback could rise by 4.2% over five years and 10.0% over ten years, assuming a direct weighted extrapolation without adjusting for localized population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Outback is $1,214 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $885 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $49,189 a year against an average of $56,136. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year show that incomes in the Outback SA2 are below national benchmarks, with a median of $49,189 and an average of $56,136. These figures compare to a median of $48,920 and an average of $58,933 in Regional SA. Accounting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.17% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates correspond to a median of $54,192 and an average of $61,845 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that household incomes place at the 14th percentile, whereas personal incomes rank higher at the 65th percentile.
The largest income bracket contains 30.7% of residents (599 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which aligns closely with the regional average of 27.5% in the same bracket. Residents retain 95.4% of their income after housing costs, yet overall disposable income ranks in the 27th percentile across the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Outback had 680 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 2% apartments. 11% are owned with a mortgage, 41% rented and 48% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $95 a week and the median mortgage repayment $659 a month. Rent absorbs 7.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 12.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Analysis of the housing stock from the latest Census reveals that Outback consists of 89.5% separate houses and 10.6% alternative structures (including apartments, semi-detached properties, and other dwellings), compared to Regional SA averages of 88.5% and 11.5% respectively. The rate of outright home ownership in Outback stands at 48.0%, which is higher than the regional average, while the remaining properties are mortgaged (10.8%) or rented (41.2%). The median mortgage payment in the area was $659 per month, which is below the Regional SA average, and the median weekly rent was $95, compared to Regional SA figures of $1,153 and $220.
Locally, mortgage costs are lower than the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the Australian figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Outback counted 680 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.0 people each. 17% are couples with children, fewer than in 92% of areas nationally, against 25% couples without children. 47% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 49.1% of households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 17.0%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single-parent households at 6.6%. The remaining 50.9% consist of non-family households, with lone person households representing 46.8% and group living situations representing 3.7% of the total. The median size of households is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
12.9% of adults in Outback hold a university qualification, including 9.9% with a bachelor degree and 1.7% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 90% of areas nationally. A further 36.7% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 116 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 828 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational profiles in the region show lower rates of higher education, with 12.9% of residents holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4%. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are most common at 9.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.3%. Technical and trade qualifications are prevalent, with vocational credentials held by 47.7% of the population aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 36.7%. Enrolment rates are high within the local community, with 27.9% of the population participating in formal study.
This cohort includes 14.3% attending primary school, 5.1% in secondary school, and 2.1% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Outback means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.9% of residents in Outback report no long-term health condition. 3.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality metrics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, Outback faces notable public health challenges, with common ailments present across multiple age brackets, and a low rate of private health insurance coverage at approximately 48% of the population (~927 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.4 and 8.0% of local residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 69.9% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. Health profiles among working-age residents are typical.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 19.8% of the population (387 people), which is lower than the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%. Senior health outcomes are positive, with national comparative rankings exceeding those of the general local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Outback is largely Australian-born, at 87.8% of residents, with 10.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (28.5%) and English (26.8%). 12.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Outback has a lower level of cultural diversity than average, with 79.8% of residents holding citizenship, 87.8% born in Australia, and 89.7% speaking only English in the home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 40.3% of the community. The most distinct variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.9% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional SA. Regarding parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestral groups are Australian at 28.5% of the population, English at 26.8% (which is below the regional average of 32.5%), and Australian Aboriginal at 12.3% (which is higher than the regional average of 3.3%).
Other differences in ethnic representation include Hungarian at 0.6% of the population (compared to 0.1% regionally), German at 5.2% (compared to 8.2%), and Scottish at 8.3% (compared to 7.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Outback is 43. 25.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Outback is 43 years, placing it below the Regional SA average of 47 but above the national average of 38. The age structure is notable for a high proportion of 25 - 34 year-olds at 17.6%, while the 75 - 84 cohort is smaller at 5.3% than in Regional SA. Since 2021, the 65 to 74 age group grew from 10.6% to 13.6% of the population, and the 75 to 84 bracket increased from 3.2% to 5.3%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 cohort decreased from 11.9% to 8.1%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 15.4% to 12.5%.
Projections for 2041 indicate changes in age distribution, with the 75 to 84 bracket expected to increase by 51% (53 people) to reach 157 from 103. This aging trend is prominent, with individuals aged 65+ accounting for 91% of the projected growth. Conversely, contractions are expected in the 25 to 34 and 5 to 14 cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Outback
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 10 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 42 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,030 at the 2021 Census → 1,952 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (406021141). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.