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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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The Coorong has an estimated 5,653 residents, up from 5,473 at the 2021 Census — a change of 180 people, or 3.3%. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. 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 research by AreaSearch, the population of The Coorong is estimated at 5,653 in May 2026. This representing a 3.3% rise, or 180 individuals, from the 5,473 residents counted in the 2021 Census. The calculation is based on the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,638, combined with 45 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. This population level results in a density of 0.70 persons per square kilometer, indicating a low-density environment with significant space per resident. The 3.3% growth rate of the area since the census is within 2.6 percentage points of the wider SA3 region at 5.9%, showing competitive expansion.
The main driver of population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 66.7% of the total population gains in recent times. AreaSearch utilizes population projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For locations lacking this data and for projections past 2032, regional and LGA projections by age bracket from the SA State Government released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used, adjusted by weighting population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on these projections, the local population is expected to experience a reduction of 72 persons by 2041. Despite the overall decrease, specific age groups are expected to grow, particularly residents aged 85 and over, who are projected to increase by 187 individuals. Detailed cohort trends are available in the age section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
147 new dwellings have been approved in The Coorong over the past five years, an average of 29 a year. That is 5.3 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 23 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 30, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Over the past 5 financial years, The Coorong recorded a total of 147 new home approvals, averaging around 29 annually. In the current FY-26 period, 28 approvals have been registered. The ratio of population growth to construction shows an average of 0.4 people moving to the area for every new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, which provides options for buyers and allows for population increases beyond current projections. The average construction value for these new dwellings is $237,000. In addition, commercial approvals for the current financial year stand at $7.8 million, highlighting that the local market remains predominantly residential.
The Coorong shows similar per-capita development levels to the Rest of SA, maintaining market stability relative to the broader region. New residential construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, preserving the traditional low-density profile of the area and focusing on spacious family homes. The area averages around 225 people per dwelling approval, which is characteristic of a low-density community. Faced with stable or shrinking population projections, The Coorong is likely to experience minimal housing demand pressure, which supports buyer-friendly market conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around The Coorong
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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.
AreaSearch tracks 88 current infrastructure and development projects close to The Coorong, worth an estimated $23.6 billion. 37 are already under construction and 37 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, 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
Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are major factors in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 active projects expected to influence the region. Important developments include the Summerfield Battery, Gifford Hill, Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas, and the Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment, with details on the most relevant projects listed 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
Summerfield Battery
The Summerfield Battery is a 240MW/960MWh four-hour duration battery energy storage system developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Located near Tepko, it enhances grid stability, provides backup power, and supports South Australia's goal of 100% net renewable energy by 2027. The project utilizes technology from Canadian Solar's e-STORAGE and features a 10-year offtake agreement with Origin Energy.
Murray Bridge Racing Club at Gifford Hill
State-of-the-art racecourse facility at Gifford Hill, now known as Thomas Farms Racecourse Murray Bridge, featuring a main grass track, two inner training tracks, underground tunnel access, a $20 million function centre (Bridges Event Centre), and luxury hospitality venues. Opened in 2019, it hosts premier events like the Carlton Draught Murray Bridge Gold Cup and offers family-friendly activities, gourmet experiences, and event hosting capabilities. Joint venture between Burke Urban Gifford Hill Pty Ltd, Murray Bridge Racing Club, and Thoroughbred Racing SA.
Murray Bridge High School Major Upgrade
Capital works program delivering a new two storey middle school and special education building, a new technical studies building, refurbished entrepreneurial and art spaces, landscaping upgrades and removal/relocation of older transportables to modernise the campus and support growing enrolments.
Pathways Estate, Murray Bridge
Pathways Estate is a small residential land subdivision on Melaleuca Way in Murray Bridge, developed by AVJennings. The estate offers allotments ranging from around 415sqm to 1181sqm, connecting more than 10 hectares of green open space and wetlands with boardwalks and bikeways. Blocks are connected to water, sewer, power, gas and NBN. The estate is now sold out, with all released allotments settled or under contract. Located close to Murray Bridge High School, Unity College and Fraser Park Primary School, and around 68km east of the Adelaide CBD.
