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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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Surrey Downs has an estimated 3,705 residents, up from 3,358 at the 2021 Census — a change of 347 people, or 10.3%. Growth has averaged 1.9% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 67.0% of that increase. That puts 2,273 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 Surrey Downs has an estimated resident count of roughly 3,705, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS broader regional releases alongside 4 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. This represents an addition of 347 people (10.3%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 3,358 people. Calculated from the June 2025 ABS ERP release and recent address validation, the resident count of 3,705 generates a population density of 2,273 persons per square kilometer, placing it above the national benchmark assessed by AreaSearch. Outperforming both the wider state and the SA3 area (4.1%), the suburb of Surrey Downs stood out as a regional growth leader with its 10.3% expansion since the 2021 census.
Natural increase served as the primary demographic driver, accounting for roughly 67.0% of overall population gains across recent periods. Demographic modeling for the suburb of Surrey Downs uses 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections based on 2022 figures, supplemented for post-2032 periods and uncovered areas by the 2023 SA State Government Regional/LGA age-cohort series (based on 2021 data) converted via weighted LGA-to-SA2 aggregation. Long-term demographic forecasts indicate a growth trajectory just under the median of benchmarks evaluated by AreaSearch, with the suburb of Surrey Downs anticipated to expand by 356 persons to 2041 under aggregated SA2-level figures, representing an overall increase of 9.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
76 new dwellings have been approved in Surrey Downs over the past five years, an average of 15 a year. That places the area in the 68th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 21 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 86% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 31, running ahead of 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
Statistical allocations of ABS building approvals compiled by AreaSearch show that Surrey Downs averages roughly 15 approved dwellings annually, totaling approximately 76 homes across the prior 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 31 so far in FY-25. Incoming population demand has significantly outstripped construction, averaging 3.2 people per year arriving for every residential unit built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), fostering competitive purchasing conditions and upward pressure on property values. Newly approved dwellings carry an average construction cost of $347,000. In addition, $3.0 million in commercial approvals recorded this financial year underscores the predominantly residential character of the neighborhood.
Dwelling creation in Surrey Downs tracks at a moderately higher rate than Greater Adelaide (22.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), helping to maintain local property values while providing options for purchasers. Structural supply is heavily oriented toward single-family living, with 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% medium and high-density housing, preserving suburban appeal for buyers seeking spacious properties. Approvals indicate growth-corridor dynamics, averaging around 146 people per dwelling approval. According to the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch, Surrey Downs is slated to add 356 residents through to 2041. Given ongoing construction patterns, forthcoming residential development is well positioned to satisfy demand, creating supportive purchasing conditions and potentially enabling local demographic expansion beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Surrey Downs
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Surrey Downs. A further 28 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $1.71 billion. 6 are already under construction and 5 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, residential development and sports & recreation. 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
Community development and local performance are heavily shaped by strategic infrastructure works, capital investments, and planning amendments. AreaSearch has pinpointed 2 projects anticipated to influence the immediate region. Notable initiatives include the Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program, Illyarrie Reserve Enhancement, Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment (Stage 1), and Golden Grove Road Upgrade, with significant projects outlined below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program
SA Water program to transfer approximately 4,700 properties in the City of Tea Tree Gully from a council run Community Wastewater Management System with on site septic tanks to a modern sewer network. Delivery is being rolled out in zones between 2022 and 2028 to improve service reliability and public health outcomes.
Sunnybrook Estate
Sunnybrook Estate is a boutique residential land subdivision in the established Sunnybrook precinct of Wynn Vale. Earlier stages are complete and the final premium allotments are under construction, delivering around 48 new detached homes close to local shops, schools and parklands.
Illyarrie Reserve Enhancement
Enhancements to Illyarrie Reserve, a major park in Surrey Downs. A draft master plan has been developed which includes a proposed new indoor training facility for the Golden Grove Central Districts Baseball Club (GGCDBC) and other improvements to the open space.
Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment
A planning policy review and code amendment initiated by the City of Tea Tree Gully to update development standards and zoning overlays for established residential areas across Golden Grove. The proposal reviews allotment sizes, setback requirements, and residential infill policies to protect neighbourhood character while accommodating measured growth.
