Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Port Augusta has an estimated 6,734 residents, up from 6,437 at the 2021 Census — a change of 297 people, or 4.6%. That puts 332 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
In the suburb of Port Augusta, population metrics evaluated by AreaSearch using ABS regional updates and 45 validated new addresses added since the Census suggest an August 2026 headcount of roughly 6,734. Compared to the 2021 Census total of 6,437 people, this represents an addition of 297 people (4.6%). This adjustment builds upon the ABS June 2025 ERP release showing a resident population of 6,726. The suburb of Port Augusta currently exhibits a density ratio of 332 persons per square kilometer, preserving considerable personal space alongside room for urban expansion.
Notably, the suburb of Port Augusta's 4.6% uptick outpaced both the SA4 territory and the SA3 area (3.9%), establishing it as an area pacesetter. International migration drove most of this expansion, accounting for roughly 70.0% of all recent inbound gains. Population modeling across each SA2 relies on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia figures with a 2022 baseline, while unindexed SA2 areas or horizons beyond 2032 use 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age projections anchored to 2021 numbers, synthesized via weighted LGA-to-SA2 growth distributions. For the suburb of Port Augusta, long-term demographic paths align with lower quartile regional Australian projections, anticipating an addition of 48 persons through to 2041 across aggregated SA2 modeling, which translates to a total cumulative increase of 0.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
84 new dwellings have been approved in Port Augusta over the past five years, an average of 16 a year. That is 2.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 4, well below 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
Residential planning data compiled by AreaSearch from ABS building approvals indicates that Port Augusta records approximately 16 dwellings approved annually. Across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), development consents totaled an estimated 84 homes, with 4 approvals logged to date in FY-25. Over this same five-year window (between FY-21 and FY-25), an influx of only 0.3 people per year per completed home indicates that residential construction is matching or outpacing local demand, thereby providing buyers with extensive selection and supporting headroom for future demographic growth. These residences show an anticipated average construction cost of $580,000, pointing toward higher-tier residential schemes.
Furthermore, commercial building approvals reached $13.2 million this financial year, underscoring ongoing non-residential development investment. Per-capita construction volumes in Port Augusta exceed the Rest of SA benchmark by 100.0%, expanding inventory for purchasers even as building intensity has moderated recently. Despite this local lead, overall output trails national norms, reflecting an established urban fabric with possible planning constraints. Standalone dwellings represent 94.0% of recent approvals while medium and high-density housing constitutes 6.0%, reinforcing the locality's low-density profile centered on spacious detached homes. This current pipeline leans even more heavily toward standalone properties than the 75.0% registered at the Census, demonstrating sustained appetite for traditional housing formats. A ratio of 1924 people per building approval underlines a relatively subdued development tempo. According to the latest quarterly figures from AreaSearch, Port Augusta is on track to welcome 40 residents by 2041. Ongoing building activity is expected to absorb projected household formation without difficulty, maintaining favorable buying conditions while allowing capacity for demographic expansion beyond standard forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Port Augusta
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Port Augusta, worth an estimated $24 million. A further 30 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $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
Strategic capital works, civic programs, and planning developments significantly guide community growth. AreaSearch has highlighted 12 projects positioned to impact the district, prominent among which are the Eucalypt Village - Stirling North Accommodation Development, Port Augusta Technical College, Port Augusta Wharf Upgrade, and St Eyre Estate, with core initiatives cataloged 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
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.
Port Augusta Wharf Upgrade
Upgrade of the heritage-listed Port Augusta Wharf to ensure long-term structural integrity and improve public access for recreational purposes. The scope includes new wharf decks, girders, cross heads, cross bracing, and about 80 new steel piles. The refurbished wharf will be load-rated for light motor vehicles up to three tonnes and for pedestrians.
Port Augusta Storage Project
A proposed renewable energy power station comprising of a vanadium redox battery storage facility of up to 300MWh capacity and an optional 50MW (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) farm. The project is designed to be a storage facility tailored for the future electricity needs of South Australia, conceptualised to replace peaking or load following power plants.