Gifford Hill
Gifford Hill is South Australia's largest masterplanned community, planned across 1,860 hectares at Murray Bridge. The precinct is intended to become a second city for South Australia, with about 17,100 dwellings for more than 44,000 residents over a 30 to 40 year buildout. Key elements include a major town centre, mixed-use high street, six neighbourhood activity centres, seven schools, a sports and entertainment precinct around the Murray Bridge Racing Club, digital infrastructure, and about 21 percent of the precinct dedicated to active and passive open space.The official project site states commencement in Q4 2025, while a related Gifford Hill North-East Code Amendment is progressing through PlanSA.
Murray Bridge South Primary School Infrastructure Upgrade
$1.1 million Schools Upgrade Fund project at Murray Bridge South Primary School, delivering upgrades to the school's toilet block and new shade coverings over all three of its playground structures. The funding was announced in 2024 as part of a $17 million round of the Australian Government's Schools Upgrade Fund, which supported 18 South Australian public schools with the greatest need, and was the only Murraylands school to receive funding in that round. The works align with SunSmart policy and provide safer, all-weather outdoor learning spaces for students.
Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment
A comprehensive 5-stage redevelopment of the Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital. The project delivered a state-of-the-art Emergency Department featuring two resuscitation bays, seven treatment and paediatric bays, specialized procedure and consulting rooms, triage areas, and quiet rooms. Significant infrastructure upgrades were also made to the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), operating theatres, medical imaging, and administration wings, complemented by new drive-through ambulance access and a community plaza acknowledging traditional owners.
Murray Bridge Community Dental Clinic
Public dental clinic providing services to eligible children and adults in the Murray Bridge region, funded through a federal health infrastructure agreement to enhance regional healthcare access.
2,779 residents of The Coorong are employed, from a labour force of 2,899. Unemployment sits at 4.1%, with participation at 61.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce of The Coorong is distributed across white-collar and blue-collar occupations in multiple sectors, with an unemployment rate of 4.1% and employment growth estimated at 2.8% over the past year. In March 2026, 2,779 residents were employed. The local unemployment rate is 1.3% below the 5.5% rate of Regional SA, while workforce participation is relatively average, standing at 61.4% compared to 58.4% in Regional SA. Census data indicated that 18.8% of employed residents worked from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.
The workforce is highly specialized in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which has a concentration level 2.7 times that of the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing is less prominent, employing 5.0% of the local workforce compared to 9.3% across Regional SA. Although local jobs are available, the relationship between the Census working population and the local population indicates that a significant portion of residents travel outside the area for employment. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that over a 12-month period, local employment expanded by 2.8% and the labor force grew by 3.7%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional SA experienced a 1.2% rise in employment, a 2.6% increase in the labor force, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 provide context for future workforce demands in The Coorong. These five-year and ten-year national projections are applied to the local industry mix to estimate growth. Locally, employment is projected to rise by 4.6% over five years and 10.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighted extrapolation of the national forecasts, which project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying by sector. This model does not incorporate local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in The Coorong is $1,085 a week (about $56,000 a year), with median personal income at $604 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,164 a year against an average of $56,271. 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
Based on ATO postcode data aggregated by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, the median taxpayer income in The Coorong SA2 is $44,164, with an average taxpayer income of $56,271. This is below national benchmarks and lower than the Regional SA median of $48,920 and average of $58,933. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.17% since FY-2023, estimated figures for March 2026 are approximately $48,655 for the median and $61,994 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal incomes in the area within the 6th to 12th percentiles nationally.
