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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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Port Augusta West has an estimated 4,251 residents, up from 4,046 at the 2021 Census — a change of 205 people, or 5.1%. Overseas migration accounts for 70.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. 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 Port Augusta West has an estimated population of around 4,251, determined through AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population updates alongside new addresses validated post-Census. Compared to the 2021 Census tally of 4,046 people, this represents an addition of 205 people (5.1%). Such movement stems from an estimated resident population of 4,246 identified by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP release, coupled with 10 validated new addresses logged after the Census date. The resulting population density stands at 5.8 persons per square kilometer, offering residents substantial living space.
Outperforming both the wider SA4 region and the SA3 area (3.9%), the suburb of Port Augusta West's 5.1% expansion since the 2021 census positions it as a leading regional growth area. International migration served as the primary growth driver, generating roughly 70.0% of the total demographic gains recorded in recent periods. Projections utilized by AreaSearch incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia release utilizing 2022 as a base year across SA2 boundaries. Where SA2 coverage is absent or projections extend past 2032, 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort forecasts grounded in 2021 figures are applied via weighted aggregation from local government to SA2 levels. Demographic forecasts suggest the suburb of Port Augusta West will track within the lower quartile of regional Australian growth, adding an estimated 13 persons to 2041 according to combined SA2 projections, which represents an overall rise of 0.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Port Augusta West remains minimal, recording an average of 3 approvals per year and a total of 19 across the past five years. Modest housing demand and local infrastructural limits typically constrain construction in rural settings to these low levels. Given the small baseline of approvals, annual growth comparisons and percentage movements can fluctuate substantially depending on specific standalone projects. Building activity within Port Augusta West sits well below benchmarks for Rest of SA as well as broader nationwide trends. Recent residential construction consists of 67.0% detached houses alongside 33.0% attached dwellings, with the rising share of multi-unit formats broadening housing variety between larger family residences and cost-effective compact living.
The presence of roughly 1698 people per dwelling approval underlines this subdued, low-volume development landscape. According to the latest quarterly calculations by AreaSearch, Port Augusta West is projected to expand by 8 residents by 2041. Ongoing building levels appear sufficient to satisfy anticipated residential demand, providing supportive market dynamics for prospective purchasers and paving the way for potential growth above current estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Port Augusta West
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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 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Port Augusta West, worth an estimated $12 million. A further 26 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
Local planning schemes, major development undertakings, and capital infrastructure works play a pivotal role in shaping community outcomes. A total of 13 significant projects with potential local influence have been cataloged by AreaSearch. Prominent developments include St Eyre Estate, Regional Key Worker Housing Scheme - Port Augusta, Cleary Street Residential Subdivision, and McKinnon Court Residential Development, with primary initiatives detailed in the accompanying overview.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
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.
Cleary Street Residential Subdivision
A development opportunity in Port Augusta West comprising a 1.4 hectare R-Residential zoned site at 3-5 Cleary Street. A preliminary development plan exists to subdivide the land into 18 allotments, subject to council approval. The land is listed for sale at $499,000-$548,000.
Bunnings Warehouse Port Augusta
The new Bunnings store in Port Augusta has officially opened, featuring a 5000 square meter space with a nursery, landscaping area, two-lane trade drive-through timber yard, and an outdoor living and barbecue area. The store was staffed almost entirely by Spencer Gulf locals.
Port Augusta Industry Hub
Redevelopment of the former Port Augusta power station site into a regional hub for mineral processing and manufacturing, with a potential to develop into a full-fledged Industrial Park. Aims to add significant value to South Australia's mineral resources by harnessing affordable renewable energy and offering miners direct market access via a multimodal road, rail, and port terminal. The project aims to transform the entire area into a regional hub for mineral processing and manufacturing. It includes the Hallett Group's green cement manufacturing plant and Bowen Rail's Logistics Storage.
Joy Baluch AM Bridge Duplication
Duplication of the Joy Baluch AM Bridge to improve road safety and efficiency for all users, improve freight productivity, and improve the resilience of this critical road link. It will also address the current bridge speed restrictions and safety for people walking or cycling across the bridge. The project is part of the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta (PW2PA) Regional Projects Alliance. The duplication of the bridge is an important link in the National Land Transport Network at Port Augusta.
1,789 residents of Port Augusta West are employed, from a labour force of 2,052. Unemployment sits at 12.8%, with participation at 58.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Aggregated statistical data compiled by AreaSearch indicates that Port Augusta West maintains an even distribution of blue-collar and white-collar roles, supported by substantial employment in essential services and an overall unemployment rate of 12.8%. There were 1,789 employed residents as of March 2026, with an unemployment level exceeding the 5.5% benchmark of Regional SA by 7.4%, while labor force participation aligned closely with the regional figure of 58.3%. Census records also showed that only 2.3% of workers carried out their duties from home, though pandemic-related lockdown measures during that period may have influenced this outcome.
Local residents are primarily employed across health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Public administration & safety shows a distinct local presence, employing workers at 2.9 times the regional rate. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for merely 1.4% of jobs locally against 14.5% across the broader region. Discrepancies between the resident population and working population figures at the Census point to a constrained local job market. Over the recent 12-month interval, AreaSearch's compilation of ABS and SALM figures shows a 1.7% reduction in the local labor pool and an 8.8% decline in total employment, pushing the unemployment rate up by 6.8 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA experienced a 1.2% rise in employment, a 2.6% increase in the labor force, and a 1.4 percentage points increase in unemployment. Future employment trajectory can be modeled using the Mar-26 national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia mapped against the local industry baseline over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Port Augusta West's workforce structure indicates prospective employment gains of 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (noting this weighted illustration does not factor in localized demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Port Augusta West is $1,396 a week (about $73,000 a year), with median personal income at $720 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,702 a year against an average of $63,935. 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
Aggregated ATO statistics evaluated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place income levels in the suburb of Port Augusta West below the national norm. During that period, taxpayers in the suburb of Port Augusta West recorded a median income of $53,702 and an average income of $63,935, exceeding the Regional SA benchmarks of $48,920 and $58,933. Accounting for an indexed Wage Price Index increase of 10.17% since financial year 2023, modeled figures for March 2026 reach roughly $59,163 for median income and $70,437 on average. Census findings position family, personal, and household earnings between the 28th and 32nd percentiles nationally.
