Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Hindmarsh Island has an estimated 2,475 residents, up from 1,846 at the 2021 Census — a change of 629 people, or 34.1%. Growth has averaged 6.6% a year over five years, faster than 96% of areas nationally. 322 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 83.0% of that increase. Density is about 38 people per 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
In the suburb of Hindmarsh Island, the population is estimated to have reached approximately 2,475 people as of Aug 2026, according to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader ABS population updates and address validations recorded post-Census. Compared to the 2021 Census count of 1,846 people, this represents an addition of 629 people, or an expansion of 34.1%. This demographic shift builds on the resident population baseline of 2,407 determined by AreaSearch from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, alongside 322 validated new addresses registered following the Census. With an expansive living environment, the current count translates to a density of 37 persons per square kilometer.
Outperforming both the Rest of SA (6.2%) and the broader SA4 region, the suburb of Hindmarsh Island established itself as a regional growth frontrunner through its 34.1% post-2021 census surge. Interstate migration served as the primary growth engine, accounting for roughly 83.0% of recent population additions. For local modeling, AreaSearch utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for SA2 boundaries. Where data is absent or for horizons beyond 2032, figures incorporate the SA State Government's 2023 age-specific Regional/LGA projections (based on 2021 data) via weighted LGA-to-SA2 aggregation. Long-term outlooks place the suburb of Hindmarsh Island slightly under the median pace of regional Australian areas, with aggregated SA2-level figures anticipating a gain of 210 persons up to 2041, corresponding to an overall rise of 5.7% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
246 new dwellings have been approved in Hindmarsh Island over the past five years, an average of 49 a year. That places the area in the 89th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 20 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 62 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 85, 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
Statistical building approval figures compiled by AreaSearch show that Hindmarsh Island has averaged approximately 49 residential approvals annually, yielding an estimated total of 246 homes across the last 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 85 approvals have been documented. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the local market added an average of 2.3 new residents per year per finished home, underscoring solid underlying demand, while approved construction values average $442,000—moderately higher than regional figures and pointing toward higher-spec builds. On the non-residential front, $6.8 million in commercial development approvals was logged during this financial year, pointing to a comparatively subdued commercial building pipeline.
Per capita residential building approvals in Hindmarsh Island exceed the Rest of SA by 118.0%, creating broad options for prospective purchasers. This elevated level of building activity surpasses national benchmarks, demonstrating substantial builder and developer interest. All recent building permits have been for standalone houses, preserving the low-density lifestyle and family-oriented scale sought by buyers prioritizing room to move. A ratio of roughly 24 people per approval further reflects an evolving residential footprint. Demographic projections anticipate an intake of 142 residents for Hindmarsh Island leading into 2041 relative to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly baseline. With building activity progressing at current rates, the delivery of new housing is well placed to satisfy residential needs, offering favorable buying conditions and potentially facilitating growth exceeding existing population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Hindmarsh Island
Loading development applications…
| 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 Hindmarsh Island. 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
Local economic momentum is heavily shaped by major civic infrastructure, capital works, and planning frameworks. AreaSearch has identified 5 active projects holding significance for the region, highlighted by Coorong Quays Estate, Airpark Estate, Lakeside Lifestyle Resort Goolwa, and Goolwa Oval Recreation 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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
934 residents of Hindmarsh Island are employed, from a labour force of 971. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 45.0%. 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, 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 2,755, about 111% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market in Hindmarsh Island features a skilled workforce across a variety of sectors, characterized by an unemployment rate of 3.8% and annual job growth of 7.7%, according to AreaSearch aggregations. As of March 2026, employed residents total 934, keeping the jobless rate 1.6% lower than Regional SA's 5.5%, even though the participation rate of 45.0% trails the Regional SA benchmark of 58.3%. Census figures show 14.0% of workers operated from home, a figure influenced by Covid-19 restrictions during that period. Resident employment is primarily clustered across health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.
Health care & social assistance represents a notable regional specialty, engaging 1.3 times the regional proportion of workers. In comparison, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for 4.5% of local employment, well under the 14.5% regional norm. At the Census, the local economy registered 0.6 workers per resident, pointing to above-average access to nearby jobs. SALM and ABS records analyzed by AreaSearch indicate that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 7.7% while the labour pool expanded by 8.5%, leading to an unemployment uptick of 0.7 percentage points, whereas Regional SA saw employment rise 1.2%, the labour force rise 2.6%, and unemployment increase by 1.4 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 projections outline nationwide employment gains of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with performance varying by industry. Extrapolating these industry trends against Hindmarsh Island's occupational profile indicates potential job growth of 6.4% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, representing a simple illustrative weighting that does not factor in local population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Hindmarsh Island is $1,123 a week (about $58,000 a year), with median personal income at $581 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $40,815 a year against an average of $54,804. 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 AreaSearch's compilation of ATO tax records for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the suburb of Hindmarsh Island had a median income of $40,815 and an average income of $54,804. These figures sit below nationwide benchmarks as well as Regional SA averages of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% from financial year 2023, indexed figures reach approximately $44,966 for the median and $60,378 for the average as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual brackets, Census measures position local earnings between the 8th and 9th percentiles nationally.