St Eyre Estate
A residential estate development located in Port Augusta West, offering vacant allotments allowing for custom home builds set against the scenic Baxter Ranges. Infrastructure for Stages 4 & 5A is already in place, including sealed roads, curbing, power, and water, with 60 spacious allotments each approximately 1200 square meters.
Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme - Port Augusta
Construction of 35 new homes as part of the Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme to address the critical need for purpose-built government worker housing. Four two-and-three-bedroom homes are being built in Port Augusta west of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge. The program will deliver 35 new regional homes across several locations in SA to address the critical need for purpose-built government worker housing.
McKinnon Court Residential Development
A 3,100 sqm residential infill development site being marketed for residential subdivision or a small housing development, subject to council consent. As of 2026 the land remains listed for sale and there is no evidence of a lodged development application or construction commencing.
McIntosh Crescent Road Resealing
Sections of roadway on McIntosh Crescent in Port Augusta West require resealing due to deterioration and wear. The project will use a two-coat bitumen spray seal with a crumbed rubber binder.
2,601 residents of Port Augusta are employed, from a labour force of 3,076. Unemployment sits at 15.4%, with participation at 54.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,544, about 82% 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
Port Augusta features a diverse employment base covering professional and vocational roles, with substantial representation in public and social services alongside an overall jobless rate of 15.4% according to aggregated statistical figures. Across the local labour market as of March 2026, employed persons number 2,601. The jobless rate sits 10.0% above the 5.5% benchmark recorded across Regional SA, while local labour force participation tracks lower at 54.7% compared with 58.3% regionally. At the Census, only 2.0% of workers indicated working from home, a metric recorded amidst pandemic conditions. Locally based workers are predominantly engaged in public administration & safety, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.
Concentration in public administration & safety is pronounced, tracking at 2.2 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 3.3% of the local workforce, well below the 14.5% observed across the wider region. Comparing Census place-of-work counts with resident labour supplies suggests a constrained local job market within the immediate boundary. Statistical analysis of ABS and SALM series shows that during the 12 months to March 2026, Port Augusta's workforce contracted by 1.9% while total employment fell 10.4%, lifting the unemployment rate by 8.1 percentage points. Over the same span, Regional SA achieved a 1.2% rise in employment and a 2.6% expansion in the labour pool, with joblessness rising by 1.4 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 industry projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, provide context for future workforce requirements. While national projections indicate overall job gains of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, industry performance varies widely. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Port Augusta's industry composition suggests potential employment growth of 6.2% across five years and 13.2% over ten years (a basic weighted projection that does not factor in local demographic movements).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Port Augusta is $1,092 a week (about $57,000 a year), with median personal income at $635 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,363 a year against an average of $56,386. 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
ATO taxation data for financial year 2023 indicates that taxpayers in the suburb of Port Augusta earned a median income of $47,363 and an average of $56,386, placing earnings below national standards and under the Regional SA benchmarks of $48,920 (median) and $58,933 (average). Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated March 2026 figures stand at roughly $52,180 for median income and $62,120 for average income. During the 2021 Census, individual, family, and household earnings were positioned between the 7th and 16th percentiles across Australia.
