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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 Willunga has an estimated 1,841 residents, up from 1,785 at the 2021 Census — a change of 56 people, or 3.1%. That puts 864 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Port Willunga has an estimated population of approximately 1,841, calculated through AreaSearch's review of broader ABS updates alongside post-Census address validations. This indicates an addition of 56 people (3.1%) compared to the 1,785 people counted in the 2021 Census. AreaSearch established this figure by evaluating the ABS June 2025 ERP release (which indicated 1,822 residents) plus 19 validated new addresses registered following the Census. Population density stands at 864 persons per square kilometer, aligning closely with broader AreaSearch benchmark averages. While the SA3 region expanded by 6.0%, the suburb of Port Willunga trailed by just 2.9 percentage points with its 3.1% gain, demonstrating healthy demographic momentum.
Inflow from overseas served as the principal driver by generating around 50.0% of recent population gains, though interstate migration and natural growth also provided positive contributions. Projections for the suburb of Port Willunga rely on ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 datasets published in 2024 (using 2022 as a baseline), supplemented beyond 2032 or for unlisted SA2 zones by 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort models (based on 2021 numbers) adjusted via population-weighted LGA-to-SA2 aggregation. In future years, demographic growth is projected to sit just under the median of regions monitored by AreaSearch. Aggregated SA2 forecasts indicate the suburb of Port Willunga will add 168 persons by 2041, representing total growth of 8.1% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Examining ABS residential approval statistics broken down from statistical zones shows that Port Willunga records roughly 3 new dwelling approvals per year. Across the last 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), 19 homes received approval, including 5 so far in FY-25. With population increasing by an average of 1.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand remain evenly matched to support market stability. Approved residential builds feature an average expected construction cost of $467,000, slightly higher than the regional benchmark and pointing to premium residential construction.
Furthermore, commercial building approvals have totaled $4.4 million this financial year, underscoring the area's overwhelming residential orientation. Relative to Greater Adelaide, Port Willunga has significantly less development activity (60.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties, though development activity has picked up in recent periods. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Meanwhile, new construction has been completely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 404 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest quarterly figures from AreaSearch, Port Willunga is projected to expand by 149 residents leading up to 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, housing supply could fall short of resident inflows, driving up buyer competition and exerting upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Port Willunga
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 16 current infrastructure and development projects close to Port Willunga, worth an estimated $4.12 billion. 4 are already under construction and 5 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and retail. 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
Major infrastructure updates, civic investments, and development frameworks exert a substantial influence on an area's future trajectory. AreaSearch has highlighted 2 primary initiatives expected to shape the local environment. Notable undertakings include Aldinga - A New Community, Aldinga Master Planned Community - Villawood Properties, Aldinga Payinthi College, and Main South Road Duplication Project (Stage 2) - Aldinga to Sellicks Beach, with further information on the most significant works outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Aldinga Master Planned Community
A strategic partnership between Renewal SA and Villawood Properties to create a 46-hectare master planned net zero carbon community delivering over 800 homes, including 200 in an over-55s lifestyle village, with a minimum of 25% affordable housing. The development features a diverse housing mix including detached, semi-detached, and townhouses, complemented by extensive open spaces, parks, and chain-of-ponds corridors. Residents will have access to a club with a pool, gym, cafe, and play spaces. The all-electric development includes an embedded energy network with solar, heat pumps, batteries, and a microgrid, aiming for 25% tree canopy coverage.It preserves a 60-metre wide rail corridor for future Seaford line extensions. Master planning is underway in 2025, with a sales launch anticipated for Summer 2025 and civil construction to commence in early 2026.
Aldinga Central Shopping Centre Expansion
Expansion of the existing Aldinga Central Shopping Centre, including a major renovation of the Coles supermarket. The expansion will add 4,250sqm of retail space and a new Foodland supermarket.
Aldinga Payinthi College
Birth to Year 12 'super school' accommodating up to 1,675 students and 250 staff, including 100 inclusive places for students with disability and 75-place children's centre. $125 million build featuring contemporary learning environments with STEM focus, performing arts theatre, libraries, VET kitchen, gym facilities, sports courts, community usage facilities, and extensive cultural and heritage elements recognizing Aboriginal significance. Construction complete, school open and accommodating up to 1500 students by 2026.
