Goolwa South
At a median age of 62, Goolwa South sits 22 years above the national figure, making it one of South Australia's most distinctly retirement-oriented localities. Household income falls in the 11.3th percentile nationally, reflecting a population largely outside the paid workforce: the labour participation rate is just 37.2%, because 547 of 1,041 residents are not in the labour force. The vacancy rate of 52.9% is exceptionally high compared to most Australian suburbs, pointing to a significant holiday and seasonal-use housing stock along the Fleurieu coast. These three signals, an aged resident base, low income rank, and high vacancy, define Goolwa South as a retirement and coastal holiday destination rather than a conventional residential market.
Population
1,041
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$961/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
No median house price is recorded for Goolwa South in current data, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of small coastal localities with 1,041 residents. The housing stock is heavily skewed toward separate houses at 89.4%, well above most suburban averages, with semi-detached at 5.6% and apartments at just 4.4%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.1% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 22.6% and 4-plus at 18.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,134, which is modest in absolute terms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 50.5% is the dominant tenure, nearly double the mortgage-holder share of 21.4%, suggesting buyers here are typically asset-rich retirees paying down debt rather than younger first-home buyers.
For Buyers
No median house price is recorded for Goolwa South in current data, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of small coastal localities with 1,041 residents. The housing stock is heavily skewed toward separate houses at 89.4%, well above most suburban averages, with semi-detached at 5.6% and apartments at just 4.4%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 57.1% of dwellings, followed by 2-bedroom at 22.6% and 4-plus at 18.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,134, which is modest in absolute terms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership at 50.5% is the dominant tenure, nearly double the mortgage-holder share of 21.4%, suggesting buyers here are typically asset-rich retirees paying down debt rather than younger first-home buyers.
For Investors
Goolwa South presents an unusual investment profile. Weekly rent of $280 is at the lower end compared to metropolitan SA benchmarks, and the vacancy rate of 52.9% far exceeds typical investment thresholds, indicating most dwellings sit empty outside peak holiday periods rather than generating consistent rental income. The renter share is 28%, so there is a permanent tenant base, but it is small relative to the total stock. Development activity recorded 19 applications in the past 12 months, including new dwellings and outbuildings, modest for a suburb this size. Low labour participation at 37.2% and household incomes in the 11.3th percentile nationally mean rental demand is supported mainly by retirees and seasonal visitors rather than working-age households, which limits yield upside.
Development Activity
Total DAs
151
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Goolwa South is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English ancestry leads at 545 residents, followed by Scottish (132), Irish (107) and German (84). Overseas-born residents account for 19.1%, which is 2.5 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a settled, locally-rooted population. University qualifications reach 23.4%, sitting 6.7 points below the national figure, which aligns with the retirement-age demographic where formal tertiary education was less common. Average household size is 1.9 persons, 0.6 below the national average, driven by the 55.8% couples-without-children household structure. Only 9.8% of residents need daily assistance despite the high median age of 62, and the volunteering rate of 23.7% is strong, suggesting an active and community-engaged older cohort.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
5.6%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 89.4% of Goolwa South's stock, making it a near-exclusively detached housing market compared to the mixed typologies found in metropolitan SA. Outright ownership dominates at 50.5% and mortgages sit at 21.4%, meaning most properties are unencumbered, a pattern consistent with retirees who have paid off their homes. The 28% renter share is below most suburban markets. Three-bedroom configurations make up 57.1% of dwellings, 2-bedroom 22.6% and 4-plus 18.3%, so the stock is calibrated for small households rather than families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,134 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3% is manageable. Weekly rent of $280 is affordable, with a rent-to-income ratio of 29.1%, just under the 30% stress mark. The 52.9% vacancy rate reflects the coastal holiday-use character of a large portion of the stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,134
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$556
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
52.9%
Unoccupied
556
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.8%
Couples, no children
727
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest industry by employment at 21.9% of local workers (50 people), which is directly linked to the aged resident base requiring care services. Construction follows at 12.7% (29 workers), reflecting ongoing coastal development activity. Professional/Technical services account for 9.6% (22 workers), Hospitality 9.2% (21) and Retail 8.8% (20). By occupation, Community and Personal Service roles lead with 58 workers, followed by Professionals (53) and Managers (50). The unemployment rate is 7.8% against a participation rate of 37.2%, with 547 residents classified as not in the labour force. The low participation is expected given the median age of 62. Full-time employment accounts for 48% of those employed, while 172 residents work part-time, a balance common in care-sector and hospitality-heavy local economies.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.0%
Part-time
44.2%
Participation
37.2%
Employed
331
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.4%
Postgraduate
6.9%
Born Overseas
19.1%
Dwellings
500
Transport to Work
Car dependence is pronounced at 87.8% of residents driving to work, and no public transport figures are recorded, reflecting the rural-coastal setting with limited transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 5.3% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the Goolwa South boundary, so families with children rely on facilities in neighbouring Goolwa and surrounds. The crime rate of 31.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, based on 33 recorded offences, is a relatively low absolute count for a locality of this size, though the per-capita rate is not negligible. Rent-to-income at 29.1% and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable for those who live here permanently. Volunteering at 23.7% points to an engaged community despite, or because of, the retirement-skewed population.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
5.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
33
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
31.7
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Goolwa South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goolwa South a good suburb to live in?
Goolwa South suits retirees and sea-change seekers more than working families. The median age is 62, household incomes fall in the 11.3th percentile nationally, and there are no schools recorded in the suburb. For those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle with outright home ownership (50.5% of residents), manageable mortgage costs of $1,134 per month and a volunteering rate of 23.7%, it delivers.
What is the median house price in Goolwa South?
No current median house price is recorded for Goolwa South, reflecting low transaction volumes in this small locality of 1,041 residents. Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,134. The rent-to-income ratio is 29.1% and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 27.3%, both below the 30% housing stress threshold.
What schools are in Goolwa South?
No schools are recorded within the Goolwa South boundary. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Goolwa and other Fleurieu Peninsula townships. The suburb's population is retirement-oriented with a median age of 62, which is consistent with limited demand for local school infrastructure.
Is Goolwa South safe?
Goolwa South recorded 33 offences in the reference period, a crime rate of 31.7 per 1,000 residents. That is a low absolute number for a locality of 1,041 people. The suburb has a stable, owner-occupier population where 79.1% of residents did not move in the reference year, which is associated with lower crime in comparable coastal communities.
Is Goolwa South good for property investment?
Investment conditions are challenging. The vacancy rate of 52.9% is exceptionally high, reflecting holiday-use stock that sits empty outside peak periods. Weekly rent of $280 is modest compared to most SA markets. There are 19 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating some building activity, but the low-income base (11.3th percentile nationally) limits rental demand growth.
How is Goolwa South's population changing?
No formal population forecast data is available for Goolwa South. The suburb retains 79.1% of residents year-on-year, suggesting stability. However, with a median age of 62, which is 22 years above the national figure, the demographic trajectory points toward natural population decline over time as the aging resident base is not being replaced by younger households at scale.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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