The most common individual income band is $400 - 799, capturing 27.0% of taxpayers (1,818 people), contrasting with metropolitan centers where 27.5% earn between $1,500 - 2,999. Although residents retain 87.1% of their earnings after accommodation costs, overall disposable funds sit at the 10th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Port Augusta had 2,609 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 75% detached houses and 10% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 45% rented and 31% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $194 a week and the median mortgage repayment $979 a month. Rent absorbs 17.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that the residential landscape in Port Augusta consists of 74.7% separate houses alongside 25.3% other dwellings including apartments and townhouses, whereas Regional SA comprises 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Fully owned homes represent 31.2% of tenure, trailing regional averages, while mortgaged properties account for 24.2% and rental accommodation makes up 44.6%. Typical monthly mortgage commitments are $979 and weekly rental payments average $194, both noticeably lower than Regional SA metrics of $1,153 and $220. Compared with broader Australian averages, local monthly mortgage repayments sit far below the national $1,863 figure, while weekly rents remain well under the nationwide $375 benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Port Augusta counted 2,609 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 91% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 38% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 58.0% of local living arrangements, consisting of couples without children at 23.8%, couples with children at 18.3%, and single parent families at 14.4%. The remaining 42.0% are non-family residences, dominated by lone person households at 38.0% alongside group households at 3.9%. The area records an average household size of 2.2 people, slightly under the Regional SA figure of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
12.1% of adults in Port Augusta hold a university qualification, including 8.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 95% of areas nationally. A further 29.9% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 1,262 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 801 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
Tertiary attainment in the locality is relatively low, with 12.1% of residents possessing university degrees compared to the nationwide benchmark of 30.4%, highlighting opportunities for targeted higher learning initiatives. Bachelor degrees comprise 8.2% of qualifications, followed by 2.4% with postgraduate degrees and 1.5% holding graduate diplomas. In contrast, technical and vocational training is widely held, with 37.2% of individuals aged 15+ holding practical credentials, split between certificates (29.9%) and advanced diplomas (7.3%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 27.6% of residents attending an educational institution. Broken down by tier, primary education accounts for 11.8%, secondary schooling captures 7.5%, and 2.3% are enrolled in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Port Augusta reaches 89 stops on 13 routes, timetabled for about 300 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.1 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
Local public transit network analysis identifies 89 active transit stops throughout Port Augusta, supported by 13 distinct routes running a total of 297 weekly passenger trips. Access to the network is strong, with residents situated an average of 147 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given its residential orientation, daily commuting is primarily outward-bound, with private vehicles accounting for 89% of journeys and walking representing 5%. Vehicle availability averages 1.1 per dwelling, trailing regional figures. In the 2021 Census, a modest 2.0% of the workforce worked from home, reflecting conditions during the pandemic.
Across all transit lines, scheduled service frequency averages 42 trips per day, translating to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
61.4% of residents in Port Augusta report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 94% of areas nationally. 7.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 8.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Community wellness metrics compiled by AreaSearch indicate substantial public health challenges in Port Augusta, with chronic conditions and elevated mortality impacting demographic groups across all age brackets, while private health insurance uptake stands at approximately 49% (around 3,321 people), trailing the Australian average of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent chronic conditions locally, diagnosed in 10.2 and 9.6% of the population respectively, while 61.4% of residents reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Long-term health issues are notably present among working-age individuals. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 20.0% of the population (1,346 people), below the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%, with elder health outcomes tracking closely with nationwide indicators.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Port Augusta is largely Australian-born, at 88.7% of residents, with 9.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (29.9%) and English (25.1%). 16.6% 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
Port Augusta records comparatively low cultural and linguistic variation, with 85.5% holding Australian citizenship, 88.7% born domestically, and 90.3% using solely English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the leading faith, adhered to by 39.9% of residents. The most noticeable deviation from broader patterns occurs in Other beliefs, which account for 1.4% of the population against 0.8% in Regional SA. Looking at parental lineage, the primary reported ancestries in Port Augusta are Australian at 29.9%, English at 25.1% (below the 32.5% regional proportion), and Australian Aboriginal at 16.6% (exceeding the regional share of 3.3%).
Notable variations also appear among other ancestries, including German heritage at 5.3% compared to 8.2% regionally, Samoan at 0.1% against practically none recorded regionally, and Korean at 0.1% compared to no representation across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Port Augusta is 39. 26.4% 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 age distribution in Port Augusta skews younger than Regional SA. Persons aged 25 - 44 represent 27.9% of the local population as at August 2026 compared to 21.4% regionally, while seniors aged 65+ account for 20.0% relative to 27.1% regionally. The estimated median age sits at 39, matching the 2021 Census and remaining 8 years lower than the Regional SA Census benchmark of 47. Since the Census, the 25 - 44 cohort has expanded from 25.7% to an estimated 27.9%. Projections through 2041 indicate that older residents will drive most demographic growth, expanding by 356 residents (26%) to reach 1,703, while younger adult, youth, and child cohorts are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Port Augusta
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 4 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 Aug 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 — 45 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,437 at the 2021 Census → 6,734 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 (SAL41189). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.