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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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Peterborough (SA) has an estimated 1,508 residents. Density is about 41 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Peterborough (SA) has an estimated resident population of roughly 1,508 people, based on AreaSearch assessments evaluating ABS regional figures alongside 46 validated new addresses logged since the previous Census. Compared with the 2021 Census tally of 1,490 people, this indicates an expansion of 18 people or 1.2%. The latest June 2025 ERP release from the ABS underpins these updated metrics. Population density stands at 40 persons per square kilometer, ensuring considerable personal space. The 1.2% local growth rate sits within 1.2 percentage points of the broader SA3 area (2.4%), illustrating solid underlying demographic trends.
Interstate migration served as the primary growth driver recently, generating around 67.0% of the overall population gain. Projections for the suburb of Peterborough (SA) incorporate 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia data using 2022 as a baseline, complemented for non-covered SA2 areas and post-2032 horizons by 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort models based on 2021 numbers, translated via weighted LGA-to-SA2 growth aggregation. Under this framework, aggregate headcount is expected to contract by 9 persons by 2041. Despite this overall reduction, particular age segments will expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age category with an expected increase of 88 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building approvals across Peterborough remain sparse, averaging under 1 approvals per year and accumulating to 2 across the past five years. Such modest figures reflect a rural setting where residential building responds directly to specific local housing needs rather than widespread speculative demand. Because the baseline volume is minimal, annual percentage movements and comparisons can swing widely with individual building projects. Construction levels in Peterborough sit substantially below both national standards and figures recorded across Rest of SA. Detached houses account for the entirety of recent residential activity, matching regional lifestyle inclinations toward privacy and spacious living.
The presence of roughly 752 people per approved dwelling highlights an extremely calm, subdued residential building landscape. Given that the local headcount is projected to hold steady or diminish, pressure across the residential market should soften, potentially opening up favourable conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Peterborough (SA)
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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 34 current infrastructure and development projects close to Peterborough (SA), worth an estimated $303 million. 12 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, ports, marinas, fisheries & aquaculture and education & training. 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
Major infrastructure works and planning strategies have a profound effect on regional development. AreaSearch has identified no major projects with a direct local footprint. Surrounding key developments include the Mid North South Australia REZ Expansion, Silver to Sea Way, SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program, and SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28, with the principal relevant initiatives detailed below.
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
Port Pirie Wharf Upgrades
Infrastructure upgrade project involving sealing of 19,350 square metres of previously unsurfaced port area with 6,100 tonnes of asphalt. Removal of 8,800 tonnes of contaminated material and addition of 9,100 tonnes of new material. Focus on Berths 5 and 7 to enhance port capacity and economic benefits to Mid North region.
Port Pirie Riverbank Precinct
The Port Pirie Riverbank Precinct project is a multi-staged renewal of the city's foreshore area. Stage 1 focuses on Solomontown Beach and the creation of a vibrant youth precinct. Key features include a connected promenade, new picnic shelters and BBQs, upgraded toilet facilities, a beach deck with shade structures, a pump track, and a basketball half-court. The project aims to revitalize the waterfront, providing modern recreational facilities for the local community and enhancing the area's appeal to tourists.
Balmoral Park Estate Expansion
Renewal SA selected Graycar Contractors to deliver 10 rental homes for key workers and 42 residential allotments at Balmoral Park Estate. The two-stage expansion is supported by a 1 million AUD grant from the Regional Housing Initiatives Program. Chelsea Homes will construct the homes and civil works within 30 months from August 2025.
Balmoral Park Estate Expansion
A two-stage expansion of an existing estate in Risdon Park, Port Pirie, delivering 10 fit-for-purpose rental homes for key workers and 42 additional serviced housing allotments. The 10 homes will be leased to the Government Employee Housing scheme for a minimum of 10 years to support essential workforce retention, backed by 1 million dollars in funding from Renewal SA's Regional Housing Initiatives Program.
Southfields Rural Estate
A rural acreage estate offering 17 large land allotments (approx. 5,000m2 - 5,232m2) with mains water, electricity, and NBN connection, providing country living opportunities 5km from Port Pirie in the Mid North region of South Australia. The current stage is available for sale.
