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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 3,375 residents, up from 3,311 at the 2021 Census — a change of 64 people, or 1.9%. That puts 2,177 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 AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates alongside validated post-Census addresses, the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens has an estimated population of approximately 3,375 as of Aug 2026. This represents a gain of 64 people (1.9%) over the 3,311 people counted at the 2021 Census. The calculation stems from an estimated resident count of 3,366, derived from address validation together with the June 2025 ABS ERP release. The suburb's population density stands at 2,177 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical benchmark across nationwide areas evaluated by AreaSearch. Inbound international migration served as the primary, virtually exclusive contributor to recent population expansion.
Population forecasting by AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections based on 2022. Where SA2 coverage is absent, or beyond 2032, figures apply the South Australian State Government's 2023 age-specific Regional/LGA projections (grounded in 2021 data) via weighted aggregation from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Future projections indicate bottom-quartile growth relative to national statistical zones, with the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens projected to add 37 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2 modeling, corresponding to an overall rise of 0.8% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Not a single residential building approval has been granted in Colonel Light Gardens over the preceding five years. This pattern highlights a fully built-out, established location constrained by a lack of vacant land for new construction. For prospective purchasers, this minimal flow of additional dwellings underpins local real estate values, focusing buyer activity on the established housing stock. Building activity in Colonel Light Gardens tracks markedly lower than Greater Adelaide. The persistent shortage of freshly built homes generally bolsters buyer competition and pricing across the existing residential market. Construction volumes also sit below national standards, reflecting an established urban fabric alongside potential regulatory and planning limits.
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
Local socioeconomic performance is heavily shaped by surrounding capital works, urban strategies, and public infrastructure developments. AreaSearch has pinpointed 5 key projects positioned to influence the area, notably the Springbank Road Pedestrian Actuated Crossing, the SA Health initiative Building a Bigger Health System in the South (comprising the Daw Park Urgent Care Hub and associated upgrades), the Believe Housing Australia development at Panorama Apartments, and the New Hospital and Allied Centre situated within the Repat Health Precinct.
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
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.
2,029 residents of Colonel Light Gardens are employed, from a labour force of 2,061. Unemployment sits at 1.6%, with participation at 75.9%. 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 2,510, about 74% 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
An exceptionally skilled local workforce distinguishes Colonel Light Gardens, where professional roles are prominent, the jobless rate is merely 1.6%, and yearly job growth reached an estimated 5.1% according to AreaSearch aggregated data. As of March 2026, 2,029 residents are employed, the unemployment rate sits 2.3% below the 3.8% recorded for Greater Adelaide, and labor force participation is elevated at 75.9% compared to 66.4% across Greater Adelaide. Census figures indicated that 15.7% of working residents operated from home, a metric potentially influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary sectors employing local workers are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical.
The suburb exhibits a notable concentration in education & training, capturing an employment share 1.4 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, manufacturing remains subdued, engaging only 5.2% of the local workforce compared with 7.0% across Greater Adelaide. With local residential worker counts outpacing local employment positions at the Census, the suburb functions predominantly as a residential base with limited commercial workplaces within its borders. AreaSearch compilation of ABS and SALM figures across wider statistical areas shows that in the 12 months to March 2026, local employment expanded by 5.1% against a 4.8% rise in the workforce, driving down unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Across Greater Adelaide, employment grew by 4.2%, the labor supply increased by 4.0%, and unemployment decreased by 0.2 percentage points. Longer-term workforce trajectories can be gauged through the Mar-26 national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia. Calibrated against the local occupational profile over five- and ten-year horizons, these figures offer a sector-weighted outlook. While total Australian employment is projected to climb 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, local industry distributions indicate Colonel Light Gardens could achieve employment growth of 6.9% across five years and 14.3% across ten years (representing a baseline weighting calculation for comparison without localized population adjustments).
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
Taxation statistics from the ATO for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicate that personal earnings in the suburb of Colonel Light Gardens rank among the top tiers nationwide, recording a median of $65,159 and an average of $84,115. These amounts outpace Greater Adelaide, where the median is $54,808 and the average is $66,852. Adjusting for a 10.17% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 brings estimated income levels to roughly $71,786 (median) and $92,669 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all sit between the 82nd and 90th percentiles nationally.
The largest income tier is the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, encompassing 30.2% of residents (1,019 people), mirroring the regional concentration of 31.8%. Higher earners form an extensive cohort, with 41.5% bringing in over $3,000 per week, underpinning high spending capacity. After meeting mortgage and rent commitments, households preserve 88.8% of their gross earnings, placing the suburb in the 9th decile on the SEIFA income index.
