Council (LGA) · Area profile
Gawler
41 km²
A population jump of 22% since 2011 has shaped Gawler into a growing hub with a distinct own character. It is a place where an ageing population meets a high number of single-parent families, creating a diverse community mix. The area is notably less religious than the national average, with over half of residents reporting no faith. This combination of rapid growth and a shifting social makeup defines its current identity within Greater Adelaide.
Gawler's schools draw a more advantaged community than the area overall.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The typical resident is 41, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. This is reflected in the high proportion of seniors, who make up 21.4% of the population and have increased since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and English is the most common ancestry at 49.4%. The proportion of people born overseas is 17.1%, which is far below the national figure.
English is the primary language for 91.4% of the community. Only 4.7% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.
A striking 52.4% of residents have no religion, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant shift, as this group rose by 24 percentage points since 2011.
School leavers are more likely to finish Year 12 here than in most similar areas. However, the 12.9% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,324, which is well below the national figure. While personal incomes have risen since 2011, only 6.7% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 37.8% of people living with a long-term condition. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions at 13.3%.
The area has a high number of people providing unpaid care and a significant presence of Defence Force veterans. However, the proportion of volunteers has fallen since 2011.
The First Nations community is relatively young, with a typical age of 22. Year 12 completion for this group is 41.8%, which is well above the state and national figures.
Single-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 20.4% of households. About 30% of people live alone.
Homes here are generally large, with 80.7% having three or more bedrooms. This is well above the national figure, though the proportion of detached houses has fallen slightly since 2011.
Most people drive to work, and only 6.4% work from home. While there are many public transport stops, only 1.8% of the population uses these services to commute.
The area is seeing a lot of movement, with 40.2% of people having moved house in the last five years. In contrast, recent arrivals from overseas are much less common than in most areas.
Unemployment is much higher than in most similar areas at 5.9%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, retail, and construction.
Gawler is growing quickly, with a population increase of 8.9% since 2021. However, its overall advantage score of 931 is lower than the national average.
The area experiences lower average maximum temperatures than the state average. Annual rainfall is 427mm, which is far above the state figure.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport. However, walking to health services or groceries is much less convenient than in other parts of the state.