Wynn Vale Grove Shopping Centre Redevelopment
Proposed expansion and refurbishment of the Wynn Vale Grove Shopping Centre including upgraded retail tenancies, expansion of the existing medical centre, improved pedestrian access, landscaping and a reconfigured car park. As of mid-2026 the proposal remains in the planning phase with no confirmed construction commencement publicly announced.
Golden Grove Master Planned Stage 2
Second stage development seeking to rezone land south of One Tree Hill Road from Rural Living Zone to Master Planned Neighbourhood Zone and Employment Zone. The proposal aims to create approximately 450 additional allotments to complement the Stage 1 development, offering generously sized plots where residents can choose their own builders.
Tilley Recreation Park Indoor Training Facility & Clubrooms
Redevelopment and construction of a modern multi-use flexible clubroom and sporting facility at Tilley Recreation Park for the Tea Tree Gully City Soccer Club. The project includes four unisex changerooms, umpire and medical rooms, clubrooms, an undercover viewing area, enhanced public amenities, viewing mounds, additional green space, and integrated public art elements. Delivered by City of Tea Tree Gully in partnership with Sarah Constructions.
Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment (Stage 1)
Privately led rezoning proposal to enable a master-planned residential community north of One Tree Hill Road in Golden Grove. Proponents YAS Property & Development and Falkenburg Road Pty Ltd seek to rezone approximately 29 hectares of Rural-zoned land to Master Planned Neighbourhood to facilitate around 340 dwellings, alongside open space and interface buffers to adjacent extractive operations.
2,080 residents of Surrey Downs are employed, from a labour force of 2,117. Unemployment sits at 1.7%, with participation at 69.3%. 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 2,724, about 74% 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
Surrey Downs maintains a diverse labour force spanning blue- and white-collar occupations, supported by a strong base in essential services, an unemployment rate of only 1.7%, and an estimated 2.3% annual employment gain according to statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents reached 2,080, local unemployment sat 2.1% below the 3.8% recorded for Greater Adelaide, and workforce participation stood at 69.3% compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Census figures showed a modest 10.2% of workers operating from home, though pandemic-related lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade constitute the primary employment sectors for local workers.
Workforce concentration is exceptionally pronounced in construction, where local participation reaches 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for a smaller share locally at 5.3%, against 7.3% regionally. The substantial gap between local resident workers and the Census working population indicates that this largely residential locality offers limited internal commercial employment opportunities. AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM series shows that over the twelve months to March 2026, local employment grew by 2.3% while the labour force expanded by 2.5%, lifting the local unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Adelaide registered a 4.2% rise in employment, a 4.0% labour force increase, and a 0.2 percentage points decrease in unemployment. Future workplace requirements can be gauged via the Mar-26 Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts, which project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with distinct variation by sector. Applying these national sector outlooks to the local workforce composition indicates prospective employment gains of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years for Surrey Downs (representing a simple weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes without localized demographic adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Surrey Downs is $1,674 a week (about $87,000 a year), with median personal income at $828 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,363 a year against an average of $59,609. 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
Postcode-level ATO statistics aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show Surrey Downs taxpayers recording a median income of $53,363 and an average of $59,609, trailing the national benchmark as well as the Greater Adelaide figures of $54,808 and $66,852 respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $58,790 (median) and $65,671 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, local household, family, and personal earnings registered in the mid-range between the 45th and 54th percentiles. A cohort of 1,444 individuals (39.0% of the population) sits in the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with the regional proportion of 31.8%.
