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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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Nairne has an estimated 5,898 residents, up from 5,327 at the 2021 Census — a change of 571 people, or 10.7%. Growth has averaged 2.0% a year over five years. 101 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 45.0% of that increase. That puts 222 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
Nairne's population is estimated at approximately 5,898 as of May 2026, according to evaluations of ABS updates and verified addresses from AreaSearch. This shows a gain of 571 individuals (10.7%) from the 2021 Census population count of 5,327. The calculation is based on an estimated resident population of 5,813 derived from ABS ERP data (June 2025) plus 101 new addresses verified post-census. The suburb of Nairne has a population density of 222 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and space for growth. This 10.7% growth rate was higher than both Greater Adelaide and the state overall (7.5%).
Natural increase was the main driver, contributing 45.0% of population growth, with interstate and overseas migration also making positive contributions. Projections for SA2 regions are sourced from 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia releases using 2022 as the baseline. For other regions and years past 2032, weighted aggregations of 2023 state government projections based on 2021 data are used. Nairne is projected to see population growth above the national median, increasing by 980 residents up to 2041, representing a 15.2% total gain over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
154 new dwellings have been approved in Nairne over the past five years, an average of 30 a year. That places the area in the 80th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 33 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 43, 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
Analysis of building approvals indicates about 30 new dwellings are approved annually in Nairne, with 154 approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 40 recorded so far in FY-26. Dwellings constructed between FY-21 and FY-25 averaged 3.6 new residents per unit, showing that supply is falling short of demand, which typically increases buyer competition and prices. The average value of approved new builds is $382,000, pointing to a focus on premium homes. Commercial approvals for this financial year total $4.5 million, reflecting a mostly residential locality.
Building approvals per capita in Nairne are roughly half the level of Greater Adelaide, though the area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally and construction speed has increased. Approved work consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the low-density family-oriented environment. There are roughly 142 people per new dwelling approval, suggesting a growing market. Nairne is projected to add 895 residents by 2041 based on recent quarterly estimates. Building activity is currently matching these growth estimates, though buyers might face increased competition as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nairne
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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 19 current infrastructure and development projects close to Nairne, worth an estimated $3.11 billion. 9 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, residential development and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 significantly impact area performance. AreaSearch has identified 5 relevant projects in the locality, with key developments including Larkview Mount Barker, Springlake Communities, Amblemead Estate, and the Onkaparinga Valley Road Intersection Upgrade.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Mount Barker Interchange Upgrade
Upgrade of the Mount Barker Interchange on the South Eastern Freeway to improve capacity, traffic efficiency, safety and access for a fast-growing Adelaide Hills community. The project includes a new three-lane bridge for northbound traffic, conversion of the existing bridge to three southbound lanes, ramp upgrades, new traffic signals at Adelaide Road and the freeway exit ramp from Murray Bridge, a bus priority lane, a shared use path, a northbound on-road bike lane and improved Adelaide Road service road access.Works are underway, with the interchange expected to open to traffic in late 2027.
Onkaparinga Valley Road Intersection Upgrade
Roundabout construction and intersection safety upgrades as part of the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package. Includes pedestrian refuges and improved traffic flow.
Amblemead Estate
Premium boutique land development featuring 194 allotments across multiple stages with stunning reserve, playgrounds, waterfront boardwalk, and bio-filtration systems, marketed by Connekt Urban Projects and setting new standards in Adelaide Hills living.
Mount Barker Growth Area
The Mount Barker Growth Area is a major greenfield and infill residential expansion area within the Mount Barker District Council in the Adelaide Hills. Around 1,300 hectares of land have been rezoned for urban growth. The growth area is being delivered through multiple masterplanned estates and subdivisions such as Aston Hills, Newenham, Emerald Way, Minters Fields, Glenlea, Springlake, Springbrook, Clover Park, and Woodcrest. This is supported by key infrastructure including the staged delivery and upgrade of Heysen Boulevard.Development is well advanced in several estates, with ongoing construction of housing, local centres, schools, and open space, and further stages planned through the 2030s and early 2040s.
New Mount Barker Hospital
The 365.8 million dollar New Mount Barker Hospital project is a major expansion of the existing District Soldiers Memorial Hospital. It will triple inpatient capacity from 34 to 102 beds. The project features a new 16,600 square metre clinical services building, a 12-bed mental health unit, expanded maternity, paediatric, chemotherapy, and renal dialysis services. Construction also includes a 654-space multi-deck car park and a central energy plant. The design emphasizes therapeutic gardens and natural light to support patient recovery.
Summit Aquatic and Leisure Centre
State-of-the-art aquatic and leisure facility featuring a 25-metre, 10-lane competition/lap pool, learn-to-swim pool, shallow-entry childrens pool with water play features, warm water therapy pool, fully equipped gym, fitness rooms, creche, community meeting rooms, onsite cafe, and toilets and change rooms. Designed for all ages and abilities, serving the Mount Barker and Adelaide Hills communities.
Senses
A $180 million boutique master-planned residential community featuring 254 homes, 18,000sqm of open space with sensory-led park designs, walking trails, and sustainable features in the Adelaide Hills.
Mount Barker City Centre Town Square
The Mount Barker City Centre Town Square is a 2,000 square metre public space designed for community gatherings, small to medium-sized events, and daily use. It is part of a master-planned City Centre development that includes a new council civic and co-working building, retail and office spaces, accommodation, and car parking. Bulk earthworks commenced in early 2026 following the securing of $2 million in State Government funding. The project aims to transform a long-vacant site into a vibrant civic heart, stimulating economic activity and fostering community engagement in response to the town's significant population growth.
