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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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Stirling North has an estimated 2,927 residents, up from 2,793 at the 2021 Census — a change of 134 people, or 4.8%. Density is about 43 people per 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 Stirling North has an estimated population of approximately 2,927, derived from AreaSearch evaluation of broader ABS updates and post-Census address validations. This marks an expansion of 134 people (4.8%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 2,793 people. Such growth aligns with an estimated resident population of 2,924 calculated from the June 2025 ABS ERP release alongside 59 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Across the locality, population density sits at 43 persons per square kilometer, ensuring considerable personal space. The suburb of Stirling North outpaced both the SA3 area (3.9%) and the SA4 region with its 4.8% post-2021 census increase, positioning it among the top growth performers locally.
Overseas arrivals served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 70.0% of total recent population additions. Projections utilize 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia datasets pegged to a 2022 baseline for each SA2. For unrepresented areas and timeframes beyond 2032, figures incorporate 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age projections based on 2021 data, converted via a weighted growth aggregation method from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Under this modelling framework, the suburb of Stirling North is projected to experience an overall population contraction of 49 persons by 2041. In contrast to this broader decrease, particular age brackets are set to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age group with an anticipated increase of 42 people. Further details appear in the age breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals across Stirling North remain sparse, averaging 2 approvals per year and totaling 13 approvals over five years. Such subdued activity mirrors the rural setting, where construction is generally sparked by targeted local residential requirements instead of wider market pressures. Due to the limited volume of approvals, individual schemes can create notable swings in annual development metrics and comparative growth. Building volumes in Stirling North sit well below levels recorded across Rest of SA, while also trailing broader Australian figures. Detached dwellings have accounted for all recent construction approvals, aligning with a countryside lifestyle centered around spacious properties.
A high ratio of 1162 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights this quiet, low-scale building climate. Given that the local population is projected to stabilize or decrease, housing demand in Stirling North is likely to moderate, potentially opening up advantageous conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Stirling North
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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 34 current infrastructure and development projects close to Stirling North, worth an estimated $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 economic momentum is heavily shaped by major developments, town planning policies, and public works. AreaSearch has identified 3 initiatives expected to influence the district, including the Eucalypt Village - Stirling North Accommodation Development, Iberdrola Renewable Energy Park, Port Augusta Storage Project, and Northern Water, with relevant details outlined below.
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
Eucalypt Village - Stirling North Accommodation Development
Purpose-built staged accommodation village comprising around 90 rooms including dormitory accommodation, motel-style units and studio apartments for essential workers, students, health practitioners and emergency service personnel servicing the Upper Spencer Gulf region. As of the latest publicly available information the project remains subject to planning, environmental and delivery approvals and no confirmed construction commencement has been announced.
Port Augusta Technical College
A new technical college co-located on the Port Augusta Secondary School site, providing an alternative senior secondary option that equips students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand. One of five technical colleges committed to by the State Government as part of a $208 million plan. The Technical College will open in 2025.
Port Augusta Wharf Upgrade
Upgrade of the heritage-listed Port Augusta Wharf to ensure long-term structural integrity and improve public access for recreational purposes. The scope includes new wharf decks, girders, cross heads, cross bracing, and about 80 new steel piles. The refurbished wharf will be load-rated for light motor vehicles up to three tonnes and for pedestrians.
Port Augusta Storage Project
A proposed renewable energy power station comprising of a vanadium redox battery storage facility of up to 300MWh capacity and an optional 50MW (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) farm. The project is designed to be a storage facility tailored for the future electricity needs of South Australia, conceptualised to replace peaking or load following power plants.
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.
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.
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.
1,230 residents of Stirling North are employed, from a labour force of 1,379. Unemployment sits at 10.9%, with participation at 57.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% 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
Stirling North features an even distribution of blue- and white-collar workers alongside solid representation in essential services, with statistical aggregation by AreaSearch indicating an unemployment rate of 10.9%. Total employment stood at 1,230 residents as of March 2026. While the local jobless rate sits 5.4% above the 5.5% observed in Regional SA, the workforce participation rate tracks closely to Regional SA's 58.3%. Census returns showed a modest 4.0% of workers operating from home, an outcome that may have been shaped by Covid-19 restrictions. Public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and retail trade rank as the primary sectors employing local residents.
Specialization in public administration & safety is exceptionally high, capturing an employment share 2.9 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 3.1% of the workforce, lagging Regional SA's 14.5%. A comparison between Census working figures and the resident count indicates that a substantial proportion of the local workforce travels outside the area for employment. AreaSearch assessment of broader SALM and ABS statistics shows that over the 12-month period, a 0.9% contraction in the labour force and a 7.0% drop in jobs elevated the local unemployment rate by 5.9 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional SA registered a 1.2% lift in employment and a 2.6% increase in the labour force, accompanied by a 1.4 percentage point rise. Further context regarding prospective local labor needs stems from Mar-26 national employment projections by Jobs and Skills Australia mapped across five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by discipline. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Stirling North's employment structure yields an estimated local employment gain of 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, noting that this simple illustrative weighting does not incorporate localized population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Stirling North is $1,831 a week (about $95,000 a year), with median personal income at $925 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $68,994 a year against an average of $82,137. 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 postcode ATO records from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate that taxpayers in Stirling North generated a median income of $68,994 and an average of $82,137. These figures represent an exceptionally strong national standing and substantially exceed Regional SA's median income of $48,920 and average income of $58,933. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach roughly $76,011 (median) and $90,490 (average). Across the 2021 Census, individual, family, and household earnings were positioned around the 62nd percentile nationally.