Ocean View Estate
An exclusive boutique residential estate in Maslin Beach, offering land for new homes and house and land packages, including the 'Ashford' design with 'Vantage' facade. The estate provides a luxury living experience near the beach and the McLaren Vale wine region, with flat land ready for new homes or holiday escapes. Lot sizes include 702sqm, with pricing starting from $1,090,298 for select packages.
Sellicks Hill Quarry Operations
261-hectare quarry producing limestone, shale, marble and dolomite. Ongoing air quality monitoring and dust management due to community concerns affecting nearby residential areas and future developments.
Sellicks Beach Growth Area Joint Amendment
A major master planned residential development rezoning approximately 134 hectares to facilitate roughly 1,700 new homes. The project includes a new neighborhood activity centre with a main street focal point, open space networks, and transport infrastructure. Development is currently deferred under a Coordinated Development Overlay pending final air quality monitoring results (expected April 2026) and infrastructure delivery agreements.
Fleurieu Connections - Main South Road Duplication
Duplication of Main South Road between Sellicks Beach and Victor Harbor, improving safety and reducing travel times to the Fleurieu Peninsula. The project includes new overtaking lanes, intersection upgrades and safety improvements.
McLaren Vale Central Shopping Centre
Dual supermarket anchored neighbourhood shopping centre with Coles and Romeo's Foodland, supported by 19 specialty retailers. Serves the McLaren Vale wine region and surrounding residential areas.
929 residents of Port Willunga are employed, from a labour force of 975. Unemployment sits at 4.7%, with participation at 63.9%. 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. The working-day population is estimated at 1,398, about 76% 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 Willunga features a qualified workforce with a strong presence across essential services, posting an unemployment rate of 4.7% and annual employment growth of 5.3% based on statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch. Employed residents totaled 929 as of March 2026. The local jobless rate exceeds Greater Adelaide's 3.8% benchmark by 0.9%, while labor force participation reaches 63.9%, falling below Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. In the Census, 11.5% of working locals reported working from home, a metric that may reflect conditions during Covid-19 restrictions. Local workers are concentrated most heavily in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.
Construction represents a distinct regional specialty, employing residents at 1.4 times the regional average rate. Conversely, retail trade accounts for only 7.1% of employment, underperforming the 10.0% regional level. Comparing the Census working population against resident totals indicates that this largely residential enclave provides relatively few jobs within its borders. AreaSearch assessment of broader SALM and ABS statistical data indicates that in the year to March 2026, local employment grew by 5.3% while the labour force expanded by 4.1%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage points reduction in unemployment. Across Greater Adelaide over the identical timeframe, employment increased by 4.2%, the labor pool rose by 4.0%, and unemployment dipped by 0.2 percentage points. Forward-looking guidance from Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 national employment projections outlines expected hiring across five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is anticipated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories differ markedly by industry. When these sector-specific forecasts are mapped against Port Willunga's resident worker profile, projected job gains reach 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (calculated as a simple weighted extrapolation for illustration without incorporating local population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Port Willunga is $1,313 a week (about $68,000 a year), with median personal income at $690 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,843 a year against an average of $55,582. 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
Based on ATO records aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, personal earnings in the suburb of Port Willunga trail national figures. Local taxpayers recorded a median income of $47,843 and an average income of $55,582, compared with $54,808 and $66,852 across Greater Adelaide. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $52,709 for median earnings and $61,235 for average earnings. The 2021 Census places the suburb of Port Willunga's household, family, and individual income metrics within the 21st to 26th percentiles across the country.
The dominant earnings cohort comprises 32.0% of taxpayers (589 residents) earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, which aligns with the regional proportion of 31.8%. Residual income after housing costs stands at 85.3%, placing the area at the 23rd percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Port Willunga had 712 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 1% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $328 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 25.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that separate houses accounted for 95.2% of the dwelling stock in Port Willunga, while 4.8% consisted of alternative housing types (including apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Adelaide metro where houses represented 75.2% and other dwellings made up 24.9%. Outright ownership reached 38.1%, substantially higher than metropolitan levels, with mortgaged properties comprising 38.0% and rented accommodations accounting for 23.9%. Median monthly mortgage costs of $1,300 were notably lower than the Adelaide metro figure of $1,562, while median weekly rent stood at $328 compared to $320 across Adelaide metro.
