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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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Goolwa Beach has an estimated 2,254 residents, up from 2,222 at the 2021 Census — a change of 32 people, or 1.4%. That puts 558 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
Analysis of ABS population updates for the wider region and new addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census estimates the population of the suburb of Goolwa Beach at 2,254 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 32 residents (1.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 2,222 people. This shift is derived from a resident population of 2,218, estimated by AreaSearch using the ABS demographic release from June 2025 alongside 5 validated new addresses since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 557 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living and prospective capacity for future expansion.
The population growth in this locality was mostly propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 83.0% of the overall population increases in recent times. AreaSearch utilises projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for SA2 regions published in 2024, with 2022 as the base point. For SA2 areas without this coverage, and for the years after 2032, regional and LGA projections by age bracket released by the South Australian government in 2023 (using 2021 data) are applied, adjusted via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking forward, projections indicate population growth exceeding the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with the locality anticipated to add 278 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 data, representing an overall increase of 10.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
The suburb of Goolwa Beach sees minimal building activity, averaging 1 approvals annually, which translates to 8 dwellings over the five-year period. This low volume of construction is indicative of the rural character of the area, where building projects generally respond to specific local accommodation requirements rather than broad market dynamics. It is worth noting that due to the small sample size, individual building projects can heavily alter annual growth statistics and comparisons. Compared to the Rest of SA, the suburb of Goolwa Beach naturally exhibits a much lower volume of building activity.
Construction patterns also sit far below national benchmarks. Additionally, recent building activity has consisted entirely of detached houses, matching rural preferences for space and privacy. The ratio of 2224 people in the locality for each dwelling approval highlights a quiet development environment with low building volumes. Looking ahead, the suburb of Goolwa Beach is projected to add 242 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. With current construction volumes, the supply of new housing may struggle to keep pace with population growth, which could intensify competition among buyers and support upward pressure on property prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Goolwa Beach
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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 Goolwa Beach, worth an estimated $17 million. A further 26 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $1.72 billion. 9 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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 local infrastructure, planning schemes, and major projects represent significant influences on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 5 projects that are anticipated to affect the locality. Key initiatives include the Airpark Estate, Riverhaven Estate, Goolwa Wharf Precinct, and Goolwa Oval Recreation Precinct, with the major projects expected to have the most relevance detailed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Goolwa Wharf Precinct
Restoration and upgrade of the historic Goolwa Wharf area including Wharf, Wharf Shed and Signal Point Experience Centre with new public amenities, wayfinding and the Yuntulun Kuli-war exhibition. Works focused on heritage preservation, safety, accessibility and activation for events and local business, integrating First Nations stories.
Riverhaven Estate
Residential land development by AVJennings in Goolwa North, providing new homes. Stage 3 land is currently available for sale. Total of 27 new homes.
Goolwa Oval Recreation Precinct
Creation of a modern, accessible, and adaptable sporting and community precinct with upgraded change rooms, toilets, playing surfaces, lighting, scoring, and storage. Includes sustainable features like solar panels, rainwater storage, recycled materials, and new stormwater infrastructure for irrigation.
Goolwa Secondary College
New public secondary school for Goolwa opened in Term 1 2022 following a full site redevelopment completed Dec 2021. The project delivered contemporary learning areas including science labs, a knowledge hub (library), arts facilities, and design & technology spaces. Designed for staged growth to Year 12 by 2026, with 2024 enrolment reported at 213 students.
Coorong Quays Estate
Master-planned waterfront estate and marina on Hindmarsh Island with ongoing stages. Current activity includes the Riverview Release (Stage One) offering 30 allotments sized ~430-780 sqm, alongside continued marina, storage, and lifestyle village operations.
Lakeside Lifestyle Resort Goolwa
An established over-50s lifestyle community with world-class facilities including a swimming pool, gym, and bowling green. Phase 1 is fully occupied, with a planned extension awaiting ministerial approval.
Victor Harbor Baptist Church Expansion
Expansion of Victor Harbor Baptist Church to deliver a new main auditorium, children's ministry spaces, hospitality and kitchen facilities, upgraded amenities and expanded parking. Development approval was granted in 2021. The project remains approved but construction has been deferred while the church waits for construction costs to improve and fundraising capacity to increase. Church updates continue to describe the project as a live long-term priority.
Victor Retail Depot
Bulky goods retail development featuring two buildings accommodating four retail outlets with flexible tenancies ranging from 700sqm to 3,000sqm. Strategically positioned adjacent to national retailers including Aldi, Bunnings and Coles in Victor Harbor's primary retail corridor along Adelaide Road. The development is designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of commercial uses within South Australia's fastest growing coastal retail precinct on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
777 residents of Goolwa Beach are employed, from a labour force of 821. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 41.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,988, about 88% 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 workforce in the suburb of Goolwa Beach features a mix of white and blue collar jobs, with notable representation in lifestyle and retail fields, an unemployment rate of 5.4%, and relatively stable employment conditions over the preceding year, according to AreaSearch statistical aggregations. As of March 2026777 residents are employed, which aligns closely with the Regional SA unemployment rate of 5.5%, while the participation rate is significantly lower at 41.5% compared to 58.4% across Regional SA. Census data indicates that a low 11.1% of working residents operated from home, though the influence of pandemic lockdowns should be kept in mind.
