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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
Sales Activity
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Population
Population growth drivers in Port Elliot are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Port Elliot is around 2,321, reflecting an increase of 70 people since the 2021 Census. This represents a growth rate of 3.1%. The resident population estimate by AreaSearch, based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date, was 2,288. This results in a density ratio of approximately 109 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Port Elliot has shown resilient growth patterns with an average annual growth rate of 0.7%, outperforming the Rest of SA. Interstate migration contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for around 83% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch's projections for Port Elliot are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered areas, and the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category for years post-2032 and un-covered areas. These projections indicate an above median population growth nationally is anticipated for regional areas like Port Elliot, with an expected increase of 383 persons to reach a total population of approximately 2,704 by 2041, marking a 15.1% rise over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Port Elliot among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Port Elliot shows an average of approximately 33 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling around 169 homes. As of FY26, 21 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 1.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. This suggests a balance between supply and demand, maintaining stable market dynamics.
The average construction value of new dwellings is $401,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, there have been $8.0 million in commercial approvals, reflecting Port Elliot's residential character. Compared to the rest of South Australia, Port Elliot has seen slightly more development, at 16.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This level is also notably higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the area.
Recent construction comprises predominantly detached dwellings (98.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (2.0%), preserving Port Elliot's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. With around 79 people per approval, Port Elliot maintains its status as a low-density area. Population forecasts estimate Port Elliot will gain approximately 350 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Port Elliot
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Port Elliot has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Victor Harbor Baptist Church Expansion, Granite Island Causeway Project, SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28, and SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program are key initiatives, with details of most relevant projects listed below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
Enabling Digital Health Services for Regional and Remote Australia
A national digital infrastructure program under the Digital Health Blueprint 2023-2033 designed to provide equitable healthcare access for regional and remote Australians. The initiative is currently rolling out the 'Share by Default' legislative framework, which mandates the uploading of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record starting July 2026. Current 2026 milestones include the launch of the Digital Health Implementer Hub to accelerate software conformance and the implementation of the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan to integrate allied health practitioners into the national digital ecosystem.
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
SA Housing Trust Maintenance Contracts Review and Service Program
Statewide maintenance and service contracts for SA Housing Trust public housing properties, covering reactive maintenance, vacancy restoration and minor works across metropolitan and regional South Australia. The program is delivered by Spotless Facility Services, RTC Facilities Maintenance and Torrens Facility Management. A 2024 SA Government review examined payment, timeliness, dispute resolution and contract performance issues, and the government provided additional funding to accelerate maintenance and upgrades on vacant public housing homes.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
National EV Charging Network (Highway Fast Charging)
Partnership between the Australian Government and NRMA to deliver a backbone EV fast charging network on national highways. Program funds and co-funds 117 DC fast charging sites at roughly 150 km intervals to connect all capital cities and regional routes, reducing range anxiety and supporting EV uptake.
Network Optimisation Program - Roads
A national program concept focused on improving congestion and reliability on urban road networks by using low-cost operational measures and technology (e.g., signal timing, intersection treatments, incident management) to optimise existing capacity across major city corridors.
Victor Harbor Baptist Church Expansion
Expansion of Victor Harbor Baptist Church facilities to include a new main building with auditorium, children's ministry spaces, modern kitchen and hospitality areas, upgraded amenities, and improved car parking. The development was designed by Mountford Williamson Architecture and received planning approval in April 2021. Project is currently on hold awaiting more favorable construction costs, with over $1.2 million already raised toward the estimated $4.5 million cost. The new facility aims to serve the growing Fleurieu Peninsula community from Currency Creek to Normanville.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis places Port Elliot well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators
Port Elliot has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025793 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.5% lower than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.
Workforce participation in Port Elliot lags at 39.7%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. According to Census responses, 14.2% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance is particularly notable with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.
However, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 2.3% of Port Elliot's workforce compared to Regional SA's 14.5%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, labour force grew by 1.8%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 3.1%, and unemployment rise by 2.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Elliot's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows median income in Port Elliot was $41,588 and average income was $55,842. In comparison, Regional SA had a median income of $48,920 and an average income of $58,933. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year ending June 2023, current estimates for Port Elliot would be approximately $45,817 (median) and $61,521 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Port Elliot fall between the 6th and 10th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 33.9% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly (786 residents), differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 27.5%. Housing costs are modest with 86.8% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 9th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Port Elliot is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Dwelling structure in Port Elliot, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 92.3% houses and 7.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional SA had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Elliot was 49.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.3% and rented ones at 24.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,210, higher than Regional SA's average of $1,153. Median weekly rent was $280 in Port Elliot, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Port Elliot's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Port Elliot has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 69.2% of all households, including 17.1% couples with children, 43.7% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.8%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households making up 1.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Port Elliot fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's residents aged 15+ have a university qualification rate of 23.9%, exceeding the Rest of SA average of 13.9% and the SA4 region average of 14.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 36.0% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 24.9%.
School and university attendance encompasses 17.9% of the community, including 7.5% in primary education, 4.5% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Port Elliot is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Port Elliot faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~1,139 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 13.4 and 9.5% of residents respectively, while 53.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 48.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,114 people), which is higher than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Port Elliot ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Port Elliot, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 9 June 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity compared to the regional average. The population born in Australia constituted 79.2%, with 92.0% being citizens and 96.8% speaking English at home exclusively. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 46.3% of the population.
Notably, the 'Other' religious category was overrepresented at 1.4%, compared to Regional SA's average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, English heritage dominated at 38.9%, higher than the regional average of 32.5%. Australian heritage followed at 25.1%, lower than the regional average of 31.3%. Scottish heritage was present at 9.0% of the population. Certain ethnic groups showed significant variations: German heritage was overrepresented at 7.8% (regional average: 8.2%), Welsh at 0.7% (regional average: 0.5%), and French at 0.6% (regional average: 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Port Elliot ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Port Elliot's median age is 61 years, significantly higher than Regional SA's average of 47 and substantially exceeding Australia's median of 38. The 75-84 age group makes up 20.9% of Port Elliot's population, compared to Regional SA's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 5.4%. This concentration in the 75-84 age group is well above the national average of 6.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 17.8% to 20.9%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 7.1% to 8.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.3% to 12.0%. By 2041, Port Elliot's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase dramatically by 233 people (114%) from 204 to 438. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 85% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 35 to 44 and 65 to 74 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.