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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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Rosewater has an estimated 3,699 residents, up from 3,582 at the 2021 Census — a change of 117 people, or 3.3%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 2,781 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 Rosewater, demographic assessments incorporating broader ABS data and 70 validated new addresses post-Census indicate an estimated population of approximately 3,699 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 3,582 people recorded in the 2021 Census, this marks an expansion of 117 people (3.3%). This trend is further supported by AreaSearch's June 2025 ERP analysis placing the resident count at 3,686. The local density stands at 2,781 persons per square kilometer, positioning the suburb in the upper quartile across assessed Australian locations. Net gains were primarily underpinned by overseas migration, which made up around 56.00000000000001% of recent growth, alongside positive contributions from natural increase and interstate arrivals.
Population modeling for the suburb of Rosewater relies on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 figures starting from base year 2022, combined with 2023 SA State Government LGA age projections based on 2021 data adjusted via weighted growth distribution for years beyond 2032 or missing areas. These aggregated SA2 estimates point to an above median trajectory nationally, projecting the suburb of Rosewater to gain 607 persons by 2041, representing a 16.1% overall expansion over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
205 new dwellings have been approved in Rosewater over the past five years, an average of 41 a year. That is 6.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 22 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 32% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 15, 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 records from the ABS show Rosewater recording approximately 41 residential approvals per year on average, totaling an estimated 205 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with 15 approvals lodged during FY-25. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), an influx of 1.4 people per dwelling built has maintained an equilibrium between demand and construction, where homes reflect an average construction value of $428,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals have reached $16.8 million during this financial year, demonstrating ongoing non-residential building investment.
Per capita residential construction in Rosewater sits at roughly 75% of the Greater Adelaide benchmark, placing in the 40th percentile of Australian regions and restricting new dwelling supply to bolster existing asset values. Recent development pipelines comprise 32.0% detached dwellings alongside 68.0% attached dwellings, offering cost-effective properties tailored to downsizers, first-home purchasers, and investors. This transition toward higher density departs from the existing stock of 77.0% houses, reflecting land constraints and changing demographic demands across a mature market with roughly 367 people per dwelling approval. Projections indicate that Rosewater will accommodate 594 additional inhabitants by 2041 according to recent quarterly estimates. Ongoing dwelling delivery appears well-positioned to satisfy this anticipated residential growth, maintaining favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially accommodating numbers beyond current expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Rosewater
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Rosewater. A further 13 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.3 billion. 7 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and precincts & urban renewal. 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 capital delivery and strategic urban planning play a vital role in shaping community development. A single 1 major project has been noted by AreaSearch as having significant local relevance, alongside key regional initiatives such as the Rosewater Loop Project, Our Port, Charles Sturt Playground Renewal Program, and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Redevelopment Stage Three.
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
St. James, Kidman Park
An 11 hectare masterplanned residential community by Fairland on the former Metcash distribution centre site. The project will deliver more than 430 homes including detached houses, terraces and apartments, together with 1.6 hectares of open space connected to the River Torrens Linear Park. Construction of homes is well underway, new housing releases continue through 2026, and a separate 8000 sqm mixed-use lifestyle precinct with retail, childcare, apartments and commercial space is also under construction.
Rosewater Loop Project
A community project developing a shared path for walking and riding, incorporating landscaping, community facilities, and public art. Key elements include the installation of water points, construction of gravel and sealed paths, and the addition of signage and artwork to enhance community pride and deter vandalism.
Quest Hotel Port Adelaide (Second Quest) and Large Retail Precinct
This significant redevelopment by One SMG (Neville Smith Group) features a second $35 million Quest Hotel apartment complex at 10-12 North Parade, providing 88-90 serviced guest suites with river views, gym, and conference facilities. Complementing the hotel is a large-format retail and commercial hub at 271 Commercial Road, spanning approximately 5,860 sqm. The precinct focuses on urban renewal, adaptive reuse of heritage elements like Customs House, and improved pedestrian connectivity to the Port River waterfront.Construction on the retail component is scheduled to commence around late 2025/early 2026 following development approval in August 2025.
