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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 1,507 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
According to census figures and subsequent residential address verifications conducted by AreaSearch, the suburb of Peterborough (SA) has an estimated occupancy of approximately 1,507 residents as of May 2026. This indicates a minor growth of 17 individuals (1.1%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the headcount stood at 1,490. This demographic calculation is based on AreaSearch's evaluation of the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population statistics alongside 46 validated new addresses registered since the census date. The resulting density corresponds to 40 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious residential environment.
The 1.1% post-census growth rate of the suburb of Peterborough (SA) is within 1.3 percentage points of the broader SA3 region's expansion rate of 2.4%, showing solid relative gains. Demographic expansion was mostly underpinned by arrival flows from other states, which accounted for roughly 67.0% of the overall population increases in recent times. Projections for the region utilize the 2024 releases from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as their starting point. In instances where specific SA2 regions lack coverage, or for periods extending past 2032, calculations apply the SA State Government's 2023 regional and LGA age-cohort projections (sourced from 2021 data) adjusted via a weighted aggregation framework mapping LGA growth down to SA2 zones. Based on these anticipated structural demographic changes, the total headcount is projected to contract slightly over this timeframe, shrinking by 13 persons by 2041 under the outlined model. In contrast to this overall trend, particular age brackets are expected to rise, most notably the 75 to 84 cohort, which is projected to grow by 87 people. Detailed cohort projections are available in the dedicated age portion of the report.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity remains very quiet in Peterborough, with an average of less than a single new home approved per year, translating to a total of 4 approvals over the preceding five-year timeframe. These modest construction numbers are typical for a rural locality, where structural additions generally respond to precise local residential requirements instead of wider market dynamics. Given the small baseline quantities, individual residential projects can disproportionately alter yearly growth rates and relative trends. Relative to Rest of SA, Peterborough registers significantly lower building volumes, with development rates also tracking below the nationwide average.
Concurrently, recent construction projects have consisted solely of standalone residences, preserving the low-density, spacious layout of the local landscape. The ratio of 3010 people within the locality for every single dwelling approval underscores the quiet and low-intensity nature of the local building sector. As the local population is projected to either level off or contract, housing demand is likely to ease, which could yield favorable purchasing conditions for prospective buyers.
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
Local infrastructure projects, major works, and municipal planning decisions play a key role in regional performance. In total, no new developments have been flagged by AreaSearch as having a likely impact on the area. The key regional initiatives identified include the Mid North South Australia REZ Expansion, the Silver to Sea Way, the SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program, and the SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28, with the specific relevant details outlined in the list 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.
479 residents of Peterborough (SA) are employed, from a labour force of 554. Unemployment sits at 13.5%, with participation at 41.6%. 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 1,249, 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 workforce displays an even split between professional and manual labor roles, alongside a solid representation of workers in essential public services, registering an unemployment rate of 13.5% and a 1.9% rise in estimated employment over the previous year, according to statistical data aggregated by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 479, while the unemployment rate sat 8.1% above the 5.5% average for Regional SA, showing potential for labor market recovery, and the participation rate was notably lower at 41.6% compared to the 58.4% recorded across Regional SA.
Census records indicate that a minor 7.6% share of the workforce operated from home, though this figure reflects historical pandemic-related lockdown measures. The primary employment fields for local workers are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The retail sector exhibits a high concentration of local jobs, with its share of employment reaching 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, primary industries like agriculture, forestry & fishing play a smaller role, employing 9.9% of the workforce compared to 14.5% across the broader region. Comparison between local census workforce figures and resident population data suggests a shortage of local jobs within the immediate area. An examination of SALM and ABS figures aggregated from wider statistical districts shows that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 1.9% while the total labor force grew by 1.5%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point decline in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe in Regional SA, employment rose by 1.2%, the labor force expanded by 2.6%, and the jobless rate climbed by 1.4 percentage points. The national employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs in Peterborough. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary widely across different fields. Mapping these industry-specific projections onto the local employment structure suggests Peterborough could see job numbers rise by 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for visualization purposes that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts.
