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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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Sales Activity
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Population
Roxby Downs has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch
Roxby Downs' population is approximately 4,089 as of May 2026. This represents an increase of 113 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,976. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 4,089 in June 2025 and 12 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is around 14.2 persons per square kilometer. Roxby Downs' 2.8% growth since the census is close to the SA3 area's 3.9%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains recently.
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, based on 2021 data and adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future projections indicate an overall population decline of 214 persons by 2041, but specific age cohorts like the 45-54 group are expected to grow, with a projected increase of 62 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Roxby Downs is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch
Roxby Downs had minimal construction activity between 2015 and 2020, with fewer than one new dwelling approved annually. This is reflected in the rural nature of the area, where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. It is important to note that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably based on individual projects.
Roxby Downs had substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of SA during this period, and these levels were also under national averages. Given stable or declining population forecasts for the area, it may experience less housing pressure in the future, potentially creating favourable conditions for buyers.
Given stable or declining population forecasts, Roxby Downs may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Roxby Downs
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Roxby Downs has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to impact the area. Key projects are Roxby Downs Area School Refurbishment, Olympic Dam Underground Growth Projects, Olympic Dam Smelter Refinery Expansion Project, and Woomera Redevelopment Program. The following details those most relevant:.
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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
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
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.
Northern Water
Northern Water is a large-scale desalination and pipeline project designed to provide a climate-independent water source for South Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North. The project features a seawater reverse osmosis plant at Mullaquana Station with an initial capacity of 130 ML/day (scalable to 260 ML/day) and a 400km pipeline network connecting Whyalla, Port Augusta, and Olympic Dam. It aims to support the green hydrogen industry and critical mineral mining while reducing reliance on the Great Artesian Basin and River Murray.
Olympic Dam Underground Growth Projects
A series of growth-enabling underground mining and processing projects with an A$840 million investment. Key elements include: a new underground access tunnel (decline) into the Southern Mine Area; a new backfill system using underground pipes for mine stabilisation; expansion of ore pass capacity with new locomotives and an extended electric rail network; and installation of a new oxygen plant to support smelter debottlenecking, aiming to increase copper concentrate smelting rates from 80 to 85 tonnes per hour. The projects are designed to strengthen underground mining productivity and lay foundations for future growth, creating around 200 construction jobs.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program
Statewide maintenance and service contracts for SA Housing Trust public housing properties, covering reactive maintenance, vacancy restoration and minor works across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The program is delivered by Spotless Facility Services, RTC Facilities Maintenance and Torrens Facility Management. A 2024 SA Government review examined payment, timeliness, dispute resolution and contract performance issues, and the government provided additional funding to accelerate maintenance and upgrades on vacant public housing homes.
National EV Charging Network (Highway Fast Charging)
Partnership between the Australian Government and NRMA to deliver a backbone EV fast charging network on national highways. Program funds and co-funds 117 DC fast charging sites at roughly 150 km intervals to connect all capital cities and regional routes, reducing range anxiety and supporting EV uptake.
Employment
The exceptional employment performance in Roxby Downs places it among Australia's strongest labour markets
Roxby Downs has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.4% as of December 2025. This rate is 4.3% lower than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.
Workforce participation in Roxby Downs is high at 88.5%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. According to Census responses, only 3.4% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment are mining, construction, and accommodation & food services. Mining has a notable concentration with employment levels at 17.6 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.2%.
There are 1.6 workers for every resident in Roxby Downs, indicating it functions as an employment hub. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.2% alongside a labour force increase of 1.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 3.1%, and unemployment rise by 2.2 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Roxby Downs' employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 4.1% over five years and 10.3% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis
The Roxby Downs SA2 had exceptionally high national income levels according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $103,714 and the average income stood at $113,009. These figures compared to Regional SA's of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $114,262 (median) and $124,502 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data showed household, family, and personal incomes all ranked highly in Roxby Downs, between the 97th and 99th percentiles nationally. The data indicated that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captured 35.1% of the community (1,435 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 27.5% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners, at 54.3%, was above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the locality. After housing costs, residents retained 91.6% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Roxby Downs is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
The latest Census data shows that in Roxby Downs, 96.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 3.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Roxby Downs was at 6.8%, while Regional SA had a higher rate of home ownership. In Roxby Downs, 23.0% of dwellings were mortgaged, and 70.2% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, which is above the Regional SA average of $1,153. The median weekly rent in Roxby Downs was recorded at $260, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Roxby Downs' median monthly mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Roxby Downs features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 70.9% of all households, including 39.9% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 24.3% and group households making up 4.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Roxby Downs faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally
The area's university qualification rate is 17.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 48.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (7.8%) and certificates (40.2%).
Educational participation is high, with 34.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.6% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Roxby Downs's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Roxby Downs. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were both low across young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 76% of the total population (3,111 people), compared to 48.9% across Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions in the area were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.9 and 5.8% of residents respectively, while 81.6% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The area has 2.6% of residents aged 65 and over (107 people), lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Roxby Downs ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Roxby Downs has a cultural diversity below average, with 80.3% citizens, 84.5% born in Australia, and 90.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 35.1%. Buddhism is overrepresented at 1.5%, compared to Regional SA's 0.6%.
Top ancestry groups are Australian (32.4%), English (28.8%), Scottish (6.5%). Filipino (2.7% vs regional 0.7%), Maori (1.1% vs 0.2%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.5%) show notable divergences in representation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Roxby Downs hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
Roxby Downs has a median age of 31 years, which is significantly lower than the Regional South Australia average of 47 years and also younger than the Australian median of 38 years. The 25-34 age cohort is notably over-represented in Roxby Downs at 20.9%, compared to the Regional SA average, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 2.2%. This concentration of individuals aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 18.7% to 21.3% of the population, while the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.8% to 11.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Roxby Downs' age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow strongly at a rate of 15%, adding 71 residents to reach a total of 549. Conversely, both the 0-4 and 65-74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.