Whyalla Stuart

Whyalla Stuart has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The population of Whyalla Stuart is estimated at around 6,606 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 130 people since the Census in 2021, which reported a population of 6,476 people. The estimated resident population was 6,601, based on AreaSearch's analysis following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 956 persons per square kilometer. The suburb experienced a growth rate of 2.0% since the census, which is within 2.2 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.2%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 91.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 213 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 3.1% over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Whyalla Stuart is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Whyalla Stuart has seen limited development activity, averaging two approvals per year over the five-year period ending in 2017. This resulted in a total of ten dwellings being approved during this time. The low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where housing needs are typically met based on local demands rather than broader market forces.

It is important to note that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Compared to other areas in South Australia and national patterns, Whyalla Stuart has much lower development activity. All new construction during this period consisted of detached dwellings, which aligns with the rural character of the area where larger properties are common. This preference for detached housing is higher than current patterns suggest (36.0% at Census), indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures.

The estimated population per dwelling approval in Whyalla Stuart is 2220 people, reflecting its quiet and low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Whyalla Stuart is projected to add 208 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Whyalla Stuart has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely impacting this region. Notable projects include Sunrise Christian School Expansion, Whyalla Secondary College, George Ave, Whyalla Norrie, and Reece Plumbing and Bathroom Supply Store Whyalla. The following list details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

Employment conditions in Whyalla Stuart face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Whyalla Stuart has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 17.7% as per AreaSearch's statistical aggregation in December 2025. There were 2,278 residents employed at this time, while the unemployment rate was 12.0% higher than Regional SA's rate of 5.7%.

Workforce participation was lower at 50.5%, compared to Regional SA's 58.3%. Only 1.5% of residents worked from home, based on Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade are the dominant employment sectors among residents. The area has a high specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.2% of local workers, below Regional SA's 14.5%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in December 2025, labour force increased by 0.8%, but employment declined by 10.2%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 10.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional SA experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 3.1%, with a 2.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Whyalla Stuart's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Whyalla Stuart had a lower than average national income level in financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The median income among taxpayers was $42,163 and the average income stood at $51,065, compared to Regional SA's figures of $48,920 and $58,933 respectively. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $46,451 (median) and $56,258 (average), based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Whyalla Stuart all fell between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. Income distribution showed that 30.6% of individuals earned between $400 and $799 weekly, differing from surrounding regions where earnings predominantly fell within the $1,500 to $2,999 band at 27.5%. With 46.4% earning under $800 per week, Whyalla Stuart faced significant income constraints impacting local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 84.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Whyalla Stuart displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Whyalla Stuart, as per the latest Census, consisted of 36.1% houses and 63.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional SA's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Whyalla Stuart stood at 23.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.5% and rented ones at 50.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $967, lower than Regional SA's average of $1,153. The median weekly rent figure was recorded as $160, compared to Regional SA's $220. Nationally, Whyalla Stuart's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $967 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Whyalla Stuart features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 55.6% of all households, including 16.7% that are couples with children, 21.8% that are couples without children, and 16.0% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 44.4%, with lone person households at 41.5% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional SA average of 2.3.

Whyalla Stuart faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 7.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.0%) and graduate diplomas (0.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (5.7%) and certificates (33.0%). Educational participation is high at 27.8%, comprising 12.5% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Whyalla Stuart is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

AreaSearch's assessment reveals significant health challenges across Whyalla Stuart. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence indicate marked impacts on various age cohorts.

Private health cover is notably low at approximately 47%, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (10.7%). Conversely, 55.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, lower than the 62.5% in Regional SA. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,486 people), lower than the 27.1% in Regional SA. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Whyalla Stuart ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Whyalla Stuart had a cultural diversity index below average, with 85.4% of its population being Australian citizens, 80.7% born in Australia, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 37.8%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0.0% across Regional SA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.1%), Australian (29.9%), and Scottish (8.1%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) and Spanish (0.6%) were overrepresented in Whyalla Stuart compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 6.2%.

Whyalla Stuart's median age exceeds the national pattern

Whyalla Stuart has a median age of 41 years, which is lower than Regional South Australia's median age of 47 but higher than the national norm of 38. Compared to the Regional SA average, Whyalla Stuart has an over-representation of the 25-34 age cohort (13.1% locally) and an under-representation of the 65-74 age cohort (11.8%). Between 2021 and present, the population share of the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 10.1% to 11.1%, while the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 12.7% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Whyalla Stuart's age profile will significantly change. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand by 207 people (40%), from 521 to 729. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 77% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age cohorts.