3,399 residents of Nairne are employed, from a labour force of 3,522. Unemployment sits at 3.5%, with participation at 76.7%. 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. The working-day population is estimated at 4,661, about 79% 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
Nairne features a workforce with strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 3.5%, and employment growth of 5.4% over the last year. There are 3,399 employed residents as of March 2026. The local unemployment rate is 0.3% below the 3.8% rate of Greater Adelaide, while workforce participation is high at 76.7% compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.6%. Working from home was low at 12.9% during the Census, though this was affected by pandemic restrictions. The primary employment fields are construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Health care & social assistance employs 15.2% of working residents, which is lower than Greater Adelaide's 17.7%.
The comparison between resident workers and local jobs indicates a limited local employment market. In the 12 months to March 2026, employment grew by 5.4% and the labour force increased by 5.1%, which reduced unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In Greater Adelaide, employment rose 4.2%, the labour force grew 4.0%, and unemployment dropped 0.2 percentage points. National forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these rates to Nairne's industry mix suggests local employment gains of 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Nairne is $1,776 a week (about $92,000 a year), with median personal income at $859 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,407 a year against an average of $60,528. 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
Taxpayer statistics from the FY 2023 ATO release show Nairne has a median income of $52,407 and an average of $60,528. This is below national benchmarks, and compares to a median of $54,808 and average of $66,852 in Greater Adelaide. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since FY 2023, estimated March 2026 figures are $57,737 for the median and $66,684 for the average. Census data places Nairne incomes in the 55th percentile nationally. The dominant income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 40.6% of residents (2,394 people), compared to 31.8% regionally.
Residents retain 85.3% of income after housing costs, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Nairne had 1,944 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 54% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,500 a month. Rent absorbs 19.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in Nairne at the last Census was 98.5% standalone houses and 1.5% other housing types, whereas Adelaide metro recorded 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. The home ownership rate was 25.0%, lower than the Adelaide metro average, with 54.1% of homes mortgaged and 20.9% rented. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,500 and weekly rent of $350 are lower than the Adelaide metro figures of $1,562 and $320. Nationally, Nairne repayments are lower than the Australian average mortgage of $1,863 and average rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Nairne counted 1,944 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,152 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 77.4% of households, consisting of couples with children at 36.3%, couples without children at 27.4%, and single parents at 12.9%. The remaining 22.6% are non-family households, including lone persons at 20.7% and group homes at 2.0%. The median household size of 2.6 people is slightly above the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.6% of adults in Nairne hold a university qualification, including 17.2% with a bachelor degree and 3.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 407 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,018 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
The region has lower rates of university qualifications, with 23.6% of residents holding a degree compared to 42.2% across the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are held by 17.2%, postgraduate qualifications by 3.9%, and graduate diplomas by 2.5%. Vocational education is prominent, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (29.0%). School and study participation is high, with 29.8% of the population enrolled in education. This comprises 12.4% in primary schools, 6.9% in secondary schools, and 4.3% in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Nairne reaches 18 stops on 6 routes, timetabled for about 230 services a week. The typical home sits about 300 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Nairne consist of 18 active stops serviced by buses. There are 6 different routes providing a total of 230 passenger trips each week. The average distance to the nearest stop is 303 meters. Private vehicles are the primary mode of travel for commuters at 92%. Dwellings average 1.7 motor vehicles, which is above the regional average. Working from home was recorded at 12.9% at the last Census. Service frequency across all routes averages 32 trips daily, which represents approximately 12 weekly trips per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.8% of residents in Nairne report no long-term health condition. 4.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health measures indicate below-average trends in Nairne, with chronic illness and mortality rates slightly elevated across age groups, and private health insurance coverage sitting at approximately 51% of residents (about 3,004 people). Mental health conditions and asthma are the most common issues, affecting 10.2% and 9.2% of residents respectively. No chronic conditions were reported by 68.8% of residents, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Chronic health issues are above average among working-age individuals. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 15.2% of the population (896 people), compared to 19.2% in Greater Adelaide, and show above-average health outcomes with high national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Nairne is largely Australian-born, at 87.0% of residents, with 3.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.6%) and Australian (31.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is below average, with 87.0% of residents born in Australia, 92.5% holding citizenship, and 96.3% speaking only English at home. The leading religious affiliation is Christianity at 34.7%. Judaism represents 0.1% of the population, which matches the 0.1% proportion across Greater Adelaide. The main ancestries are English at 32.6%, Australian at 31.7% (compared to the regional average of 22.8%), and German at 7.7%. Other ancestries include Dutch at 2.6% (compared to 1.2% regionally), Hungarian at 0.4% (compared to 0.3% regionally), and Welsh at 0.6% (compared to 0.6% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Nairne is 36. 25.4% 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 median age of 36 in Nairne is lower than the Greater Adelaide average of 39 and the national median of 38. There is a higher proportion of children aged 5 - 14 (14.5%) and a lower proportion of seniors aged 75 - 84 (4.9%) relative to Greater Adelaide. Between Census years, the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 3.2% to 4.9%, while the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 14.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, the 65 to 74 group is projected to grow by 35% (188 people) from 542 to 731, while the 0 to 4 group is projected to increase by 6% (23 people).
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Nairne
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 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 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 — 101 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,327 at the 2021 Census → 5,898 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 (SAL41005). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.