In terms of earnings distribution, 30.6% of residents (1,300 individuals) generate between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the regional proportion of 27.5%. After housing expenses, households retain 88.0% of their income, placing disposable funds at the 33rd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Port Augusta West had 1,542 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 80% detached houses and 6% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 41% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $213 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,279 a month. Rent absorbs 15.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing stock in Port Augusta West consists of 79.9% standalone houses and 20.1% alternative formats such as apartments, semi-detached, and other residences, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings throughout Regional SA. Outright home ownership stood at 31.6%, trailing the regional average, while 27.2% of properties carried a mortgage and 41.2% were occupied by renters. Median monthly mortgage payments reached $1,279, higher than the $1,153 recorded for Regional SA, whereas median weekly rent was $213 against $220 regionally. Compared against nationwide benchmarks, local mortgage obligations sit substantially beneath the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents remain well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Port Augusta West counted 1,542 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,620 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 32% 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 constitute the majority of living arrangements at 66.0%, encompassing 27.0% childless couples, 24.0% couples with children, and 13.4% one-parent households. The remaining 34.0% are non-family residences, consisting of single-person dwellings (31.5%) and group shared accommodation (2.6%). The typical household size stands at a median of 2.3 people, identical to the regional standard across Regional SA.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.5% of adults in Port Augusta West hold a university qualification, including 10.2% with a bachelor degree and 3.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 92% of areas nationally. A further 28.8% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 830 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 898 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 15.5% of individuals possessing higher education qualifications compared to the nationwide benchmark of 30.4%. Among higher education credentials, bachelor degrees represent 10.2%, postgraduate qualifications account for 3.3%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.0%. In contrast, vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, with 36.7% of the population aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising certificates (28.8%) and advanced diplomas (7.9%). Student enrollment remains strong across the community, with 29.4% of the population engaged in formal study. Within this cohort, 13.6% attend primary school, 8.2% are enrolled in secondary education, and 2.3% are engaged in higher educational studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Port Augusta West reaches 45 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 110 services a week. The typical home sits about 160 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.4 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
Transit infrastructure within Port Augusta West features 45 active transport stops connected via 9 individual routes, delivering 105 weekly passenger trips in total. Accessibility to public transit is rated as excellent, with dwellings situated an average of 158 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuter travel is largely outbound from this primarily residential suburb, where private car travel accounts for 93% of journeys and households maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. Meanwhile, 2.3% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
Timetables provide an average of 15 trips per day across the network, which translates to roughly 2 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.4% of residents in Port Augusta West report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 6.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessments of mortality trends and chronic illness by AreaSearch highlight significant health hurdles in Port Augusta West, where standard medical conditions impact younger as well as older demographics. Private health insurance uptake slightly surpasses the typical SA2 level, encompassing roughly 52% of residents (~2,222 people), compared with 48.9% throughout Regional SA. Asthma (10.2%) and arthritis (9.5%) rank as the primary reported long-term illnesses among local residents, while 64.4% of respondents reported no ongoing medical conditions, slightly higher than the 62.5% recorded in Regional SA. Working-age individuals experience heightened levels of chronic health concerns.
Senior residents aged 65 and over comprise 19.6% of the community (833 people), below the Regional SA proportion of 27.1%, with elder wellness metrics tracking comparably to national baseline averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Port Augusta West is largely Australian-born, at 90.7% of residents, with 7.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.5%) and English (28.0%). 12.4% 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 metrics in Port Augusta West sit under broader benchmarks, evidenced by 90.7% Australian-born residents, an Australian citizenship rate of 87.7%, and 92.5% of people speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity represents the foremost religious affiliation, accounting for 41.1% of the populace. Notably, the Other category displays a distinct local concentration at 2.3%, well above the 0.8% proportion seen across Regional SA. Regarding ancestral heritage, the three most widespread backgrounds in Port Augusta West are Australian (31.5%), English (28.0%), and Australian Aboriginal (12.4%), with the Indigenous proportion substantially exceeding the regional benchmark of 3.3%.
Variations also appear across other cultural heritages, including German at 5.2% (vs 8.2% regionally), Polish at 0.6% (vs 0.4%), and South Australian at 0.4% (vs 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Port Augusta West is 40. 23.8% 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
The demographic structure of Port Augusta West is comparatively younger than that of Regional SA. As at August 2026, young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up 25.6% of the populace versus 21.4% regionally, while retirees and elderly cohorts (65+) constitute 19.6% compared to 27.1% regionally. This results in an estimated median age of 40, matching the 2021 Census reading and sitting 7 years under the Regional SA benchmark of 47 from that Census. Following the Census, the share of middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) shifted from 26.6% down to an estimated 25.1%.
Looking ahead to 2041, the retiree and elderly cohorts are expected to see the strongest expansion, rising by 192 residents (23%) to reach 1,025, whereas numbers across children and young adults as well as young to middle aged adults are anticipated to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Port Augusta West
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 | Jun 2026 4 months ago all 8 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 Jun 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 — 10 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,046 at the 2021 Census → 4,251 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 (SAL41190). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.