Locally, 35.3% of earners (873 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 weekly band, whereas the leading bracket regionally is $1,500 - 2,999 at 27.5%. Although residents retain 87.0% of their earnings after housing commitments, overall disposable income places at the 12th percentile in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Hindmarsh Island had 783 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 88% detached houses and 0% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 55% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,365 a month. Rent absorbs 29.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 28.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that the residential landscape in Hindmarsh Island consists of 87.8% separate houses and 12.2% other dwellings including apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional SA records 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Outright ownership sits at 54.8%, substantially exceeding Regional SA levels, alongside 24.2% of homes under a mortgage and 21.0% occupied by renters. Median monthly mortgage payments stand at $1,365 and median weekly rent is $330, both tracking above the Regional SA figures of $1,153 and $220. Compared to Australian benchmarks, Hindmarsh Island's mortgage repayments remain well below the national level of $1,863, with rents also significantly under the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Hindmarsh Island counted 783 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,050 today, averaging 2.2 people each. 15% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 50% couples without children. 23% 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
Families make up 73.9% of local households, led by couples without children at 50.1%, followed by couples with children at 14.9% and single parent families at 8.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for the other 26.1%, consisting of lone person households (22.6%) and group households (3.2%). With a median size of 2.2 people, local households are marginally smaller than the Regional SA standard of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.7% of adults in Hindmarsh Island hold a university qualification, including 12.9% with a bachelor degree and 3.2% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 76% of areas nationally. A further 28.3% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary attainment presents an area for development, as 18.7% of residents hold a university qualification compared to the 30.4% Australian figure. Among higher education credentials, bachelor degrees represent 12.9%, postgraduate degrees account for 3.2%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.6%. Technical and vocational training is strongly represented, with 42.1% of the population aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between certificates (28.3%) and advanced diplomas (13.8%). Overall, 18.6% of residents participate in formal education. Primary school attendance accounts for 7.6% of the population, secondary education comprises 5.8%, and 2.0% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Hindmarsh Island means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
57.1% of residents in Hindmarsh Island report no long-term health condition. 7.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Local health trends align closely with nationwide benchmarks according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and medical diagnoses, showing lower incidence rates for typical ailments across both older and younger residents. Private health coverage is low, with approximately 49% of residents (~1,205 people) holding private insurance, compared to the 55.7% national level. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported ailments, diagnosed in 13.5 and 8.9% of residents respectively, while 57.1% reported no medical conditions, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Higher rates of chronic conditions are evident among working-age individuals.
Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 43.3% of the community (1,071 people), exceeding the Regional SA share of 27.1%, and exhibit above-average overall health metrics in line with national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Hindmarsh Island is largely Australian-born, at 77.2% of residents, with 2.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (40.7%) and Australian (25.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Hindmarsh Island track below regional norms, with 77.2% of residents born in Australia, 91.3% holding Australian citizenship, and 97.1% using solely English at home. Christianity represents the predominant faith, practiced by 44.4% of the population. Judaism reflects the most noticeable relative divergence, accounting for 0.2% of local residents while none were recorded across Regional SA. Regarding parental ancestry, English heritage leads local representation at 40.7%, well above the 32.5% regional proportion, followed by Australian ancestry at 25.4% (below the 31.3% regional level) and Scottish ancestry at 8.7%.
Further ethnic background variations include German heritage at 5.6% locally (versus 8.2% across the region), Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%), and Hungarian at 0.3% (against 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Hindmarsh Island is 60, older than 98% of areas nationally. 12.4% 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 firmly establishes Hindmarsh Island as a lifestyle and retirement hub. Older residents aged 65+ comprise 43.3% of the community as at August 2026, compared to 27.1% in Regional SA, while younger demographics aged 0 - 24 represent 17.8% relative to the regional proportion of 26.4%. The estimated median age stands at 60, matching the 2021 Census figure and surpassing the Regional SA Census median of 47 by 13 years, as well as the Australia-wide Census median of 38. Retiree and elderly groups expanded from 40.1% at the Census to an estimated 43.3% today, and projections indicate they will see the greatest absolute rise by 2041 with an increase of 153 residents (14%) to reach 1,225, whereas youth cohorts are anticipated to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Hindmarsh Island
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months 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 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 — 322 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,846 at the 2021 Census → 2,475 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 (SAL40598). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.