The jobs held by residents are primarily concentrated within health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The retail sector exhibits a high concentration, with employment levels reaching 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, employing only 3.0% of the workforce in the suburb of Goolwa Beach compared to 14.5% in Regional SA. The highly residential character of the locality appears to limit local job opportunities, as suggested by the ratio of working residents to local jobs in the Census. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader regions, local employment remained unchanged by a flat margin (no growth or contraction) over the 12 months ending March 2026, while the labour force expanded by 0.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Regional SA experienced a 1.2% expansion in employment, a 2.6% increase in the labour force, and a 1.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand in the suburb of Goolwa Beach. These five and ten-year projections have been mapped against the local industry profile to estimate growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these sectoral trends to the employment profile of the suburb of Goolwa Beach suggests local jobs could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, noting this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes that excludes local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Goolwa Beach is $916 a week (about $48,000 a year), with median personal income at $525 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $36,881 a year against an average of $49,522. 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
According to the latest postcode level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023, personal earnings in the suburb of Goolwa Beach sit below the national average, with a median of $36,881 and an average of $49,522. This is lower than the Regional SA figures, where the median is $48,920 and the average is $58,933. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $40,632 for the median and $54,558 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Goolwa Beach are situated between the 1st and 5th percentiles nationally.
The largest income bracket contains 34.4% of local residents (775 people) earning between $400 - 799 weekly, whereas the leading cohort in the wider region is the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 27.5%. The fact that 41.5% of residents earn less than $800 weekly indicates economic difficulties for a large share of the population. Housing affordability challenges are notable, with just 84.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 3rd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Goolwa Beach had 1,004 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 0% apartments. 32% are owned with a mortgage, 22% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $275 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,083 a month. Rent absorbs 30.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential architecture in the suburb of Goolwa Beach at the time of the latest Census consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.4% alternative options such as semi-detached homes, units, or other dwellings, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings across Regional SA. Home ownership in the suburb of Goolwa Beach was notably higher than the regional average at 46.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (32.1%) or renting tenants (21.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,083, which is below the Regional SA average of $1,153, while the median weekly rent was $275, compared to $220 in Regional SA.
Nationally, mortgage costs in the suburb of Goolwa Beach are much lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are similarly well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Goolwa Beach counted 1,004 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 17% are couples with children, fewer than in 93% of areas nationally, against 37% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 63.9%, which includes 16.8% couples with children, 37.3% couples without children, and 8.4% single parents. Non-family households comprise the remaining 36.1%, with single occupant households representing 34.3% and shared households accounting for 1.9%. The median household size stands at 2.1 people, which is slightly smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.1% of adults in Goolwa Beach hold a university qualification, including 10.8% with a bachelor degree and 2.2% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.6% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment levels present a challenge in the area, as university graduation rates (15.1%) are significantly lower than the national benchmark of 30.4%. This represents both a hurdle and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational and practical training are highly prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (31.6%). A significant 20.0% of the local population is enrolled in formal studies.
This group includes 8.4% attending primary school, 5.5% in secondary school, and 1.4% enrolled in higher education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Goolwa Beach means driving: households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
53.2% of residents in Goolwa Beach report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 79% of areas nationally. 8.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.7 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 highlight notable challenges in the suburb of Goolwa Beach, according to AreaSearch analyses of mortality and chronic disease rates, with high prevalence rates observed across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is particularly low at roughly 47% of the population (~1,051 people). This is lower than the Regional SA rate of 48.9% and the national benchmark of 55.7%. The most common medical issues reported by residents were arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 13.8 and 10.1% of the population, respectively, while 53.2% reported being free of any long-term medical conditions, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA.
The working-age population experiences high rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 41.5% of the population (935 people), which exceeds the 27.1% share in Regional SA. Senior health outcomes present some difficulties, with national rankings aligning closely with the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Goolwa Beach is largely Australian-born, at 81.5% of residents, with 2.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (38.3%) and Australian (28.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Goolwa Beach exhibits lower cultural diversity compared to national averages, with 81.5% of residents born in Australia, 92.4% holding citizenship, and 97.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 40.4% of the population. The most pronounced religious overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which accounts for 1.5% of residents compared to 0.6% across Regional SA. Regarding family background and ancestral origins, the three largest groups in the suburb of Goolwa Beach are English at 38.3% of the population (exceeding the regional benchmark of 32.5%), Australian at 28.5%, and Scottish at 8.2%.
There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: German ancestry represents 7.2% of residents (compared to 8.2% regionally), Welsh accounts for 0.8% (compared to 0.5%), and Dutch makes up 1.8% (compared to 1.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Goolwa Beach is 58, older than 98% of areas nationally. 14.5% 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 58 years in the suburb of Goolwa Beach is much higher than the Regional SA average of 47 and the national average of 38 years. Relative to Regional SA, the suburb of Goolwa Beach has a higher proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 bracket (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (6.3%). The proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 is far above the national level of 6.1%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 13.3% to 16.0% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group grew from 6.6% to 8.2%.
Conversely, the 55 to 64 bracket shrank from 15.7% to 13.2% and the 65 to 74 cohort decreased from 21.0% to 19.8%. By 2041, demographic shifts will alter the local age distribution. The 85+ cohort is expected to increase dramatically, growing by 145 people (113%) from 128 to 274. Combined age brackets of 65 and over will make up 83% of total population growth, reflecting a rapidly aging community. In contrast, the counts of residents aged 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 are projected to fall.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Goolwa Beach
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) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| 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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 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 Aug 2025. | ||
| 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) | Jul 2026 last 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 — 5 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,222 at the 2021 Census → 2,254 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 (SAL40522). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.