South-West Drainage Scheme
A stormwater drainage system and outfall proposed to address flood risk on vacant land south of Risdon Park South, unlocking approximately 600 allotments for future residential development in Port Pirie. The scheme follows a 2012 Tonkin Consulting engineering investigation into an outfall alignment through rural land west of the site, incorporating a potential storage area near Port Davis Road. Port Pirie Regional Council has committed initial funding for land acquisition and to advance project requirements, with the initiative listed in the Council's economic development investment program across both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Annual Business Plans.As of the 2025/26 Business Plan, the project remains in its initial stages, with land negotiations and scheme advancement ongoing ahead of any construction of the drainage infrastructure itself.
Eucalypt Village - Stirling North Accommodation Development
Purpose-built staged accommodation village comprising around 90 rooms including dormitory accommodation, motel-style units and studio apartments for essential workers, students, health practitioners and emergency service personnel servicing the Upper Spencer Gulf region. As of the latest publicly available information the project remains subject to planning, environmental and delivery approvals and no confirmed construction commencement has been announced.
Port Augusta Technical College
A new technical college co-located on the Port Augusta Secondary School site, providing an alternative senior secondary option that equips students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand. One of five technical colleges committed to by the State Government as part of a $208 million plan. The Technical College will open in 2025.
481 residents of Peterborough (SA) are employed, from a labour force of 561. Unemployment sits at 14.1%, with participation at 42.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,246, about 83% 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 local labour market features a mix of blue-collar and white-collar roles with substantial representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 14.1% and a 2.3% yearly job expansion rate according to aggregated AreaSearch metrics. Employed residents numbered 481 as of March 2026. Joblessness is elevated, sitting 8.6% above the 5.5% benchmark recorded in Regional SA, while workforce participation stands at 42.1% against 58.3% regionally. At the Census, only 7.6% of workers carried out their duties from home, though pandemic-era movement restrictions must be factored into that measurement. Major employment avenues for local workers include retail trade, health care & social assistance, as well as education & training.
Retail trade exhibits exceptional strength, employing workers at 1.5 times the broader regional rate. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 9.9% of the local workforce, trailing the 14.5% observed across Regional SA. When contrasting working and resident populations from Census records, Peterborough provides relatively few employment roles within its own boundaries. Analysis of combined ABS and SALM records shows that over a 12-month period, local employment expanded by 2.3% while the labour pool grew by 1.8%, resulting in a 0.6 percentage points drop in the unemployment rate. Concurrently, Regional SA recorded employment growth of 1.2%, a 2.6% rise in the labour force, and a 1.4 percentage points increase in joblessness. Looking ahead, Mar-26 industry projections from Jobs and Skills Australia point to nationwide employment gains of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these sectoral forecasts against Peterborough's existing workforce composition suggests local job growth of 5.4% over five years and 11.8% across ten years, representing a simple illustrative weighting model that excludes local demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Peterborough (SA) is $706 a week (about $37,000 a year), with median personal income at $456 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $35,173 a year against an average of $42,621. 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 aggregated ATO statistics for financial year 2023, local income metrics in the suburb of Peterborough sit below nationwide figures. Taxpayers recorded a median income of $35,173 and an average income of $42,621, whereas Regional SA registered $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index movement of 10.17% since financial year 2023 brings estimated values as of March 2026 to $38,750 (median) and $46,956 (average). Personal, family, and household earnings from the 2021 Census all place between the 0th and 1st percentiles across the country. Weekly earnings of $400 - 799 form the largest bracket, taking in 40.6% of residents (612 residents), which diverges from the broader region where 27.5% earn between $1,500 - 2,999.