Our Port - Port Adelaide Urban Renewal
Renewal SA's multi-decade urban regeneration program revitalizing historic Port Adelaide into a thriving mixed-use waterfront precinct. The master plan delivers between 2,000 and 4,000 residential dwellings across key sub-precincts including Dock One, Port Approach, and McLaren Wharf. Major development stages encompass public promenades, heritage building restoration, waterfront apartments, townhouses, and new open community reserves.
Dock One
Major waterfront masterplanned community at Port Adelaide by Kite Projects, incorporating Dock One stages and Dock One North. The precinct includes about 750 townhouses and apartments, landscaped waterfront promenades, park links, 23,500 sqm of green open space, a completed pedestrian bridge, a community plaza and the adaptive reuse of the former Marine and Harbours Building as a boutique hotel. Current official updates indicate Dock One North is now selling, construction is underway on the residential stages, the bridge and plaza are complete, and demolition works have commenced for the hotel component.
Port Civic Precinct Project
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is redeveloping the Port Adelaide Civic Precinct into a modern cultural, community, and administrative destination. The master plan integrates flexible multi-purpose community spaces, public library facilities, council administrative offices, and upgrades surrounding the historic Town Hall. The design revitalises key civic spaces with strong environmentally sustainable principles to anchor local community activity.
Customs House Precinct Revival
Adaptive reuse and revitalization of the historic Customs House precinct bounded by Commercial Road, Robe Street, Nile Street, and North Parade. The development encompasses function spaces, creative studios, art galleries, retail tenancies, and dining venues including an alfresco courtyard and microbrewery. Led by One SMG, the proposal integrates conserved heritage items into a connected mixed-use destination.
Divett and Timpson Street Townhouses, Port Adelaide
Renewal SA released an Expression of Interest for the development of up to 10 multi-storey townhouses across Lots 459 and 461 in the Port Adelaide State Heritage Area. The 1,079 sqm corner site aims to deliver high-quality residential dwellings sensitive to the historic maritime precinct and adjacent to the Port River. The initiative supports urban revitalization and housing supply near major regional employment hubs including the Osborne naval shipyard.
1,968 residents of Rosewater are employed, from a labour force of 2,086. Unemployment sits at 5.7%, with participation at 66.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,836, about 77% 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
Rosewater possesses an established local workforce with strong representation in core services, registering an unemployment rate of 5.7% and annual employment growth of 6.8%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,968, while local joblessness exceeds the Greater Adelaide rate of 3.8% by 1.8 percentage points, and labor participation aligns with the metropolitan level of 66.4%. Home-based workers accounted for 7.0% of the working population at the Census, a figure subject to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. The primary industry sectors employing local residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Logistics represents a clear regional concentration, with transport, postal & warehousing employing 1.5 times the broader metropolitan proportion. In contrast, professional & technical roles capture 4.3% of workers against the 7.3% regional benchmark, reflecting a predominantly suburban community with modest local job creation. Over the 12 months to March 2026, local employment expanded by 6.8% alongside a 4.1% rise in the labor pool, reducing unemployment by 2.4 percentage points, whereas Greater Adelaide recorded a 4.2% employment rise, a 4.0% labor force expansion, and a 0.2 percentage points fall in unemployment. According to Jobs and Skills Australia Mar-26 projections, national jobs are forecast to rise 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Rosewater's industry base implies potential local employment increases of 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Rosewater is $1,314 a week (about $68,000 a year), with median personal income at $684 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,991 a year against an average of $58,091. 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 statistics for financial year 2023 indicate that Rosewater recorded a median taxpayer earnings figure of $52,991 alongside an average of $58,091, sitting below Greater Adelaide's median of $54,808 and average of $66,852. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023 brings projected earnings to approximately $58,380 (median) and $63,999 (average) as of March 2026. Across the 2021 Census, local personal, family, and household incomes placed between the 21st and 25th percentiles nationally, with 31.1% of residents (1,150 people) positioned in the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket relative to 31.8% regionally.