The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly earnings tier encompasses 36.6% of the local population (1,071 individuals), compared to 27.5% across the wider region. Local disposable income remains resilient, with residents retaining 89.8% of income after servicing housing obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Stirling North had 785 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 16% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $250 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,306 a month. Rent absorbs 13.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 16.5%. 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 inventory in Stirling North consisted of 99.0% houses and 1.0% other dwellings (comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures), compared with Regional SA where proportions were 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Outright property ownership in Stirling North stood at 35.5%, below the regional benchmark, while 48.8% of homes were mortgaged and 15.7% were rented. Median monthly mortgage commitments in the locality were $1,306, exceeding the Regional SA figure of $1,153, while median weekly rent was $250, compared to $220 regionally. On a nationwide basis, local monthly mortgage repayments are noticeably lower than the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents track well under the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Stirling North counted 785 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units account for 78.2% of local residences, comprising couples without children (33.2%), couples with children (32.4%), and single parent families (12.8%). The remaining 21.8% consists of non-family living arrangements, with lone person households representing 20.6% and group households making up 0.6%. The typical household size stands at 2.6 people, higher than the Regional SA average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.3% of adults in Stirling North hold a university qualification, including 6.5% with a bachelor degree and 1.1% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 82% of areas nationally. A further 30.3% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 305 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 955 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 presents specific local hurdles, as tertiary qualification levels (9.3%) trail well behind the 30.4% recorded across Australia, highlighting a key focus area for future education programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 6.5%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.7% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.1%. Vocational and technical training is strongly represented, with 37.2% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (6.9%) and certificates (30.3%). Current participation in schooling and study is substantial, with 44.8% of the population engaged in formal courses. This cohort is distributed across primary education (22.3%), secondary education (11.6%), and tertiary education (3.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Stirling North means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Stirling North's public transit network contains 20 active transport stops across 3 individual routes, delivering 78 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transport is favorable, with an average distance of 245 meters from households to the nearest stop. Given the suburb's residential focus, the vast majority of commuters head outward, relying heavily on private vehicles at 95%. Vehicle density stands at 1.9 per dwelling, surpassing the regional norm, while working from home accounted for 4.0% of employed residents at the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences. Public transport services provide an average frequency of 11 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.9% of residents in Stirling North report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 75% of areas nationally. 3.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 59.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illness rates and mortality indicate notable health considerations in Stirling North, with standard medical conditions evident across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance coverage is prominent, held by approximately 59% of residents (1,739 people), outpacing the 48.9% rate across Regional SA. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent diagnosed conditions, affecting 10.4 and 7.8% of the community respectively, though 68.9% of residents reported having no medical ailments whatsoever, compared to 62.5% across Regional SA. Chronic conditions show an above-average incidence among working-age individuals. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 14.8% of the local population (433 people), well below the 27.1% recorded regionally, with senior health rankings tracking close to national benchmarks for the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Stirling North is largely Australian-born, at 94.2% of residents, with 2.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (36.3%) and English (30.2%). 7.3% 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 in Stirling North remains below broader averages, with 73.0% of the community holding Australian citizenship, 94.2% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking solely English in home settings. Christianity forms the predominant faith, accounting for 36.7% of residents. In comparison, Judaism is represented by no residents in Stirling North, mirroring the absence of adherents across Regional SA. Regarding parental heritage, the most frequently reported ancestries are Australian at 36.3%, English at 30.2%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.3%. Several other cultural backgrounds show varying regional shares, with German background accounting for 5.1% in Stirling North (versus 8.2% regionally), Maori representing 0.3% (versus 0.2%), and Dutch comprising 1.1% (versus 1.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Stirling North is 35, younger than 76% of areas nationally. 28.2% 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
Stirling North functions as a prominent hub for family formation. August 2026 data indicates that 33.9% of residents fall into the young to middle aged adult category (25 - 44), compared to 21.4% throughout Regional SA, whereas seniors and retirees (65+) constitute 14.8%, below the regional proportion of 27.1%. The estimated median age as at August 2026 remains 35, identical to the 2021 Census figure and 12 years younger than the Regional SA Census median of 47. Since the Census, the share of seniors and retirees has increased from 12.8% to an estimated 14.8%.
Projections toward 2041 anticipate that this older demographic will generate the vast majority of population growth, expanding by 87 residents (20%) to reach 520, while the numbers of children, young adults, middle-aged persons, and younger retirees are expected to recede.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Stirling North
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 — 59 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,793 at the 2021 Census → 2,927 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 (SAL41385). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.