Toorak Gardens

Toorak Gardens has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Toorak Gardens' population is approximately 17,202 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 567 individuals (3.4%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 16,635 people. The change can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 17,170 as of June 2024 and an additional 368 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,571 persons per square kilometer, placing Toorak Gardens in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 3.4% growth since the census is within 1.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023, with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future demographic trends suggest that Toorak Gardens is expected to increase its population by approximately 2,009 persons to reach 2041, reflecting an overall increase of about 11.5% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Toorak Gardens among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Toorak Gardens has seen approximately 172 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 860 homes were approved, with another 22 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 0.8 new residents arrived per year for each new home over these years.

This pace of construction matches or exceeds demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially exceeding population growth expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $475,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been $70.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Toorak Gardens has 71.0% higher new home approvals per capita, offering greater choice for buyers. The new developments consist of 14.0% standalone homes and 86.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living that creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift reflects the reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

Toorak Gardens has a low density characteristic with around 73 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain approximately 1,977 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Toorak Gardens has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Glenside Development, UniSA Magill Campus Redevelopment (Magill Project), Burnside Village Expansion, and 12-16 Glen Osmond Road Mixed-Use Development. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Toorak Gardens performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Toorak Gardens has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 1.9%, lower than Greater Adelaide's 3.9%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.0%.

As of September 2025, there are 8,955 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% and workforce participation at 63.0%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.5%. Around 17.9% of residents work from home. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical services with an employment share twice the regional level, while construction employs just 5.0%, below Greater Adelaide's 8.7%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating above-normal local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.0% with no significant change in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Toorak Gardens' employment mix indicates local employment growth of 7.4% over five years and 15.1% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The median income among taxpayers in Toorak Gardens SA2 was $59,435 and the average income stood at $95,650 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures compare to Greater Adelaide's median income of $54,808 and average income of $66,852 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,665 (median) and $104,067 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Toorak Gardens cluster around the 68th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 27.8% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (4,782 residents). Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 31.6% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Toorak Gardens displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Toorak Gardens' dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 55.2% houses and 44.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Toorak Gardens was 44.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.0% and rented at 28.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent in Toorak Gardens was $339, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Toorak Gardens' mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $339 compared to the national figure of $375.

Toorak Gardens features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.1% of all households, including 30.4% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Toorak Gardens shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Toorak Gardens' residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 52.7% hold university qualifications compared to SA's 25.7% and Greater Adelaide's 28.9%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways account for 19.5%, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 10.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary, 7.8% in secondary, and 7.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Toorak Gardens has 100 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 46 different routes that together facilitate 2,594 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents typically residing just 174 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 81% of residents, while buses are employed by 8%, and walking by 4%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling in Toorak Gardens, which is below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 17.9% of residents work from home, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 370 trips daily, equating to roughly 25 weekly trips per individual stop.

Toorak Gardens's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Toorak Gardens' health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 69% of the total population (11,817 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.8% and 6.7% of residents respectively. Notably, 71.0% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. As of 2021, 26.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (4,527 people), higher than the 19.0% in Greater Adelaide. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors remain strong and align with national rankings for the general population.

Toorak Gardens was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Toorak Gardens was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.6% of its population born overseas and 26.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Toorak Gardens, making up 45.2% of people there. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, comprising 0.2% of the population compared to 0.1% across Greater Adelaide.

The top three ancestry groups are English (25.8%), Australian (19.3%), and Other (9.3%). Notably, Sri Lankan, Italian, and Chinese ethnicities have higher representations in Toorak Gardens than regionally: Sri Lankan at 0.6% vs 0.2%, Italian at 5.3% vs 5.2%, and Chinese at 8.7% vs 3.1%.

Toorak Gardens hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Toorak Gardens is 44 years, which is higher than Greater Adelaide's average of 39 years and Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Adelaide, the cohort aged 75-84 is notably over-represented in Toorak Gardens at 10.1%, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 10.0%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.6% to 13.2%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 8.7% to 10.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 12.4% to 11.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Toorak Gardens. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow by 709 people (an 88% increase) from 808 to 1,518. Those aged 65 and above are expected to comprise 63% of the population growth. Conversely, the cohorts aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 are projected to experience population declines.