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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 North has an estimated 1,587 residents, up from 1,307 at the 2021 Census — a change of 280 people, or 21.4%. Growth has averaged 4.2% a year over five years, faster than 91% of areas nationally. 107 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 83.0% of that increase. That puts 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
As of Aug 2026, the population of the suburb of Goolwa North stands at approximately 1,587 according to AreaSearch research synthesising broader ABS demographic updates and post-Census validated address counts. Compared to the 1,307 people recorded at the 2021 Census, this represents an expansion of 280 people (21.4%). This update builds upon an Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figure of 1,534 calculated by AreaSearch from June 2025 ABS figures alongside 107 validated new addresses identified since the Census benchmark. With a residential density of 176 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample physical room and scope for future growth.
Expanding by 21.4% since the 2021 census, the suburb of Goolwa North outpaced both the SA4 region and the Rest of SA (6.2%), establishing itself at the forefront of regional expansion. Inflow from interstate migration served as the core growth engine, generating around 83.0% of recent population additions. Projections for the suburb of Goolwa North incorporate 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modelling based on 2022 benchmarks. Where SA2 coverage is absent or extends past 2032, data is supplemented by 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort forecasts based on 2021 numbers, converted through weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 geographies. In line with prevailing demographic patterns, future expansion is slated to outstrip the median rate across regional Australia, with SA2 projections indicating a gain of 180 persons by 2041, representing an overall increase of 8.0% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
241 new dwellings have been approved in Goolwa North over the past five years, an average of 48 a year. That places the area in the 87th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 30 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 34 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 52, broadly in line with 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
Over the past 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, residential construction in Goolwa North has generated roughly 48 dwelling approvals per year, amounting to an estimated 241 homes based on AreaSearch allocations of ABS statistics. Building activity in FY-25 has reached 52 approvals to date. Because population growth has averaged 3.1 new residents per year per completed home across those 5 financial years, market demand runs well ahead of building volume, typically intensifying buyer competition and lifting asset values. Expected construction costs for new dwellings average $442,000, marginally above regional norms and pointing to higher-specification builds.
Non-residential activity remains subdued, with commercial approvals recording $2.8 million over the current financial year. Per capita residential development in Goolwa North exceeds the Rest of SA by 80.0%, providing purchasers with substantial housing choice. This volume substantially exceeds the national benchmark, highlighting elevated interest from builders. Furthermore, recent residential approvals have comprised exclusively detached dwellings, maintaining a low-density suburban landscape that caters to buyers seeking standalone housing and yard space. A ratio of approximately 29 people per approval underscores its profile as an active residential growth corridor. Based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, demographic projections anticipate an addition of 127 residents in Goolwa North through to 2041. Under existing residential construction volumes, upcoming housing delivery appears well positioned to satisfy anticipated demand, supporting favourable buyer purchasing conditions and potentially accommodating population growth above baseline projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Goolwa North
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| 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 27 current infrastructure and development projects close to Goolwa North, worth an estimated $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
Local capital works, planning schemes, and major projects play a fundamental role in shaping an area's trajectory. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the locality. Key initiatives of relevance across the broader district include Goolwa Secondary College, Lakeside Lifestyle Resort Goolwa, SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28, and the SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program, with the principal developments summarized below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
429 residents of Goolwa North are employed, from a labour force of 445. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 31.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 1,437, about 91% 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
Employment across Goolwa North displays an even distribution between blue-collar and white-collar roles alongside healthy representation in essential services, with an unemployment rate standing at 3.6% and annual employment growth estimated at 5.9% via AreaSearch statistical area aggregations. As of March 2026429 residents are actively employed. While local unemployment sits 1.9% below the 5.5% benchmark for Regional SA, labour force participation remains comparatively subdued at 31.8% versus 58.3% across Regional SA. Census returns indicate that 8.9% of workers operated from home, though historical Covid-19 lockdown conditions should be factored into this figure.
The primary employment sectors for resident workers are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction shows exceptional local concentration, with workforce representation standing at 1.5 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 4.2% of the local workforce, trailing the 14.5% seen across Regional SA. Comparing resident worker counts with local job numbers from the Census suggests that on-site employment within the immediate locality remains relatively limited. Analysis by AreaSearch of ABS and SALM series shows that across the year to March 2026, local employment grew by 5.9% while the labour pool expanded by 6.5%, leading to a 0.5 percentage points rise in unemployment. Across Regional SA over the same timeframe, employment climbed 1.2%, the labour force grew 2.6%, and the jobless rate increased by 1.4 percentage points. Forward projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide further context for future labour demand. Nationally, employment is projected to expand 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories diverge by sector. Applying these national industry weights to the local workforce mix suggests Goolwa North employment could grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (representing a weighted baseline calculation that does not incorporate local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Goolwa North is $948 a week (about $49,000 a year), with median personal income at $520 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $36,530 a year against an average of $49,050. 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 taxation statistics aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show Goolwa North recorded a median taxpayer income of $36,530 and an average income of $49,050. These figures track below national levels and compare to $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average) across Regional SA. Factoring in Wage Price Index movement of 10.17% since financial year 2023, modelled values reach approximately $40,245 for median income and $54,038 for average income as of March 2026. At the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all placed between the 2nd and 4th percentiles across Australia.
