Goolwa
SAGoolwa is a growing suburb in SA with 2,558 residents.
- SAL code
- 40521
- SA2
- 407011144
- Population
- 2,558
Goolwa, SA had 2,558 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 12.0% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 65-74 years, and the median age sits at 67. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,000 a month. Around 73.4% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned outright at 55.1%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 86.5% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 12 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Population
?2,558
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+12.0%
3yr: +5.4% · 10yr: +21.5%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$790/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
67
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?3/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?3.9%
SA4 · Q4 2025
Schools
3
1 primary, 1 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?4
2 long day, 1 OSHC
Parks & green space
?12
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
No data for this suburb
Dwelling approvals
No data for this suburb
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
state Valuer-General sale price data not yet loaded for SA
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from SA police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Goolwa - Port Elliot (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Goolwa suburb alone is ~2,558 (Census 2021).
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 7,889 to 13,711 over 24 years, averaging 2.3% per year.
Schools
3 in suburbGovernment school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for SA.
Source when available: SA Department for Education — School Zones (primary + high).
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 2.3%Almost entirely detached houses (86.5%), owner-occupied (73%), built for families (46% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire & flood risk
Bushfire
Source: SA DHUD Bushfire Protection Areas
As of May 2026
Flood
Source: SA DEW Flood Mapping
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped hazard polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
18 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| RURAL | RuralRural | 71.0% | 12.31 km² |
| NEIGHBOURHOOD | NeighbourhoodResidential | 7.3% | 1.27 km² |
| DEFERRED_URBAN | Deferred UrbanDeferred | 5.1% | 0.89 km² |
| INFRASTRUCTURE_AIRFIELD | Infrastructure (Airfield)Special use | 4.3% | 0.75 km² |
| CONSERVATION | ConservationEnvironmental | 3.4% | 0.58 km² |
| RURAL_LIVING | Rural LivingRural | 3.1% | 0.54 km² |
| STRATEGIC_EMPLOYMENT | Strategic EmploymentIndustrial | 1.1% | 0.19 km² |
| CARAVAN_AND_TOURIST_PARK | Caravan and Tourist ParkRecreation | 0.7% | 0.12 km² |
| RECREATION | RecreationRecreation | 0.6% | 0.11 km² |
| TOWNSHIP_MAIN_STREET | Township Main StreetRural | 0.6% | 0.11 km² |
| INFRASTRUCTURE_FERRY_AND_MARINA_FACILITIES | Infrastructure (Ferry and Marina Facilities)Special use | 0.6% | 0.10 km² |
| RESIDENTIAL_PARK | Residential ParkResidential | 0.6% | 0.10 km² |
| HOME_INDUSTRY | Home IndustryIndustrial | 0.4% | 0.07 km² |
| OPEN_SPACE | Open SpaceRecreation | 0.3% | 0.06 km² |
| TOURISM_DEVELOPMENT | Tourism DevelopmentBusiness | 0.3% | 0.05 km² |
| EMPLOYMENT | EmploymentIndustrial | 0.2% | 0.04 km² |
| TOWNSHIP_ACTIVITY_CENTRE | Township Activity CentreRural | 0.2% | 0.03 km² |
| ESTABLISHED_NEIGHBOURHOOD | Established NeighbourhoodResidential | 0.2% | 0.03 km² |
Source: SA Planning and Design Code Zones (ZONE_SA/2026-04-30/7965b1556505eb71) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.