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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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Kingscote has an estimated 2,056 residents, up from 1,962 at the 2021 Census — a change of 94 people, or 4.8%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 117 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 ABS demographic updates and new address verifications by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Kingscote has a population estimated at 2,056 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 94 individuals (4.8%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 1,962 residents. This shift is calculated from a resident base of 2,050, determined by AreaSearch utilizing the June 2025 ABS ERP release and 45 validated new addresses added post-Census. With this population level, the density ratio stands at 116 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for subsequent expansion.
Over the prior ten years, the suburb of Kingscote has shown stable expansion with a 0.9% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the broader SA4 territory. Growth was largely underpinned by overseas arrivals, who accounted for approximately 43.0% of the total population gains, with interstate arrivals and natural growth also contributing positively. AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 SA2 projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, which use 2022 as the base period. For regions omitted from these data files, or for periods past 2032, regional projections by age released in 2023 by the SA State Government using 2021 numbers are implemented, adjusted via weighted aggregation of population changes from LGA to SA2 tiers. Future demographic projections suggest the suburb of Kingscote will experience population growth above the median for national regional areas, with an projected increase of 314 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 projections, representing a 15.0% expansion over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
78 new dwellings have been approved in Kingscote over the past five years, an average of 15 a year. That is 7.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 17, 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
AreaSearch assessment of ABS building statistics shows that the suburb of Kingscote averages approximately 15 housing approvals annually, with 78 approvals recorded over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, and 16 approvals registered during FY-26 so far. With an average of 1.1 new residents per home over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, residential supply and demand appear closely aligned, supporting a balanced market, though recent statistics point to a moderation to 0.4 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years as supply expanded. The average cost of new residential builds is $431,000, indicating that builders are targeting the premium, upmarket sector.
Furthermore, commercial building approvals reached $3.3 million during the current financial year, highlighting the primarily residential profile of the locality. Compared to the Rest of SA, building activity per capita in the suburb of Kingscote is at approximately 60%, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all locations analyzed nationwide. The totality of new residential construction is comprised of standalone houses, preserving the classic low-density layout and prioritizing family-sized properties. There are roughly 128 people per dwelling approval, showing a low-density property market. Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Kingscote will add 308 residents by 2041 compared to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, residential supply should easily accommodate this growth, offering favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially facilitating expansion above current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Kingscote
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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 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Kingscote. A further 24 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.96 billion. 10 are already under construction and 9 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and tourism. 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 and planning changes affect property market dynamics. AreaSearch has identified 5 projects expected to impact the suburb of Kingscote. Notable initiatives include the Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion, the Kingscote Town Centre Project, the Kangaroo Island Wool Mill Retail and Commercial Buildings, and the Cajetan Amadio Mixed Use Development (Dauncey Street, Kingscote).
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Seaview Motel Renovation and Expansion
Renovation and expansion of the heritage-listed Seaview Motel, which includes reinstating the 100-seat restaurant and adding 28 premium and 14 standard suites, new reception, back-of-house facilities, carparks, and landscaping. This project follows damage from a fire.
Kangaroo Island Wool Mill Retail and Commercial Buildings
Design and construction of new onsite retail and commercial buildings adjoining the Kangaroo Island Wool Mill. This project aims to centralise manufacturing and production operations with a mill, factory, and retail facilities all on one site.
Kingscote Town Centre Project
A revitalisation project for the Kingscote town centre, aimed at enhancing town spirit, increasing community engagement, and driving economic growth. Phase 1 works, which commenced in March 2022, include improved pedestrian access, widened and resurfaced footpaths, street planting, and new street furniture.
Cajetan Amadio Mixed Use Development (Dauncey Street, Kingscote)
A development-approved mixed-use project comprising a 110-room hotel with a private conference room and gym, two restaurants, a retail tenancy (cellar door), and a consulting tenancy. The design integrates an existing two-storey Local Heritage building with a new five-storey modern building.
Kingscote Jetty Upgrade
Upgrades and refurbishments to the Kingscote main jetty and nearby Fisherman's Wharf and Screw Pile jetties. This project ensured the long-term structural integrity of the jetties and delivered a safe and reliable amenity for the local community, extending the jetty's design life by 30 years. Works included the removal of infrastructure no longer required, such as the steel wharf, slipway, and redundant 'Ro-Ro' ramp.
Aspen Normanville Lifestyle and Tourism Park
Proposed mixed-use development on a 10.6-hectare site combining a residential land lease community and a tourism park. The proposal includes 125 land lease lifestyle sites, 4 tourist cabins, and 79 camping sites, accompanied by communal facilities, an outdoor pool, bowling green, and the potential refurbishment of the historic Fergusons Flour Mill. The application is currently under formal assessment with PlanSA (Ref: 24007713).
Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park Masterplan
A comprehensive masterplan to revitalise the Normanville Foreshore and Jetty Caravan Park. The project includes a combined new rebuild of the Surf Life Saving Club and Kiosk, new carparking, expanded green spaces and nature play areas, dune restoration, improved beach interface, Jetty upgrades, and Caravan Park improvements. It aims to enhance community facilities, recreational opportunities, and attract tourism.
Sellicks Hill Quarry Operations
261-hectare quarry producing limestone, shale, marble and dolomite. Ongoing air quality monitoring and dust management due to community concerns affecting nearby residential areas and future developments.
