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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
Surrey Downs is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Surrey Downs' population is estimated at around 3,699 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 341 people (10.2%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,358 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,699 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,269 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Surrey Downs' 10.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (4.1%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 67.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected for Surrey Downs, with the suburb expected to grow by 357 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.7% in total over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Surrey Downs according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Surrey Downs had approximately 10 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 54 homes were approved, with a further 12 approved in FY26 so far. Each dwelling added an average of 2.6 new residents per year over these five years.
New homes had an average construction cost value of $354,000, reflecting quality-focused development. This financial year has seen $3.0 million in commercial approvals, indicative of the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Surrey Downs records about 66% of building activity per person and ranks among the 43rd percentile nationally, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. New construction comprised solely detached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on space-seeking buyers.
As of around 388 people per approval, Surrey Downs indicates a mature market. By 2041, Surrey Downs is projected to grow by 357 residents, with development keeping pace with this growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers as the population expands.
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.
Infrastructure
Surrey Downs has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally
Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely impacting this region: Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program and Illyarrie Reserve Enhancement. Other notable projects include Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment (Stage 1) and Golden Grove Road Upgrade.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Playford Health Hub
A three-stage private health precinct directly opposite the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Stage 1 (completed November 2021) delivered a 24 million dollar, 450-bay multi-deck car park and around 1,700 square metres of retail anchored by SA Health, IGA, Medimart and Australia Post. Stage 2 (completed May 2024) is a 51 million dollar, four-level, 6,500 square metre Specialist Medical Centre powered entirely by renewable energy, designed as South Australia's first 6 Star Green Star registered medical office building. Tenants include Calvary's Connery Centre for day oncology, GenesisCare radiotherapy, Radiology SA, Clinpath Pathology, SA Health and consulting suites. Stage 3 is an approximately 93 million dollar private hospital to be operated by Calvary Health Care, with provision for around ten operating theatres and up to 120 day and overnight beds. It received planning consent from the City of Playford in 2023, is in detailed design and early contractor involvement, and will replace the existing Calvary Central Districts Hospital. An airbridge is planned to link the new private hospital with the public Lyell McEwin Hospital.
SA Water Capital Work Delivery Contracts 2024-28
SA Water's record $3.3 billion capital delivery program for the 2024-28 regulatory period, covering water and wastewater infrastructure across South Australia. The program targets water main replacements, sewerage network upgrades, dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, and treatment process upgrades across metropolitan and regional areas. A central $1.5 billion component supports the South Australian Premier's Housing Roadmap, expanding network capacity to unlock up to 40,000 new allotments, with major focus on Adelaide's northern growth corridors including Angle Vale, Riverlea, and Roseworthy. Six major framework partners (Fulton Hogan Utilities, John Holland and Guidera O'Connor JV, McConnell Dowell and Diona JV, BMD, Diona, and Leed Engineering and Construction) are delivering works across approximately 120 projects. In Year 1 (to June 2025), $681.6 million in capital was invested. The program runs to June 2028.
North East Public Transport Study Outcomes (Golden Grove Park 'n' Ride)
The North East Public Transport Study (NEPTS) has concluded, determining that a dedicated O-Bahn track extension was less preferred than targeted infrastructure upgrades. The project delivered the $43.5 million Golden Grove Park 'n' Ride (completed early 2022) providing 450 car spaces, and the $30 million Golden Grove Road Upgrade (completed late 2021) which installed dedicated bus 'jump lanes' to improve O-Bahn reliability.
Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme
The Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS) is a recycled water scheme delivering high-quality treated water from the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant to agribusinesses across the Northern Adelaide Plains. Stage 1 infrastructure was built to provide up to 12 gigalitres per year of climate-independent recycled water for horticulture, floriculture, fruit and nut orchards, table and wine grapes, and high-value broad-acre crops, with the network designed to enable future expansion to 20 gigalitres. Key infrastructure includes an advanced water recycling plant at Bolivar, a transfer pipeline, pump stations, an above-ground earth-banked storage at Korunye, managed aquifer recharge, and a distribution network with farm-gate connection points. Construction began in 2018 and the scheme is operational. As of 2025 around 35 per cent of the contracted volume has been sold, and SA Water has been undertaking a review to assess current and forecast demand and identify potential opportunities for the scheme.
Tea Tree Gully Sustainable Sewers Program
SA Water program to transfer about 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. The project includes staged construction of new wastewater mains, gravity and low pressure sewer connections, new pump stations and on property works, followed by decommissioning and backfilling of septic tanks. Delivery is being rolled out in zones between 2022 and 2028, improving service reliability, reducing overflows and supporting long term water and public health outcomes for the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide.
