Lockleys
The median age is 44, which is 4.0 years above the national figure, and 41.9% of adults have a university qualification, 11.8 percentage points above national levels. Detached housing accounts for 80.3% of dwellings, supporting a settled, family-oriented feel. Its position near Flinders Park and Brooklyn Park adds practical access to established western suburbs, while a 6.0% vacancy rate and 85 recent development applications point to continuing property activity.
Population
5,987
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,869/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
80
Median House
$1.4M
First quarter 2026
Lockleys suits buyers seeking a predominantly detached-house market, but the entry point is high. Three-bedroom homes represent 50.6% of the stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 30.1%, while apartments account for only 9.6%. That mix supports families wanting larger floorplans because 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 24.7% of household income, below the level flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with the 1Q 2025 median, recent price growth has been modest.
For Buyers
Lockleys suits buyers seeking a predominantly detached-house market, but the entry point is high. Three-bedroom homes represent 50.6% of the stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 30.1%, while apartments account for only 9.6%. That mix supports families wanting larger floorplans because 80.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 24.7% of household income, below the level flagged as mortgage stress. Compared with the 1Q 2025 median, recent price growth has been modest.
For Investors
Lockleys has an owner-heavy tenure pattern, with 21.0% of households renting compared with 41.8% owning outright and 34.1% paying a mortgage. The advertised rent figure is $350 per week and vacancy is 6.0%, which gives tenants more choice than a tightly constrained rental market. Investment demand may be supported by the suburb's 0.86% annual growth trend and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. Development activity is notable, with 85 applications in the past 12 months, including a Torrens Title 1 into 2 land division and a two-storey detached dwelling. These applications matter because they can gradually add or renew housing stock, although they do not all create new dwellings.
Development Activity
Total DAs
361
Last 12 Months
80
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+35.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lockleys
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Lockleys North Primary School
Demographics
Lockleys has an older age profile than Australia overall, with a median age of 44, or 4.0 years above the national figure. Its university-educated share is 41.9%, 11.8 percentage points above national levels, while 23.5% of residents were born overseas, 1.9 points above the national comparison. English ancestry is the largest response at 1,828 people, followed by Italian at 1,068 and Greek at 545. Greek and Italian are also the most reported non-English languages, with 152 and 123 speakers. Household size averages 2.5 people, and 81.9% of residents stayed at the same address over the reference period, higher than the 18.1% turnover rate. This stability supports established family and older-household patterns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.3%
Houses
10.1%
Townhouse
9.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Lockleys is strongly detached and owner occupied. The latest figure was also the recorded peak, with peak-to-latest movement of 0.0%. Separate houses make up 80.3% of dwellings, compared with 9.6% apartments and 10.1% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties account for 50.6% of housing and four-bedroom-plus properties 30.1%, so larger family homes are more common than compact formats. Tenure is comparatively secure, with 41.8% owned outright and 34.1% under mortgage, while 21.0% are rented.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$878
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
148
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.5%
Couples with children
37.3%
Couples, no children
12.7%
Single parent
1,629
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lockleys has a professional and service-led employment base. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.4%, representing 410 workers, followed by Education at 12.8% and 269 workers, Professional and Technical services at 9.9% and 208, Public Administration at 9.2% and 193, and Construction at 8.5% and 180. Professionals number 830, while Managers and Clerical or Administrative workers each number 500. The labour market is relatively solid because unemployment is 3.4%, full-time employment is 59.0% and participation is 62.1%. Weekly household income is $1,869, at the 67.5th percentile. The SEIFA pattern is mixed: IEO sits at decile 7, higher than IER at decile 4, while IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 6, indicating stronger education and occupation outcomes than economic-resource ranking.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
3,128
Unemployed
105
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.0%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
62.1%
Employed
3,023
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.9%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
23.5%
Dwellings
2,303
Transport to Work
Lockleys is a car-oriented suburb, with 73.1% of commuters driving compared with 5.2% using public transport and 3.0% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 13.7%, so daily convenience is likely to depend on road access and proximity to services. Recorded crime totals 134 incidents, equal to 22.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, supporting its low-crime-rate identity. Local schooling includes 1 government primary school, Lockleys North Primary School; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, especially when comparing nearby options. The suburb covers 3.12 square kilometres at a density of 1,916.4 people per square kilometre, and its IRSAD decile of 6 places it above lower-access areas but below the highest-ranked communities.
Drive
73.1%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
13.7%
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+123 people/yr)
EstablishedLockleys is tracking as an established suburb with measured but positive momentum. The annual growth trend is 0.86%, and overseas migration is the primary driver, which should support demand through new household formation. Population change across the wider area is 10.1% over 10 years, while the forecast shift is labelled Mixed. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a current score of 29; the shift measure is also Early signs but records a higher score of 41. Rental growth of 22.4% is slightly higher than real income growth of 22.0%, creating pressure even as the affordability trend is labelled Improving. Senior share has risen 1.4 points, while the young share has fallen 0.3 points, reinforcing a gradual aging trajectory.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+299
Net Internal / yr
-128
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Net internal outflow -128/yr, Strong overseas inflow +299/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 10%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
134
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
22.4
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lockleys compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Lockleys?
Lockleys has 1 government primary school, Lockleys North Primary School. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone for any address and compare nearby primary, secondary and non-government options before buying, because school access can vary across the surrounding area. The suburb's housing stock includes 50.6% three-bedroom homes.
Is Lockleys safe?
Lockleys recorded 134 crimes, equivalent to 22.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. That rate supports the suburb's low-crime profile, but safety can vary by street and over time. Buyers and renters should review current local conditions as well as practical factors such as lighting, parking and access routes. The population is 5,987.
Is Lockleys good for property investment?
Lockleys may suit investors seeking established housing and moderate growth rather than a high-yield market. Rent is listed at $350 per week, vacancy is 6.0% and 21.0% of households rent. The suburb also recorded 85 development applications in 12 months, while the annual growth trend is 0.86%.
How is Lockleys's population changing?
Lockleys has a current population of 5,987, with population change across the wider area recorded at 10.1% over 10 years. The annual growth trend is 0.86% and overseas migration is the primary driver. The forecast trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 29.
What development is happening in Lockleys?
Lockleys recorded 85 development applications over the past 12 months. Examples include a two-storey detached dwelling, a verandah with a louvered roof and a Torrens Title 1 into 2 land division. This indicates active renovation and redevelopment, although application numbers do not mean 85 new homes will be built.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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