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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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Gilles Plains has an estimated 4,510 residents, up from 4,101 at the 2021 Census — a change of 409 people, or 10.0%. Growth has averaged 2.1% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 87.0% of that increase. That puts 2,563 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 census analysis of ABS updates for the region and new address details verified by AreaSearch, the suburb of Gilles Plains has an estimated population of approximately 4,510 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 409 residents (10.0%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 4,101 inhabitants. This variation is derived from the resident count of 4,507 estimated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside 14 validated new addresses added since the census. The current population translates to a density of 2,562 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of national areas assessed by AreaSearch.
The suburb of Gilles Plains recorded a 10.0% expansion rate that outpaced the state figure of 7.5% as well as Greater Adelaide, making it a regional growth leader. Population gains in recent times were mostly driven by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 87.0% of the overall increase. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for SA2 areas. For areas lacking this data and for periods after 2032, regional projections by the SA State Government from 2023 based on 2021 data are used, with adjustments made by aggregating growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Demographic models indicate that the suburb of Gilles Plains will experience a population rise slightly below the national median, gaining 472 residents by 2041 to show a total expansion of 10.4% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
118 new dwellings have been approved in Gilles Plains over the past five years, an average of 23 a year. That places the area in the 77th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 26 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 92% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 64, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Building approvals data from the ABS allocated to the area shows the suburb of Gilles Plains averaging about 23 residential approvals annually, amounting to roughly 118 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 59 approvals have been logged. With an average of 3.7 additional residents per built home over the last 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, demand outstrips supply, which tends to drive up prices and heighten rivalry among purchasers, with new builds averaging $337,000 in value. Furthermore, commercial building approvals registered a minimal value of $64,000 during the current financial year.
When compared to Greater Adelaide, building activity per capita in the suburb of Gilles Plains is roughly 65% of the regional level, placing it in the 79th percentile nationally, although building pace has picked up lately. Recent projects consist of 92.0% separate houses and 8.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the traditional suburban look of the area by focusing on spacious family residences. The ratio stands at approximately 144 people for every home approval, suggesting a growing market. Demographic outlooks project the suburb of Gilles Plains to add 469 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. The current rate of construction indicates that new housing will comfortably satisfy demand, establishing favorable buyer conditions and potentially pushing growth above current population expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Gilles Plains
Loading development applications…
| 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 22 current infrastructure and development projects close to Gilles Plains, worth an estimated $1.83 billion. 4 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, residential development and retail. 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 major works are key drivers of regional growth. AreaSearch has identified no projects in progress that are expected to influence the local area. Key regional projects include the Gawler Line Electrification & Level Crossing Removals, the Walkleys Road Corridor, the Valley View Secondary School upgrade, and the Chain of Trails Master Plan.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Thorndon Park Reserve Master Plan Implementation
Staged upgrade and implementation of the Thorndon Park Master Plan in Paradise, SA. Completed works include the all-inclusive Super Playground (opened December 2022), car parking improvements, and Hamilton Terrace entrance upgrade. Stage 1 community consultation on the revised Draft Master Plan closed November 2025, with Council considering engagement outcomes at its 21 April 2026 meeting. Future projects under consideration include improved oval space, enhanced wetlands and lake edging, a revamped central plaza and kiosk, amphitheatre relocation, heritage building repurposing, and potential accommodation bays.
Walkleys Road Corridor
The City of Salisbury's largest residential development, delivering around 220 homes on a former road corridor reserve at Ingle Farm. Housing types include traditional allotments, low-maintenance lots, townhouses and super lots for integrated development. The project includes two new streets, shared paths and bikeways, upgraded green streetscapes, stormwater detention basins with biofiltration, and a $2 million district-level playspace at Baloo Reserve. Targeting 6-Star Green Star Communities accreditation - the first in South Australia. Planning application lodged June 2024, with five civil construction stages.First stage civil works and land release are anticipated to commence in 2026, with full delivery expected by 2030.