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 the most recent postcode-level tax statistics released by the ATO for financial year 2023, tax-paying residents in the suburb of Peterborough earn a median annual income of $35,173, with an average of $42,621. These earnings sit below national benchmarks and compare to a regional median of $48,920 and average of $58,933 across Regional SA. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% recorded since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $38,750 for the median and $46,956 for the average as of March 2026. According to census data, family, household, and individual incomes in Peterborough all place in the bottom 0th to 1st percentiles on a national scale.
The weekly income distribution shows that the $400 - 799 range is the most common, accounting for 40.6% of residents (611 people), contrasting with the wider region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common at 27.5%. The high percentage of low-earning residents (56.7% receiving less than $800/week) points to tight household finances across the area. Even though housing costs remain low, letting residents retain 90.2% of their income, total disposable income levels fall into 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
An analysis of residential structures from the most recent census indicates that Peterborough's housing stock consists of 95.5% standalone houses and 4.5% alternative dwellings (such as townhouses, units, or other options), compared to Regional SA's mix of 88.5% houses and 11.5% alternative structures. The rate of outright home ownership stood at 52.2%, ahead of the Regional SA average, with the remaining properties split between those under mortgage (23.8%) and rental properties (24.0%). The median monthly home loan repayment of $569 was lower than the Regional SA average, while the median weekly rental cost was $160, compared to regional figures of $1,153 and $220.
Nationally, local mortgage costs track far below the Australian median of $1,863, and rent levels are also much lower than the national median 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 constitute the largest portion of local households at 50.5%, comprising 9.5% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 11.5% single-parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.5%, with single-person households representing 46.9% and group living situations making up 2.3%. The typical household size of 1.8 residents is lower than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
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
Educational profiles in the area reflect low rates of tertiary attainment, with university graduation rates at 9.1%, tracking below the nationwide average of 30.4%. This highlights both a challenge and a focus area for future educational support programs. Within higher education, bachelor degrees account for 6.6%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.5% and postgraduate degrees at 1.0%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 39.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 30.8%. A high proportion of the local population is engaged in learning, with 27.3% of residents enrolled in an educational institution.
This group is composed of 13.5% in primary school, 6.7% in high school, and 1.2% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Peterborough (SA) means driving: households keep an average of 1.1 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
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
Significant health issues are apparent in Peterborough based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality patterns and the occurrence of long-term medical conditions across different age groups, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is notably low at roughly 44% of the population (~661 people). This compares to a rate of 48.9% in Regional SA and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent health issues reported locally were arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 14.6% and 11.5% of residents respectively, while 51.7% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA.
Notable health issues are present among the working-age demographic, who experience higher rates of chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and older make up 37.3% of the community (562 people), compared to 27.1% in Regional SA, and senior health outcomes are challenging, with national rankings running higher than the general population.
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
Peterborough exhibits low levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 84.0% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 89.0%, and 98.1% of households speaking only English. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 44.7% of the local population. The most visible statistical divergence is in the Other category, which represents 0.7% of the local population compared to 0.8% across Regional SA. Looking at ancestral origins, the three largest self-reported groups in Peterborough are Australian at 34.4%, English at 33.0%, and Irish at 6.5%. Specific differences in other ethnic cohorts show Polish ancestry overrepresented at 1.1% of Peterborough (compared to 0.4% regionally), German ancestry at 6.3% (compared to 8.2%), and Aboriginal ancestry at 5.8% (compared to 3.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Peterborough (SA) is 55, older than 97% of areas nationally. 13.5% 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
With a median age of 55, Peterborough is older than Regional SA's median of 47 and older than the national median of 38. Compared to Regional SA, Peterborough has a larger proportion of residents aged 65 - 74 (21.8%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (5.7%). The local 65 - 74 cohort is much larger than the national average of 9.4%. Data collected since the 2021 Census shows the 65 to 74 group has grown from 18.8% to 21.8% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort has risen from 9.7% to 11.5%.
Conversely, the 55 to 64 bracket declined from 19.4% to 16.1%, and the 25 to 34 group fell from 7.7% to 5.7%. By 2041, demographic models project significant changes in local age distribution, with the 75 to 84 bracket expected to grow by 49%, adding 85 residents to total 259. This aging trend is highlighted by the fact that residents aged 65 and over account for 98% of the projected growth, while contractions are expected in the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age brackets.
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 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 — 46 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,490 at the 2021 Census → 1,507 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 (SAL41143). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.