Mount Gambier

Mount Gambier is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for Mount Gambier, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Mount Gambier's population is estimated at around 26,751 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,160 people (4.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 25,591 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 26,533 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 175 validated new addresses since the Census date. Mount Gambier's population equates to a density ratio of 998 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mount Gambier's 4.5% growth since census positions it within 0.9 percentage points of the SA3 area (5.4%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of national non-metropolitan areas is expected for Mount Gambier, with the suburb expected to increase by 2,408 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 8.8% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mount Gambier when compared nationally

Mount Gambier averaged approximately 104 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 522 homes. As of FY-26, 40 approvals have been recorded. This averages to about 1.4 people moving to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average construction value for new dwellings is $410,000.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals reached $67.3 million, reflecting strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of SA, Mount Gambier has about 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks in the 56th percentile nationally for areas assessed. New building activity comprises predominantly detached dwellings (96.0%), with attached dwellings making up only 4.0%, preserving the area's suburban character.

This trend favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest, indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. Mount Gambier has around 275 people per dwelling approval, exhibiting characteristics of a low-density area. By 2041, AreaSearch projects an increase of 2,362 residents in Mount Gambier. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Mount Gambier has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Mount Gambier Hospital Redevelopment, Mount Gambier Technical College & Research Education Training Precinct, Forestry Centre of Excellence, and CBD Master Planning and Activation. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Mount Gambier recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Mount Gambier has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.0% as of June 2025, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

There are 13,003 residents employed, which is 0.6% lower than the Rest of SA's unemployment rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is at 58.2%, slightly higher than Rest of SA's 54.1%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Notably, health care & social assistance has an employment level that is 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 6.6% of Mount Gambier's workforce compared to Rest of SA's 14.5%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. In a 12-month period ending Sep-22, labour force decreased by 2.3% while employment declined by 3.5%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Gambier's current employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, although this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Mount Gambier's median income is $47,473 and average income is $56,581. This is below the national averages of $59,069 (median) and $70,321 (average). In comparison, Rest of SA has a median income of $46,889 and an average income of $56,582 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest Mount Gambier's median income is approximately $53,564 and average income is around $63,840 as of September 2025. The 2021 Census reveals that household, family, and personal incomes in Mount Gambier fall between the 13th and 26th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 29.7% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (7,945 residents), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 27.5% similarly occupy this range. While housing costs are modest with 86.7% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 16th percentile nationally.

Mount Gambier is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Mount Gambier's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 76.9% houses and 23.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 87.6% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Gambier was at 32.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.8% and rented ones at 34.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, aligning with Non-Metro SA's average, while the median weekly rent was $220 compared to Non-Metro SA's $205. Nationally, Mount Gambier's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mount Gambier features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 62.9 percent of all households, including 22.4 percent couples with children, 27.1 percent couples without children, and 12.4 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.1 percent, with lone person households at 34.9 percent and group households comprising 2.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

Mount Gambier faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 10.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 37.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 7.8% and certificates at 29.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education. There are 11 schools serving 5,483 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 956) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 5 primary, 2 secondary, and 4 K-12 schools. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 20.5 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.9, suggesting the area serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mount Gambier has one active public transport system operating within its boundaries. This system consists of a mix of bus services. Six individual routes service this area, collectively providing 41 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these services is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1686 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 5 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 41 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Mount Gambier is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Gambier faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Only approximately 49% of Mount Gambier's total population (~13,214 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 9.7% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.2%. Conversely, 62.1% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of SA's 65.5%. As of 2021, 22.8% of Mount Gambier's population is aged 65 and over (6,099 people). The health outcomes among seniors present challenges largely consistent with those of the general population.

Mount Gambier ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Gambier's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.0% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (87.8%), and speaking English only at home (92.7%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 41.4% of Mount Gambier's population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which constituted 0.8% compared to 0.5% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (31.3%), English (31.3%), and Scottish (7.8%) were the top three represented groups. Notably, German (6.0% vs 6.4%), Dutch (2.0% vs 1.7%), and Maori (0.4% vs 0.4%) showed significant divergences in representation compared to regional averages.

Mount Gambier hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Mount Gambier has a median age of 41 years, which is lower than Rest of SA's 47 but higher than the national norm of 38. The 15-24 age cohort is notably over-represented in Mount Gambier at 12.1%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 11.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 11.2% to 12.0% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.2% to 11.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Mount Gambier's age profile. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 52%, from 2,140 to 3,244 people. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 81% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 35 to 44 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.