Modbury Hospital Redevelopment Project
The $117 million major upgrade of Modbury Hospital includes a state-of-the-art Health Precinct with a brand-new Cancer Centre featuring 12 chemotherapy chairs, and a new Mental Health Precinct with 44 beds (24 mental health rehabilitation beds and a 20-bed older persons mental health unit). The project also delivers a new five-storey multi-deck car park with over 300 spaces, marking the re-introduction of cancer services to the hospital after a decade. Expected completion is December 2025.
Oakden Rise
A 52-hectare master-planned community that will deliver up to 1,500 new homes in Adelaide's north-east. The development will feature a variety of housing options, a new community facility with a pool and gym, extensive parks, and a village centre.
Gawler Line Electrification & Level Crossing Removals
State and federal government project to electrify the 42km Gawler rail line from Adelaide CBD to Gawler, with 25kV AC overhead wiring, new signalling systems, upgrade of 14 stations, and activation of 13 pedestrian crossings. Electrified passenger services commenced June 2022. The complementary Ovingham Level Crossing Removal ($231M) replaced the high-risk Torrens Road crossing with a new overpass, public plaza and upgraded Ovingham Railway Station, completing in late 2023.
Valley View Secondary School upgrade
$14m upgrade delivering refurbished flexible arts facility, general learning areas, wellbeing support spaces, resource centre, administration areas, roof replacement and a new covered outdoor learning area. Works include cross-curricular flexible spaces and improved accessibility. Performing arts centre named after alumnus Raymond Crowe opened in 2024.
Euca Modbury Townhomes
Boutique development of 25 contemporary park-facing townhomes overlooking Australia Reserve. Features architecturally designed two-storey homes with 7-star energy rating, developed by local consortium Centina, Kolabb and Greenstate. Located just 20 minutes from Adelaide CBD and 1km from Tea Tree Plaza.
Finniss Avenue Reserve Housing Development
Proposed development of housing on a portion of Finniss Avenue Reserve as part of the Strategic Property Development Program. The project was in the concept planning process with community engagement closing in November 2021. The engagement summary report shows community feedback emphasizing retention of green space and potential upgrades to remaining reserve areas. The City of Salisbury is identifying underused surplus council land for future housing.
2,244 residents of Gilles Plains are employed, from a labour force of 2,360. Unemployment sits at 4.9%, with participation at 64.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% 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 suburb of Gilles Plains has a highly educated workforce with a strong presence in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of 4.9% and a 2.0% increase in jobs over the past year. In March 2026, 2,244 local residents were employed. The unemployment rate is 1.1% higher than the Greater Adelaide average of 3.8%, and the participation rate of 64.3% is slightly below the metropolitan benchmark of 66.6%. Census records indicate that a small portion of working residents, 8.7%, worked from home, though this figure was influenced by pandemic-related lockdowns.
The major employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety. Conversely, construction is underrepresented locally at 6.7% compared to the regional figure of 8.7%. Although there are local employment options, a comparison of the Census working population against local resident numbers indicates many workers travel to other areas for their jobs. Data from SALM and the ABS indicates that over the 12-month period, the number of employed individuals rose by 2.0% while the labor force grew by 2.4%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. In Greater Adelaide, employment rose by 4.2%, the labor force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future labor demand for the suburb of Gilles Plains. These five and ten-year forecasts have been compared to the local employment mix. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sectors vary. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment for the suburb of Gilles Plains should rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Gilles Plains is $1,446 a week (about $75,000 a year), with median personal income at $678 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $48,727 a year against an average of $53,964. 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
ATO records for the 2023 financial year show that the suburb of Gilles Plains has income levels below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $48,727 and the average income is $53,964, compared to Greater Adelaide averages of $54,808 and $66,852. Accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $53,683 for median income and $59,452 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes are modest, placing between the 24th and 32nd percentiles.
