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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Colonel Light Gardens has an estimated 3,297 residents. The population has thinned by an average 0.5% a year over five years, slower than 93% of areas nationally. That puts 2,127 residents on each square kilometre. 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 investigations of ABS demographic releases for the wider region, alongside address registries verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens has an estimated population of 3,297 as of May 2026. This represents a decline of 14 residents (0.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, which counted 3,311 individuals. The shift is calculated from a local population of 3,290, which was calculated by AreaSearch using the most recent ERP statistics published by the ABS (June 2025) plus address verification after the Census. This population level yields a density of 2,127 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical figure recorded across Australian locations analyzed by AreaSearch.
In recent times, population expansion in the locality was almost entirely supported by overseas migration, which served as the primary source of demographic growth. AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 zones, published in 2024 with a baseline year of 2022. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and for all years after 2032, regional projections by age group from the SA State Government, published in 2023 and utilizing 2021 records, are integrated using a weighted technique to aggregate growth from LGA to SA2 divisions. Looking ahead, growth is expected to align with the lowest national quartile, with the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens projected to add 47 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 figures, showing a rise of 1.2% overall throughout the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Colonel Light Gardens has seen no new dwelling approvals over the last five years. This indicates a mature, established suburb where available land for new construction is limited. For buyers, this scarcity of new housing stock typically supports property values and means competition may be primarily among existing homes. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Colonel Light Gardens records markedly lower building activity. This scarcity of new properties typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This level is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Colonel Light Gardens
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Colonel Light Gardens. A further 9 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $60 million. 3 are already under construction and 1 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and health & medical. 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 infrastructure, major construction, and planning policy are key drivers of local performance. A total of 5 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are expected to influence this locality. Prominent projects include the Springbank Road Pedestrian Actuated Crossing, SA Health - Building a Bigger Health System in the South (Daw Park Urgent Care Hub and related enhancements), Believe Housing Australia - Panorama Apartments, and the New Hospital and Allied Centre (Repat Health Precinct), with details on the most relevant schemes provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
Springbank Road Pedestrian Actuated Crossing
Installation of a Pedestrian Actuated Crossing (PAC) on Springbank Road to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and access. The project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments.
Hotel Panorama
Hotel Panorama is a $60 million, five-storey hospitality destination by the Hurley Hotel Group. Strategically located to support visitation for Flinders University, Flinders Medical Centre, and the Tonsley Innovation Precinct, the venue features 77 accommodation rooms, including 26 serviced apartments and two premium suites. The ground floor hosts a casual cafe bar, restaurant with a sunken fire lounge, and the Sideline sports bar. The fifth floor features a rooftop bar called Wonderland with a gold disco ball pizza oven and panoramic views from the coast to the Adelaide Hills.The project replaced the former Tonsley Hotel and officially opened on May 8, 2026.
Belair Road Retaining Walls Maintenance
Essential maintenance works on the retaining walls along Belair Road, below the Windy Point Lookout, to ensure the long-term structural integrity of the road.
Panorama Place Estate
A residential development offering 56 new homes, including land for sale and house and land packages, designed for contemporary living.
SA Health - Building a Bigger Health System in the South (Daw Park Urgent Care Hub & other upgrades)
A comprehensive program to expand and upgrade health services across Southern Adelaide, adding 228 additional hospital beds at Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital, and the Repat Health Precinct. Key components include: an SA Health Urgent Care Hub in Daw Park (formerly Complex and RestorativE (CARE) service), an expanded Transitional Care Unit at Flinders Medical Centre, a new medical imaging suite, redevelopment of the Margaret Tobin Centre (including a new 12-bed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit), and a 26-bed Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit at the Repat Health Precinct.The program aims to provide better health services closer to home and reduce pressure on emergency departments.
Believe Housing Australia - Panorama Apartments
A $13.7 million four-level apartment building offering 18 two-bedroom modern apartments and five specialist disability accommodation apartments. This development provides affordable rental accommodation significantly below the market rate.
Springbank Secondary College upgrade
Refurbishment to the main building for contemporary learning spaces on both the ground and first floor, circulation spaces, new disability unit classes and a new fully assisted toilet amenities.
Fig Tree Terraces
A residential development in Melrose Park delivering 36 new homes, including 21 homes sold off the plan and 15 social housing apartments. The project is located in a leafy neighbourhood, offering walkability to key amenities such as shops and transport. It contributes to housing supply in the Adelaide South Growth Areas.
1,974 residents of Colonel Light Gardens are employed, from a labour force of 2,003. Unemployment sits at 1.4%, with participation at 75.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,458, about 75% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. 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 local workforce is highly educated, showing a substantial presence in professional services, with an unemployment rate of only 1.4%, and an annual employment expansion estimated at 4.4%, calculated via AreaSearch aggregations of local statistical boundaries. For March 2026, working residents numbered 1,974, with unemployment sitting 2.4% below the Greater Adelaide rate of 3.8%, while labour participation is exceptionally high at 75.6% compared with 66.6% in Greater Adelaide. Census records indicate that a moderate 15.7% of the workforce operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions must be taken into account.
The primary employment fields for working locals are health care & social assistance, education & training, along with professional & technical services. Educational instruction is a major specialization, with a local share that is 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing is less common, employing 5.2% of the local workforce relative to 7.0% across Greater Adelaide. This mostly residential setting appears to provide few local jobs, as highlighted by comparing the count of Census jobs in the area to working residents. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS figures aggregated from regional units for the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 4.4% and the workforce expanded by 4.1%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Greater Adelaide recorded job growth of 4.2%, workforce growth of 4.0%, and a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective hiring requirements within the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens. These five and ten-year projections have been modeled against the local industrial distribution to calculate growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by industry. Mapping these sector-specific forecasts to the local workforce mix indicates local employment should rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (note this is a basic weighted projection for visualization and does not integrate local population trends).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Colonel Light Gardens is $2,491 a week (about $130,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,042 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $65,159 a year against an average of $84,115. 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
Postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023 show a median taxpayer income of $65,159 and an average of $84,115 in the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens. These statistics are among the highest in Australia, compared to a median of $54,808 and average of $66,852 in Greater Adelaide. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.17% since the financial year 2023, current estimates would be roughly $71,786 for the median and $92,669 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reveals household, family, and personal incomes all score highly, placing in the 82nd to 90th national percentiles.