Financial stress remains pronounced, with the area ranking in the 20th percentile as households retain 82.9% of income after housing expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Rosewater had 1,455 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 77% detached houses and 5% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,430 a month. Rent absorbs 19.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to Census records, housing in Rosewater consists of 76.6% houses and 23.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), differing slightly from Adelaide metro proportions of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Outright ownership sits at 25.2%, trailing the broader metropolitan rate, while mortgaged homes represent 42.7% and rented properties account for 32.1%. Typical monthly mortgage commitments stand at $1,430 compared to $1,562 across Adelaide metro and $1,863 nationally, while median weekly rent is $260, well below the metropolitan figure of $320 and national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Rosewater counted 1,455 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 21% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 62.8% of all residences, consisting of couples with children at 25.2%, couples without children at 21.1%, and single parent families at 14.8%. The remaining 37.2% comprises non-family residences, with lone person households representing 33.2% and group households making up 3.5%. The typical household size stands at 2.3 people, tracking below the Greater Adelaide benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.5% of adults in Rosewater hold a university qualification, including 14.5% with a bachelor degree and 4.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 1,139 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,006 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 Rosewater remains below broader Australian averages, with 20.5% of individuals aged 15+ possessing higher education degrees relative to 30.4% across Australia. Within this cohort, bachelor degrees account for 14.5%, postgraduate awards comprise 4.4%, and graduate diplomas represent 1.6%. Vocational education is widespread, with 35.1% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, including 26.5% with certificates and 8.6% with advanced diplomas. Active participation in academic study is substantial, encompassing 27.1% of the local population. Current attendees include 9.0% enrolled in primary education, 6.5% attending secondary education, and 5.3% enrolled in tertiary education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Rosewater reaches 15 stops on 7 routes, timetabled for about 800 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 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
Public transport connectivity in Rosewater is provided by 15 active transport stops accommodating various bus services across 7 individual routes, which generate 798 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is strong, with typical walking distances of 184 meters to the nearest transport stop. Commuters rely predominantly on private vehicles for outward travel, with cars accounting for 87% of trips, while vehicle ownership stands at 1.2 per dwelling. Working from home was recorded at 7.0% during the 2021 Census. Bus operations provide a combined total of 114 trips per day across local routes, resulting in roughly 53 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.8% of residents in Rosewater report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 86% of areas nationally. 7.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments indicate notable community challenges in Rosewater, characterized by elevated rates of long-term conditions across both younger and older demographics. Private medical insurance coverage is held by approximately 50% of the total population (~1,849 people), lagging the Greater Adelaide rate of 52.7% and the national figure of 55.7%. Prevalent medical diagnoses within the suburb include mental health issues and arthritis, recorded among 10.3 and 9.2% of residents respectively, while 64.8% reported no long-term ailments compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Chronic illnesses are prominent among working-age individuals. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 18.0% of the community (665 people), below the 19.1% share observed across Greater Adelaide, with elderly health outcomes aligning closely with broader Australian trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
28.4% of Rosewater residents were born overseas and 25.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (24.6%) and Australian (21.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Rosewater is substantial, with 28.4% of the population born overseas and 25.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation at 39.4% of residents. Notably, Buddhism exhibits strong representation at 5.0%, exceeding the Greater Adelaide proportion of 2.4%. Regarding ancestral background, the most common ancestries among Rosewater residents are English (24.6%), Australian (21.3%), and Other (8.3%). Distinct demographic concentrations also appear for Vietnamese background at 4.4% (vs 1.2% regionally), Polish at 2.2% (vs 1.0% regionally), and Russian at 1.5% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Rosewater is 39. 27.2% 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 across the suburb of Rosewater closely tracks Greater Adelaide, with all major age cohorts sitting within 2.5 percentage points of metropolitan shares. The median age remains steady at an estimated 39 as at August 2026, matching both the local 2021 Census figure and the Greater Adelaide median of 39 at that Census. Residents aged 45 - 64 have decreased from 27.5% at the Census to an estimated 24.4%, whereas the cohort aged 65+ is projected to show the largest increase by 2041, growing by 191 (29%) to 857.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Rosewater
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 — 70 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,582 at the 2021 Census → 3,699 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 (SAL41276). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.