Furthermore, 35.8% of the population (1,614 residents) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the metropolitan average of 31.8%. Housing cost pressures are significant, leaving residents with only 82.3% of their income, which ranks in the 30th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Gilles Plains had 1,513 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 78% detached houses and 13% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 41% rented and 21% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $295 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,536 a month. Rent absorbs 20.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in the suburb of Gilles Plains at the time of the latest Census consisted of 77.6% houses and 22.4% other dwelling types such as townhouses and apartments, compared to 75.2% houses and 24.9% other options in the Adelaide metro area. Home ownership rates were lower than the metropolitan average, standing at 21.0%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (37.6%) or occupied by tenants (41.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the metropolitan average at $1,536, and the median weekly rent was $295, compared to metropolitan figures of $1,562 and $320.
Nationally, mortgage payments in the suburb of Gilles Plains are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Gilles Plains counted 1,513 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,664 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 22% couples without children. 26% 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 68.7% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 32.6%, couples without children at 22.0%, and single-parent homes at 12.6%. Non-family households account for 31.3%, with single-person households representing 26.0% and group houses making up 5.0%. The median household size is 2.6 residents, which is slightly larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
32.1% of adults in Gilles Plains hold a university qualification, including 20.4% with a bachelor degree and 9.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 19.7% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,292 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 992 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
Higher education rates in the suburb of Gilles Plains are notably high, with 32.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 19.8% in the SA4 region and 25.7% across the state. This educational profile positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational education is also strong, with 29.5% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 19.7%.
Enrolment rates are high, with 31.2% of the population currently engaged in study. This group is composed of 10.3% in primary school, 6.7% in tertiary institutions, and 6.6% in high school.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Gilles Plains reaches 24 stops on 20 routes, timetabled for about 2,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 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
There are 24 active public transport stops in the suburb of Gilles Plains, consisting of bus services. These stops serve 20 routes that carry a combined total of 1,984 passenger trips each week. Transport access is excellent, with residents living an average of 175 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area; private cars are the main mode of travel at 82%, followed by buses at 14%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.2 cars, which is below the metropolitan average. A relatively low 8.7% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census records which may reflect pandemic conditions.
Bus services run an average of 283 times daily across all routes, which averages out to approximately 82 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.5% of residents in Gilles Plains report no long-term health condition. 8.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
The suburb of Gilles Plains has notable health needs based on mortality and chronic illness data, with health issues being common, particularly among older residents. Private health insurance coverage is low at approximately 48% of the population (~2,181 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most common diagnoses, affecting 8.3% and 8.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 70.5% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Health metrics for working-age residents are typical.
Residents aged 65 and older make up 14.1% of the population (635 people), which is lower than the Greater Adelaide average of 19.2%. Senior health metrics present some difficulties, though they rank better nationally than the overall local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
44.1% of Gilles Plains residents were born overseas and 45.2% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 86% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (18.8%) and Australian (18.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Gilles Plains shows a high level of cultural diversity, with 44.1% of residents born outside Australia and 45.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the most common religion, followed by 36.8% of the population. There is a notable representation of Islam at 13.2% of the population, which is higher than the Greater Adelaide average of 3.0%. Regarding parental birthplace, the most common ancestries are Other at 21.5% of the population (compared to a regional average of 9.7%), English at 18.8% (compared to 27.8% regionally), and Australian at 18.4%.
There is also a higher proportion of Sri Lankan residents at 0.9% (versus 0.2% regionally), Indian residents at 7.5% (versus 2.3%), and Filipino residents at 2.4% (versus 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Gilles Plains is 36. 28.1% 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 median age of 36 in the suburb of Gilles Plains is slightly below the Greater Adelaide average of 39 and the national median of 38. The suburb has a higher proportion of residents aged 35 to 44 (18.3%) but fewer residents aged 65 to 74 (6.6%) compared to Greater Adelaide. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 16.7% to 18.3% of the population, while the 65 to 74 age cohort has decreased from 8.3% to 6.6%. Demographic projections for 2041 indicate that the 45 to 54 cohort will grow by 22% (116 people), expanding from 518 to 635, while the 75 to 84 cohort will decrease by 10 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Gilles Plains
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 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 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 — 14 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,101 at the 2021 Census → 4,510 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 (SAL40495). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.