The weekly income band of $1,500 - 2,999 is the most common, accounting for 30.2% of residents (995 people), which matches the broader region where 31.8% fall in this category. A notable 41.5% earn over $3,000 per week, indicating local affluence that supports retail activity. After paying for housing, locals keep 88.8% of their earnings, demonstrating strong spending capacity, and the local SEIFA income score falls in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Colonel Light Gardens had 1,158 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 91% detached houses and 3% apartments. 47% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,173 a month. Rent absorbs 16.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential patterns show that at the time of the latest Census, houses accounted for 91.2% of properties while 8.8% were other types, such as apartments, semi-detached houses, or miscellaneous dwellings, contrasting with Adelaide metro where houses made up 75.2% and other configurations stood at 24.9%. Home ownership was also much higher than the metropolitan average at 41.9%, with remaining residences split between those with a mortgage (46.5%) and those being rented (11.6%). The median monthly home loan payment was $2,173, notably above the Adelaide metro baseline of $1,562, while the median weekly rent stood at $400, compared to Adelaide metro's $320.
Across Australia, local home loan repayments are much higher than the national median of $1,863, and rent exceeds the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Colonel Light Gardens counted 1,158 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 46% are couples with children, more than in 90% of areas nationally, against 27% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 82.2%, consisting of couples with children at 45.8%, couples without children at 26.9%, and single parent households at 8.6%. Non-family households represent the remaining 17.8%, with single-occupant homes at 16.3% and group housing at 1.5%. The typical household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Greater Adelaide median of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
41.7% of adults in Colonel Light Gardens hold a university qualification, including 27.0% with a bachelor degree and 9.0% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 93% of areas nationally. A further 15.6% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 864 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,107 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
Academic credentials in the local population are considerably higher than regional averages, with 41.7% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, compared to 25.7% across SA and 28.1% in the SA4 region. This educational profile positions the local workforce well for knowledge-intensive roles. Bachelor degrees are the most frequent credential at 27.0%, with postgraduate degrees at 9.0% and graduate diplomas at 5.7%. Vocational qualifications are also well represented, with 27.0% of residents aged 15+ holding technical diplomas or certificates, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (15.6%). School and university attendance is high, with 32.0% of local residents actively enrolled in an educational institution.
This comprises 10.6% in primary schools, 10.2% in high schools, and 6.8% studying at the tertiary level.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Colonel Light Gardens reaches 22 stops on 22 routes, timetabled for about 1,800 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit networks include 22 active stops within the suburb, providing a combination of bus services. These points of transit are connected to 22 distinct routes, which together service 1,788 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is rated as excellent, with a typical distance of 168 meters to the closest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, the majority of commuters travel out of the suburb, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 85%, followed by buses at 6% and bicycles at 3%. Car ownership stands at 1.8 vehicles per household, higher than the regional average.
Census data from 2021 shows that 15.7% of workers worked from home, which may reflect the pandemic conditions. Service frequency across the transit network averages 255 journeys per day, translating to roughly 81 weekly journeys per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.6% of residents in Colonel Light Gardens report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 85% of areas nationally. 4.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 60.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators reveal excellent wellness levels across the local population, based on AreaSearch analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, with younger residents displaying very low rates of common illnesses. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is exceptionally high, covering about 60% of the population (1,984 people) compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. Asthma and arthritis are the most common chronic conditions, affecting 7.4% and 7.0% of residents, respectively, while 72.6% reported having no chronic medical issues compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. The working-age population is highly healthy with low rates of disease.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.8% of the community (520 people), which is below the Greater Adelaide benchmark of 19.2%. Seniors here experience above-average health outcomes, though they rank lower nationally than the younger cohorts in the suburb.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Colonel Light Gardens is largely Australian-born, at 85.5% of residents, with 8.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.9%) and Australian (26.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is below average, with 85.5% of the population born in Australia, 95.2% holding citizenship, and 91.7% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 45.3% of the community. However, the most pronounced difference is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.1% across Greater Adelaide. Looking at ancestral backgrounds (parents' place of birth), the three largest heritages are English at 30.9%, Australian at 26.5%, and Scottish at 7.9%. There are also distinct variations in other ethnic groups, with Polish origins overrepresented at 1.2% (relative to 1.0% across the region), German at 6.0% (relative to 5.1%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (relative to 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Colonel Light Gardens is 42. 21.9% 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
With a median age of 42, the local population is slightly older than Greater Adelaide's median of 39 and sits higher than the national median of 38. The 45 - 54 age bracket is highly represented at 15.9% compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 25 - 34 bracket is less common at 8.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 3.8% to 5.0%, whereas the 45 to 54 bracket decreased from 17.5% to 15.9%. Projections indicate that the age structure will change notably by 2041.
The group aged 75 to 84 is expected to rise by 21% (35 people), growing from 164 to 200. This shift toward an older demographic is clear, with individuals aged 65+ making up 52% of the expected population growth. In contrast, the cohorts aged 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 are projected to decrease in size.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Colonel Light Gardens
8 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 Suburb (SAL) 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,311 at the 2021 Census → 3,297 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 (SAL40286). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.