The largest income bracket contains 31.0% of residents (1,752 individuals) who earn between $800 and $1,499 weekly, which contrasts with the broader metropolitan area where the $1,500 to $2,999 range is largest at 27.5%. Although housing expenses are low, leaving residents with 90.5% of their income, total disposable income ranks in the 12th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
The Coorong had 2,194 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 0% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 47% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $190 a week and the median mortgage repayment $879 a month. Rent absorbs 17.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing stock in The Coorong consisted of 96.7% houses and 3.2% other housing types, such as apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to Regional SA where houses represent 88.5% and other options make up 11.5%. Home ownership in The Coorong was high at 47.4%, with the remaining dwellings split between mortgaged properties at 27.3% and rental properties at 25.3%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $879, which is below the Regional SA average, while the median weekly rent was $190, compared to regional figures of $1,153 and $220.
Locally, mortgage repayments are lower than the national average of $1,863, and rents are below the Australian median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
The Coorong counted 2,194 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 21% are couples with children, fewer than in 85% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 63.6%, consisting of couples without children at 33.1%, couples with children at 20.7%, and single parents at 8.6%. Non-family households represent 36.4% of the total, with single-person households at 33.8% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size is 2.2 persons, which is slightly lower than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.9% of adults in The Coorong hold a university qualification, including 8.9% with a bachelor degree and 1.8% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 93% of areas nationally. A further 30.8% hold a vocational qualification. 5 schools serve the area, with 534 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 942 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 attainment levels present challenges in the area, as university qualification rates stand at 11.9%, compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. Among those with higher education, bachelor degrees are most common at 8.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.8% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Technical and vocational skills are prominent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 30.8%. Enrolment in formal education is high, with 26.5% of the population participating. Within this group, primary school students represent 12.5%, secondary school students account for 7.5%, and tertiary education students make up 1.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around The Coorong means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
There are 6 public transport stops operating in The Coorong, offering 2 routes that provide a total of 24 passenger trips per week. Transport access is limited, with the average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transit stop being 14663 meters. Due to the residential nature of the area, most commuters travel out of the region, with 87% driving and 10% walking to work. Residents own an average of 1.7 vehicles per household, which is higher than the regional average. Census data from 2021 indicates that 18.8% of residents worked from home, which may be related to pandemic conditions.
Service frequency averages 3 departures daily across the network, which translates to approximately 4 weekly departures at each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
61.7% of residents in The Coorong report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 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's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness rates, the population of The Coorong experiences notable health issues, with chronic conditions present across multiple age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 48% of residents (~2,685 people) holding policies, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent chronic conditions in the area are arthritis, affecting 11.4% of residents, and asthma, affecting 8.4%. Meanwhile, 61.7% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. The working-age cohort shows elevated rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over constitute 28.7% of the population (1,621 people), which is higher than the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%. Senior health outcomes show some challenges, with national rankings aligning generally with the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
The Coorong is largely Australian-born, at 90.3% of residents, with 4.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (32.8%) and English (32.4%). 4.3% 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
The Coorong has a low level of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 86.9% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 90.3%, and monolingual English speakers representing 95.9% of households. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 46.4% of the population. The most prominent statistical divergence is in the Other religious category, which accounts for 0.9% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional SA. The main ancestries reported in the area are Australian at 32.8%, English at 32.4%, and German at 9.4%. Variations in other ethnic representations show Dutch ancestry at 1.7% in The Coorong (compared to 1.3% regionally), Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 4.3% (compared to 3.3% regionally), and Filipino ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 0.7% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of The Coorong is 48, older than 86% of areas nationally. 19.6% 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 of residents in The Coorong is 48 years, which is comparable to the Regional SA average of 47 and higher than the national median of 38. The 75 - 84 cohort is highly represented at 10.5% compared to Regional SA, while the 15 - 24 age bracket is under-represented at 8.6%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 8.9% to 10.5%, and the 65 to 74 bracket has grown from 13.6% to 14.9%, while the 55 to 64 group fell from 16.8% to 14.8%.
Projections for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic shifts, with the 85 and over cohort expected to grow by 96%, adding 173 people to reach a total of 356. Seniors aged 65 and over will account for 99% of total population growth. Conversely, the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 age categories are expected to decrease in size.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for The Coorong
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 — 45 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,473 at the 2021 Census → 5,653 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 (407031169). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.