Port Augusta

Port Augusta has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Port Augusta is around 6,757, reflecting an increase of 320 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,437. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 6,685 following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 45 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 333 persons per square kilometer. Port Augusta's growth rate of 5.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.7%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends indicate lower quartile growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with Port Augusta expected to grow by 43 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 0.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Port Augusta, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Port Augusta has seen approximately 10 residential properties granted approval annually, with a total of 53 homes approved between financial years FY-21 and FY-25. No residential approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 0.7 people per year moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and potential for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes is $318,000. In FY-26, Port Augusta has recorded $13.2 million in commercial development approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Port Augusta has slightly more development, with 14.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

However, development activity has moderated recently and is below the national average, suggesting possible planning constraints. All new construction in Port Augusta since FY-21 has been comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes. This preference for detached housing (75.0%) is higher than current patterns suggest, indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1119 people. Future projections estimate Port Augusta will add 9 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Port Augusta has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 12 projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones are Eucalypt Village - Stirling North Accommodation Development, Port Augusta Technical College, Port Augusta Wharf Upgrade, and St Eyre Estate. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Port Augusta face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Port Augusta has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 13.3%. This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

There are 2,729 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 7.9% higher than Rest of SA's rate of 5.3%. Workforce participation in Port Augusta is broadly similar to Rest of SA's 58.5%. According to Census responses, only 2.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and public administration & safety.

Port Augusta shows strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. However, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with only 3.3% employment compared to 14.5% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 4.0%, while employment declined by 2.1%. This resulted in a rise in unemployment rate by 5.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of SA saw employment grow by 0.3% and labour force expand by 2.3%, with unemployment rising by 1.9 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Port Augusta. These projections suggest national employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Port Augusta's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Port Augusta's suburb income level is below national average according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Port Augusta was $47,363 and average income stood at $56,386, compared to Rest of SA's figures of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.8% since June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $51,531 (median) and $61,348 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Port Augusta fall between 7th and 16th percentiles nationally. The $400 - $799 income bracket dominates with 27.0% of residents (1,824 people), contrasting with surrounding region where $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 27.5%. Housing costs are modest with 87.1% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just 10th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Port Augusta, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro SA had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Augusta was at 31.2%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (24.2%) or rented (44.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Port Augusta was $979, lower than Non-Metro SA's average of $1,153 and significantly below the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Port Augusta was recorded at $194, compared to Non-Metro SA's $220 and substantially below the national figure of $375.

Port Augusta features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 58.0% of all households, including 18.3% couples with children, 23.8% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 42.0%, with lone person households at 38.0% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of SA average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.3%) and certificates (29.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Port Augusta is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Port Augusta faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~3,332 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 10.2% and 9.6% of residents respectively. 61.4% of residents reported having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 62.5% across Rest of SA. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.0% (1,351 people), compared to Rest of SA's 27.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Port Augusta was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 85.5% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (88.7%), and speaking English only at home (90.3%). The predominant religion in Port Augusta is Christianity, comprising 39.9% of the population. However, the most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which makes up 1.4% compared to 0.8% across the rest of South Australia.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (29.9%), English (25.1%), and Australian Aboriginal (16.6%). The English group is lower than the regional average of 32.5%, while the Australian Aboriginal group is substantially higher at 16.6% compared to the regional average of 3.3%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is overrepresented at 5.3% (regional average is 8.2%), Samoan is present at 0.1% (vs 0.0% regionally), and Korean at 0.1% (also vs 0.0%).

Port Augusta's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Port Augusta has a median age of 39, which is younger than the Rest of SA figure of 47 and comparable to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 make up 14.3% of the population, while those aged 65-74 comprise 9.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.1% to 13.5%, and the 55-64 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 12.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Port Augusta's age structure. The 85+ group is expected to grow by 99%, reaching 349 people from 175. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 83% of total population growth. In contrast, the 0-4 and 15-24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.