In terms of brackets, 37.7% of local earners (598 individuals) fall into the $800 - 1,499 weekly range, whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads regionally at 27.5%. Despite manageable housing outlays allowing residents to retain 90.0% of income, overall disposable income sits at the 5th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Goolwa North had 602 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 0% apartments. 19% are owned with a mortgage, 14% rented and 66% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $270 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,246 a month. Rent absorbs 28.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 30.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, standalone houses made up 97.7% of residential stock in Goolwa North, with semi-detached properties, units, and other formats accounting for the remaining 2.3%, contrasting with 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings in Regional SA. Outright home ownership is notably elevated at 66.2%, well above Regional SA, while properties under a mortgage represent 19.4% and rental accommodation accounts for 14.4%. Median monthly mortgage costs stood at $1,246 and median weekly rent was $270, compared to $1,153 and $220 across Regional SA. On a nationwide scale, local mortgage commitments are considerably lighter than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents track well below the national mark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Goolwa North counted 602 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 731 today, averaging 2.0 people each. 12% are couples with children, fewer than in 96% of areas nationally, against 49% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of domestic living arrangements at 66.6%, consisting of couples without children (49.3%), couples with children (11.8%), and single parent families (4.8%). Non-family residences make up the remaining 33.4%, dominated by lone person households at 30.1% alongside group households at 2.6%. The typical household size sits at a median of 2.0 people, which is smaller than the 2.3 figure recorded for Regional SA.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.3% of adults in Goolwa North hold a university qualification, including 12.3% with a bachelor degree and 2.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 27.3% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment presents an area for development, with university qualifications held by 17.3% of residents compared to the national average of 30.4%, creating a clear pathway for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees form the largest higher education segment at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Meanwhile, technical and vocational pathways are strongly represented, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (14.7%) and certificates (27.3%). Overall, 15.4% of the population is actively engaged in formal study across school and tertiary institutions.
This comprises 7.5% attending primary education, 4.5% enrolled in secondary education, and 1.3% undertaking tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Goolwa North means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 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
51.7% of residents in Goolwa North report no long-term health condition. 7.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 2.4 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 across Goolwa North remain generally favourable based on AreaSearch evaluations of mortality figures and condition prevalence, with lower incidence of common ailments across both younger and older cohorts. However, private hospital cover is held by only around 46% of the population (~737 people). This trails both Regional SA at 48.9% and the broader Australian level of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions rank as the most prevalent diagnosed ailments locally, impacting 15.6 and 8.2% of residents respectively, while 51.7% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 62.5% across Regional SA.
Working-age residents experience higher relative rates of chronic health issues. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 55.5% of the community (880 people), substantially higher than the 27.1% share across Regional SA, with elderly health outcomes rating strongly and aligning closely with wider national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Goolwa North is largely Australian-born, at 77.7% of residents, with 1.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (39.2%) and Australian (27.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Goolwa North is relatively concentrated, with Australian-born residents accounting for 77.7% of the locality, Australian citizens comprising 93.3%, and 98.3% speaking exclusively English in the home. In terms of faith, Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, declared by 49.2% of the local community compared to 45.2% across Regional SA. Looking at parental country of birth, the three most widespread ancestries in Goolwa North are English (39.2%, noticeably above the 32.5% regional share), Australian (27.6%), and Scottish (9.1%). Other cultural backgrounds show distinct local patterns: Dutch ancestry accounts for 2.3% (versus 1.3% regionally), German stands at 6.5% (versus 8.2% regionally), and French makes up 0.5% (versus 0.3% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Goolwa North is 65, older than 99% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 11.1% 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 suburb of Goolwa North features an older demographic profile relative to the broader region. As at August 2026, seniors aged 65+ comprise 55.5% of the population, compared to 27.1% across Regional SA, while youth cohorts aged 0 - 24 represent 15.9% against a regional benchmark of 26.4%. The median age is estimated at 65, down slightly from 66 at the 2021 Census but 18 years above the Regional SA figure of 47 and well above the Australian median of 38 recorded at that Census. Among intermediate brackets, residents aged 45 - 64 reduced from 21.0% at the Census to an estimated 18.4%.
Specifically, the 65 to 74 bracket contracted from 32.8% to an estimated 30.2%, while the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 19.3% to 21.4% without an incoming younger cohort to balance the shift. Looking ahead to 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among the 65+ cohort, projected to add 133 residents (15%) to reach 1,014, while younger brackets and middle-aged groups are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Goolwa North
9 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 9 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 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 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 — 107 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,307 at the 2021 Census → 1,587 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 (SAL40523). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.