On a national scale, Port Willunga's mortgage payments sit significantly below the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents track far beneath the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Port Willunga counted 712 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 23% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 66.4% of households, consisting of couples with children (25.0%), couples without children (23.3%), and single parent families (16.6%). The remaining 33.6% are non-family residences, where single-person households account for 30.1% and shared group housing represents 3.5%. The typical household size sits at 2.3 people, which is slightly lower than the Greater Adelaide figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
22.9% of adults in Port Willunga hold a university qualification, including 16.4% with a bachelor degree and 3.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 815 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 965 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 attainment levels in Port Willunga sit lower than regional averages, with 22.9% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia, pointing to opportunities for future educational expansion. Higher education qualifications comprise bachelor degrees (16.4%), postgraduate degrees (3.7%), and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational training forms a substantial foundation of the community, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, broken down into certificates (30.0%) and advanced diplomas (11.1%). A significant 28.1% of the local population is enrolled in an educational course. Breaking down current students shows 11.4% attending primary school, 6.7% in secondary education, and 4.7% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Port Willunga reaches 14 stops on 6 routes, timetabled for about 310 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.5 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
Port Willunga's public transit network features 14 operational transport stops accommodating bus services. These stops connect to 6 routes that generate 311 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is outstanding, as residents are located an average of 184 meters from their nearest stop. Reflecting the area's residential profile, commuting is largely outbound, with private vehicles serving as the primary choice for 91% of travel and vehicle ownership averaging 1.5 per dwelling. Census findings from 2021 showed 11.5% of workers operating from home, though pandemic conditions may have shaped that outcome. Public transport operations provide an average frequency of 44 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 22 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
65.3% of residents in Port Willunga report no long-term health condition. 7.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Port Willunga demonstrates sound health metrics, with AreaSearch evaluations of disease prevalence and mortality rates matching national benchmarks and exhibiting typical rates of common medical conditions across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is comparatively subdued, held by roughly 49% of the population (~902 people), beneath the Greater Adelaide level of 52.7% and the Australian standard of 55.7%. Mental health conditions (10.6%) and arthritis (9.4%) represent the most prevalent diagnoses among residents, while 65.3% reported having no diagnosed long-term health ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide.
Chronic medical conditions appear at above-average rates among the working-age cohort. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 22.0% of the community (405 people), outpacing Greater Adelaide's 19.1% share. Health outcomes for older residents exceed regional averages, ranking higher nationally than the area's overall demographic profile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Port Willunga is largely Australian-born, at 83.9% of residents, with 2.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.6%) and Australian (27.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Port Willunga sit below wider averages, with 83.9% of residents born in Australia, 90.8% holding Australian citizenship, and 97.4% speaking only English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the most common religious affiliation at 28.0% of the population. Among minority faiths, Buddhism displays the clearest local presence at 1.1%, compared with 2.4% across Greater Adelaide. Parental country of birth statistics indicate that English ancestry leads in Port Willunga at 35.6% of the population, well above the 27.8% recorded across the broader region. Australian heritage ranks second at 27.5%, followed by Scottish at 8.6%.
Other backgrounds show specific variations relative to regional figures, including German at 6.2% (vs 5.1%), Welsh at 1.0% (vs 0.6%), and Serbian at 0.4% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Port Willunga is 44, older than 76% of areas nationally. 21.6% 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
Age distributions in Port Willunga follow Greater Adelaide patterns across all major life stages, with the greatest variance across the four primary age tiers being 7.1 percentage points. AreaSearch calculates a median age of 44 as at August 2026, identical to the figure from the 2021 Census and 5 years higher than the Greater Adelaide median of 39 recorded at that time, which also sat above the national median of 38. The most significant shift since the Census occurred in the 65+ demographic, expanding from 19.9% to an estimated 22.0% of the community.
Forecasts suggest this retirement-age bracket will absorb the bulk of growth through to 2041, increasing by 127 residents (31%) to reach 532, whereas youth and young adult demographics are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Port Willunga
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 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 — 19 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,785 at the 2021 Census → 1,841 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 (SAL41216). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.