Golden Grove Park & Ride Facility
$33 million three-tiered Park & Ride facility with 450 free car parking spaces, 10 accessible parks, secure bicycle storage, and metroCARD recharge station. Replaces former 177-space facility and includes new signalised intersection and access road infrastructure. The facility serves bus stop 62A The Grove Way, connecting to and from the Adelaide O-Bahn bus corridor. Construction began in April 2021 and was officially opened on 7 March 2022.
Gawler Line Electrification & Level Crossing Removals
State and federal government project to electrify the 42km Gawler rail line from Adelaide CBD to Gawler, with 25kV AC overhead wiring, new signalling systems, upgrade of 14 stations, and activation of 13 pedestrian crossings. Electrified passenger services commenced June 2022. The complementary Ovingham Level Crossing Removal ($231M) replaced the high-risk Torrens Road crossing with a new overpass, public plaza and upgraded Ovingham Railway Station, completing in late 2023.
O-Bahn City Access Project
Completed SA Government public transport project extending the O-Bahn from Gilberton into Adelaide city via centrally aligned priority bus lanes on Hackney Road and a dedicated 670 m bus-only tunnel to Grenfell Street. The works improved bus travel time reliability, reduced Inner Ring Route congestion, reconfigured Rundle Road and East Terrace, and added pedestrian and cycling improvements including a shared path and bridge over the River Torrens.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Surrey Downs performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia
Surrey Downs has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs well represented. Essential services sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% as of December 2025. This is lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.
Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%. As of December 2025, 2,087 residents are employed, with a workforce participation rate of 69.8%, slightly higher than Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. A low 10.2% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction has a particularly strong presence, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services have limited representation at 5.3%, compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of working population to resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, employment increased by 2.8% alongside labour force growth of 2.8%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Adelaide experienced higher employment and labour force growth rates, with a slight drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Surrey Downs' employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not consider localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Surrey Downs had a median income among taxpayers of $53,363 and an average income of $59,609. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,808 and $66,852 respectively in Greater Adelaide. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $58,790 (median) and $65,671 (average). Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Surrey Downs rank modestly, between the 45th and 54th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 39.0% of residents (1,442 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels at 31.8%. After housing expenses, 86.0% of income remains for other costs. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Surrey Downs is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
Surrey Downs' dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 95.6% houses and 4.4% other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% others. Home ownership in Surrey Downs was 30.5%, similar to Adelaide's 30.1%. Mortgaged dwellings were 49.7% and rented ones 19.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,473, below Adelaide's $1,562. Median weekly rent was $330, compared to Adelaide's $320. Nationally, Surrey Downs' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Surrey Downs has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households constitute 74.9% of all households, including 32.5% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.1%, with lone person households at 23.5% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Greater Adelaide average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Surrey Downs fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 16.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.4%) and certificates (31.4%). Educational participation is high at 26.8%, with 11.4% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 26.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Surrey Downs has 25 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 19 different routes that together facilitate 1,340 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 151 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 89% of residents, while only 9% use buses. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.2% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 191 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 53 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health outcomes in Surrey Downs are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts
Surrey Downs shows below-average health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's assessment using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 51% of the total population (~1,870 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.
Mental health issues affect 9.5% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.1%. A total of 64.8% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% across Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents show above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (673 people), lower than the 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. National rankings are broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Surrey Downs ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Surrey Downs, when assessed for cultural diversity, showed lower than average figures: 80.7% of residents were born in Australia, 91.7% held citizenship, and 92.9% spoke English exclusively at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 39.9% adherence. The 'Other' religious category, however, was underrepresented at 0.8%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 1.8%.
In terms of ancestry, English heritage dominated at 34.1%, higher than the regional average of 27.8%. Australian (27.9%) and Scottish (6.8%) ancestry were also prevalent, exceeding their respective regional averages of 22.8% and 5.6%. Notably, German (6.2%), Dutch (1.7%), and Polish (0.9%) ethnicities showed higher representation than the regional averages of 5.1%, 1.2%, and 1.0% respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Surrey Downs's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms
Surrey Downs has a median age of 38 years, nearly matching Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Adelaide's average, Surrey Downs has an over-representation of the 5-14 cohort (13.0% locally) and an under-representation of the 15-24 age group (11.8%). From 2021 to present, the 85+ age group grew from 0.9% to 2.1%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.9% to 6.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 13.0% to 11.7%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 11.1% to 10.0%. Demographic modeling indicates Surrey Downs' age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 94 people (121%) from 77 to 172, while the 65-74 group is projected to contract by 33 residents.