Residents retain 86.0% of income after housing obligations, with the suburb placed in the 4th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Surrey Downs had 1,299 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 31% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,473 a month. Rent absorbs 19.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Single-family detached residences represented 95.6% of the housing stock in Surrey Downs at the latest Census, with semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings accounting for just 4.4%, in contrast to the Adelaide metro split of 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Outright property ownership mirrored the wider metropolitan level at 30.5%, with mortgaged properties comprising 49.7% and rented homes making up 19.7%. Median monthly mortgage costs stood at $1,473 (against $1,562 across Adelaide metro), while median weekly rent was $330 (versus $320 across Adelaide metro). Both metrics sit well below national benchmarks, where the Australian average mortgage repayment is $1,863 and the national rent median is $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Surrey Downs counted 1,299 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,433 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 24% 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 74.9% of all local residences, consisting of couples with children (32.5%), couples without children (27.6%), and single parent families (14.4%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 25.1%, encompassing 23.5% lone person households and 1.7% group households. The median household occupancy is 2.5 people, equaling the Greater Adelaide average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.7% of adults in Surrey Downs hold a university qualification, including 12.1% with a bachelor degree and 2.2% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 177 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 989 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
Higher education qualifications present an area for development in the community, with 16.7% holding university degrees compared to the 30.4% national benchmark, highlighting potential for future learning initiatives. Bachelor degrees form the largest tertiary category at 12.1%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.4% and postgraduate qualifications at 2.2%. Vocational and technical credentials are heavily represented, with 42.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, comprising 31.4% certificates and 11.4% advanced diplomas. Community educational engagement is solid, with 26.8% of local inhabitants actively undertaking formal study. By level, this comprises 11.4% attending primary education, 6.5% enrolled in secondary education, and 3.8% engaged in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Surrey Downs reaches 25 stops on 18 routes, timetabled for about 1,300 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. 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
Public transport connectivity in Surrey Downs is supported by 25 active transport stops providing bus services across 18 individual routes, generating a combined 1,328 weekly passenger trips. Stop accessibility is rated as excellent, with typical walking distances of 151 meters from local dwellings. Because the neighborhood is primarily residential, outbound commuting prevails, with private vehicles accounting for 89% of trips and buses serving 9%. Dwellings maintain an average vehicle ownership of 1.5. A comparatively modest 10.2% of the local workforce worked from home at the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Across all transit lines, scheduled service frequency averages 189 trips per day, translating to roughly 53 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.8% of residents in Surrey Downs report no long-term health condition. 4.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch assessment of chronic disease and mortality figures indicates below-average health outcomes in Surrey Downs, with common health conditions exhibiting slightly elevated rates across both younger and older age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is somewhat low, taken up by approximately 51% of the total population (~1,873 people), compared to 52.7% across Greater Adelaide and 55.7% nationally. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 9.5 and 9.1% of residents, respectively, while 64.8% of the community reported having no long-term health conditions compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide.
Working-age cohorts experience higher-than-average chronic condition rates. Older residents aged 65 and over make up 18.1% of residents (670 people), aligning broadly with overall national age rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Surrey Downs is largely Australian-born, at 80.7% of residents, with 7.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.1%) and Australian (27.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Surrey Downs track below typical averages, with 80.7% of residents born in Australia, 91.7% holding citizenship, and 92.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity constitutes the leading religious affiliation at 39.9% of the local population. The most distinct variance appears in the Other category, which represents 0.8% locally compared to 1.8% across Greater Adelaide. Reflecting parental birthplaces, English ancestry represents the largest background in Surrey Downs at 34.1% of the population (well above the 27.8% regional figure), followed by Australian at 27.9% (exceeding the 22.8% regional average) and Scottish at 6.8%.
Other ancestral backgrounds show notable local variations, including German at 6.2% of Surrey Downs (vs 5.1% regionally), Dutch at 1.7% (vs 1.2%), and Polish at 0.9% (vs 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Surrey Downs is 38. 25.4% 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 Surrey Downs closely mirror metropolitan patterns, with the largest divergence across the four broad bands being just 1.2 percentage points against Greater Adelaide. The estimated median age in August 2026 is 38, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 1 year below the Greater Adelaide median of 39 from that Census. The middle aged and young retiree demographic (45 - 64) has decreased from 24.7% at the Census to an estimated 23.3%. Looking forward to 2041, senior and retiree age groups (65+) will drive most demographic growth, increasing by 127 residents (19%) to reach a total of 798.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Surrey Downs
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 — 4 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,358 at the 2021 Census → 3,705 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 (SAL41410). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.