1,074 residents of Kingscote are employed, from a labour force of 1,092. Unemployment sits at 1.6%, with participation at 62.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,542, about 75% 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 suburb of Kingscote has a workforce with varied industry representation, showing a low unemployment rate of 1.6% and an estimated employment growth of 3.5% over the past year, according to aggregated statistical data from AreaSearch. By March 2026, there are 1,074 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 3.8% below the Regional SA average of 5.5%, and labor participation at 62.4% compared to 58.4% for Regional SA. Census returns show that 6.6% of workers worked from home, though this figure was likely affected by pandemic restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and agriculture, forestry & fishing.
The suburb of Kingscote has a high concentration of professional & technical workers, with employment in this sector reaching 2.1 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing accounts for 3.7% of local jobs, below the Regional SA average of 9.3%. The discrepancy between the local working population and resident numbers suggests local employment opportunities are limited. According to SALM and ABS data analyzed by AreaSearch, during the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 3.5% and the labor force grew by 3.9%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This compares to Regional SA, where employment expanded by 1.2%, the labor force grew by 2.6%, and the unemployment rate rose by 1.4 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding future demand. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future employment trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Weighted extrapolation of these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment for residents of the suburb of Kingscote will grow by 6.1% over five years and 12.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Kingscote is $1,103 a week (about $57,000 a year), with median personal income at $673 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,804 a year against an average of $50,365. 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 ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023 released by AreaSearch, the median taxpayer income in the suburb of Kingscote is $41,804, with an average income of $50,365. These figures are below the national averages, and compare to a median of $48,920 and average of $58,933 in Regional SA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $46,055 for median income and $55,487 for average income. The 2021 Census shows personal incomes at the 23rd percentile ($673 weekly) and household incomes at the 7th percentile.
The most common weekly income bracket is $400 - 799, containing 29.8% of residents (612 people), whereas the dominant bracket for the broader region is $1,500 - 2,999 at 27.5%. Although residents retain 87.6% of their income due to low housing costs, total disposable income ranks at the 11th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Kingscote had 819 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 2% apartments. 28% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 41% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $214 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,083 a month. Rent absorbs 19.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to Census data, the housing mix in the suburb of Kingscote consists of 92.0% separate houses and 8.0% alternative dwelling types, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings in Regional SA. Home ownership rates match Regional SA at 40.8%, with the remaining properties divided between mortgaged homes (27.7%) and rentals (31.5%). The median mortgage payment of $1,083 is below the regional benchmark of $1,153, while the median weekly rent of $214 compares to the Regional SA average of $220. Locally, mortgage repayments are lower than the national median of $1,863, and rent prices are below the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Kingscote counted 819 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 92% of areas nationally, against 34% couples without children. 38% 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 59.2% of all households, consisting of couples without children at 33.7%, couples with children at 17.6%, and single parent families at 6.8%. The remaining 40.8% are non-family households, with lone person households at 37.5% and group living situations at 3.3%. The median household size of 2.1 persons is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.5% of adults in Kingscote hold a university qualification, including 14.2% with a bachelor degree and 3.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 713 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 993 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
University attainment in the area is low, with 19.5% of residents holding a tertiary degree compared to the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 14.2% of the population, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.5% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational education is common, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 29.1%. Educational enrollment is high, with 25.4% of the population participating in study. This group includes 11.7% in primary school, 6.6% in high school, and 1.5% enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Kingscote 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
63.7% of residents in Kingscote report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.9 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 for residents of the suburb of Kingscote are generally positive, with mortality rates and illness prevalence aligning closely with national averages. Private health insurance uptake is low, with approximately 47% of the population (~965 people) covered, compared to the Australian average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis, affecting 9.8% of residents, and mental health issues, affecting 8.2%. A total of 63.7% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 62.5% in Regional SA. Chronic health conditions are higher than average among working-age residents.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 33.4% of the population (686 people), which exceeds the Regional SA average of 27.1%. Senior health outcomes are strong, ranking above the national average for this demographic.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Kingscote is largely Australian-born, at 84.9% of residents, with 4.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.1%) and Australian (30.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Kingscote has low cultural diversity relative to national benchmarks, with 86.5% of the population holding citizenship, 84.9% born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 36.8% of residents. The largest religious variance is in Judaism, which accounts for natural language zero representation of the population, matching the natural language zero representation across Regional SA. English ancestry is claimed by 35.1% of the population in the suburb of Kingscote, followed by Australian ancestry at 30.9% and Scottish ancestry at 7.5%.
Other demographic differences include German ancestry at 7.1% (compared to 8.2% across the region), Maori ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 0.2% regionally), and Dutch ancestry at 1.4% (compared to 1.3% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Kingscote is 51, older than 93% of areas nationally. 19.6% 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 in the suburb of Kingscote is 51 years, which is older than the Regional SA average of 47 and the national average of 38. The 75 - 84 age cohort is large at 13.1%, while the 15 - 24 age bracket is small at 8.0% compared to Regional SA. The proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 is higher than the national figure of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 10.1% to 13.1% of the population. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group decreased from 16.8% to 13.9%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 10.9% to 9.1%.
By 2041, demographic projections suggest the 85+ cohort will increase by 149 people (165%), growing from 90 to 240. Residents aged 65 and older will account for 69% of the projected population growth, while declines are anticipated in the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Kingscote
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 45 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,962 at the 2021 Census → 2,056 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 (SAL40697). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.