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
Single detached houses accounted for 91.2% of the housing stock in Colonel Light Gardens at the most recent Census, with semi-detached properties, units, and other formats comprising 8.8%, compared to 75.2% separate houses and 24.9% other dwelling types across Adelaide metro. Outright homeownership was noticeably higher than the wider metropolitan area at 41.9%, alongside 46.5% of homes carrying a mortgage and 11.6% occupied by tenants. Median monthly mortgage obligations were elevated at $2,173 relative to $1,562 across Adelaide metro, while median weekly rent stood at $400 versus $320 regionally. Compared to the broader country, mortgage servicing costs exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents outstrip the national mark 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 constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 82.2% of all households, encompassing couples with children (45.8%), childless couples (26.9%), and single parent households (8.6%). The remaining 17.8% consists of non-family living situations, with lone person residences accounting for 16.3% and shared group dwellings representing 1.5%. The average household size stands at 2.8 people, exceeding the 2.5 average recorded across Greater Adelaide.
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
Educational attainment among Colonel Light Gardens residents stands substantially above state and regional averages, with 41.7% of persons aged 15+ holding a higher education degree compared to 25.7% across SA and 28.1% in the SA4 region. This high qualification profile underpins the community's access to knowledge-intensive careers. Holding a bachelor degree is most common at 27.0%, alongside postgraduate degrees (9.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational qualifications are also widespread, with 27.0% of residents aged 15+ holding technical certifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificate qualifications (15.6%). A significant portion of the population is engaged in study, with 32.0% of residents attending an educational institution.
This proportion comprises 10.6% in primary schooling, 10.2% attending secondary school, and 6.8% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Colonel Light Gardens reaches 22 stops on 21 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
The public transit network within Colonel Light Gardens includes 22 active bus stops. These points are connected by 21 separate routes, generating 1,786 passenger services on a weekly basis. Transit connectivity is rated as excellent, with households situated an average of 168 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, commuting is outward-focused, with private vehicles accounting for 85% of work journeys, alongside 6% using buses and 3% travelling by bicycle. Households maintain an average of 1.8 motor vehicles, above the regional norm, while 15.7% of workers worked from home at the 2021 Census during a period subject to COVID-19 influences.
Daily public transit services across all available routes average 255 journeys, representing roughly 81 departures per stop across a seven-day week.
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
Community wellness metrics evaluated by AreaSearch indicate excellent health profiles throughout Colonel Light Gardens, evidenced by low chronic illness and mortality rates, especially within younger demographics. Private health insurance participation is remarkably strong, covering roughly 60% of the population (2,031 people) compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent ongoing medical conditions in the suburb, reported by 7.4 and 7.0% of the community respectively. Meanwhile, 72.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, outpacing the 67.9% recorded across Greater Adelaide. Working-age cohorts show high vitality with minimal long-term health burdens.
Persons aged 65 and over make up 15.6% of the local population (526 people), a smaller share than the 19.1% seen across Greater Adelaide. While senior health markers remain above average, their relative nationwide ranking is slightly below that of the suburb's broader population.
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 measures in Colonel Light Gardens track below metropolitan averages, with 85.5% of inhabitants born in Australia, 95.2% holding Australian citizenship, and 91.7% speaking solely English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, accounting for 45.3% of the community. In relative terms, the most prominent religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of residents compared to 0.1% across Greater Adelaide. Looking at ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the three most common heritages in Colonel Light Gardens are English (30.9%), Australian (26.5%), and Scottish (7.9%). Divergences are also evident among other backgrounds, with higher concentrations than regional benchmarks observed for Polish ancestry at 1.2% (vs 1.0% regionally), German at 6.0% (vs 5.1%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Colonel Light Gardens is 42. 22.1% 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 demographic profile of Colonel Light Gardens is characteristic of an established family-centric community. Updated figures for August 2026 indicate that 30.0% of the population belongs to middle-aged and mature pre-retiree brackets (45 - 64), compared with 23.0% across Greater Adelaide, while younger adults (25 - 44) account for 21.1% against 28.9% regionally. The estimated median age is 42, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 3 years higher than the Greater Adelaide median of 39 recorded at that Census. Since the Census, the share of middle-aged and early retiree residents shifted from 31.8% to an estimated 30.0%.
Moving toward 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among older residents and seniors (65+), rising by 38 residents (7%) to 565, whereas counts of children, youth, and younger adults are projected to contract.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,311 at the 2021 Census → 3,375 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 Aug 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.