In total, 56.7% make under $800/week, highlighting widespread financial constraints. Although low housing overheads allow households to keep 90.2% of their income, total disposable earnings remain at the 2nd percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Peterborough (SA) had 666 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 52% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $160 a week and the median mortgage repayment $569 a month. Rent absorbs 22.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that standalone houses constitute 95.5% of local properties, with the remaining 4.5% made up of semi-detached homes, flats, and other dwelling forms, whereas Regional SA records 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Outright property ownership is high at 52.2%, clearly surpassing regional benchmarks, while mortgaged homes represent 23.8% and rented dwellings account for 24.0%. Financial commitments are comparatively low: median monthly mortgage payments stand at $569 and median weekly rents are $160, compared with $1,153 and $220 in Regional SA. On a nationwide scale, local mortgage outlays sit far beneath the Australian norm of $1,863, and weekly rents are markedly lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Peterborough (SA) counted 666 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 1.8 people each. 10% are couples with children, fewer than in 97% of areas nationally, against 28% couples without children. 47% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units account for 50.5% of local residences, comprising couples without children at 28.2%, single parent households at 11.5%, and couples with children at 9.5%. Non-family living arrangements make up the other 49.5%, driven by lone person households at 46.9% and group arrangements at 2.3%. Typical household size sits at a median of 1.8 people, lower than the 2.3 recorded across Regional SA.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.1% of adults in Peterborough (SA) hold a university qualification, including 6.6% with a bachelor degree and 1.0% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 96% of areas nationally. A further 30.8% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 169 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 888 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 levels present challenges, with tertiary degree holders making up 9.1% of the population compared to the national rate of 30.4%, creating a clear target for future educational strategies. Within higher education, bachelor degrees account for 6.6%, graduate diplomas represent 1.5%, and postgraduate qualifications comprise 1.0%. Technical and practical education is widely pursued, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including 8.2% with advanced diplomas and 30.8% holding certificates. Participation in study is robust, with 27.3% of the community undertaking formal schooling or courses. This cohort is composed of 13.5% attending primary school, 6.7% engaged in secondary education, and 1.2% enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Peterborough (SA) means driving: households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local transit infrastructure features 3 active transport stops in Peterborough, offering 7 individual routes that provide 10 weekly passenger trips. Service access is restricted, with community members situated an average of 747 meters from the nearest stop. Commuters travel primarily outwards, with private cars serving 86% of journeys and walking representing 11%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.1 per dwelling, trailing regional figures. Census records show 7.6% of residents working from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions). Across all transit lines, frequency averages 1 trips per day, which equates to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
51.7% of residents in Peterborough (SA) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 91% of areas nationally. 10.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 43.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.6 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 indicators evaluated by AreaSearch show serious vulnerabilities regarding chronic illness and mortality, impacting younger and older residents alike. Private health insurance coverage is notably restricted, encompassing roughly 44% of the population (~662 people), compared with 48.9% throughout Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments, affecting 14.6 and 11.5% of the local population, while 51.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Chronic health burdens remain pronounced among working-age individuals. Meanwhile, seniors aged 65 and over make up 37.1% of the community (559 people), above the 27.1% level in Regional SA, and health challenges within this demographic segment rank even higher against national comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Peterborough (SA) is largely Australian-born, at 89.0% of residents, with 1.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.4%) and English (33.0%). 5.8% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures lower than average in Peterborough, where 84.0% of the populace hold Australian citizenship, 89.0% were born domestically, and 98.1% speak exclusively English in the home. Christianity represents the leading religious faith at 44.7%. The most noticeable relative overrepresentation occurs in the Other category, which accounts for 0.7% of locals against 0.8% across Regional SA. Examining ancestral backgrounds, Australian heritage leads at 34.4%, followed by English at 33.0% and Irish at 6.5%. Notable proportional differences appear across other ancestries: Polish background accounts for 1.1% locally (vs 0.4% regionally), German comprises 6.3% (vs 8.2%), and Australian Aboriginal background represents 5.8% (vs 3.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Peterborough (SA) is 55, older than 97% of areas nationally. 13.8% 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
Demographics clearly underline Peterborough's standing as a retirement-oriented community. Seniors aged 65+ comprise 37.1% of residents as at August 2026, compared to 27.1% in Regional SA, while children and young adults (0 - 24) account for 19.5% against a regional benchmark of 26.4%. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 55, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 8 years above the Regional SA median of 47 and well over the national median of 38 at that Census. The retiree and senior cohort has expanded from 31.2% at the Census to an estimated 37.1%, primarily reflecting the natural aging of existing residents: the 55 to 64 bracket declined from 19.4% to an estimated 16.3%, while the 65 to 74 group rose from 18.8% to 21.5%.
Looking to 2041, senior cohorts will drive the largest increase, adding 107 (19%) individuals to reach 666, while child, young adult, and middle-aged cohorts are projected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Peterborough (SA)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 46 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,490 at the 2021 Census → 1,508 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 (SAL41143). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.