Urban Area · Area profile
Victor Harbor - Goolwa
309 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Victor Harbor - Goolwa, where 43.4% of residents are aged 65 or over. This is a predominantly retired community that has grown by 19% since 2011. With very few children and a high number of people living alone, the area feels quiet and residential. It is a place of detached houses and high home ownership, reflecting a stable, aging population in a scenic regional setting.
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The typical resident is 61, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This shift is continuing, as the number of seniors rose 9.0 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to just 11.4%.
People born overseas make up 19.6% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas, though still well below the South Australian average. English is the most common ancestry at 52.6%.
English is the primary language for 92.9% of residents. The proportion of people using another language at home is 3.1%, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Nearly half the population (49.0%) now report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen 21 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are generally lower than the state average, with 41.3% of people completing Year 12. However, there has been a positive trend, as the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 5.4 percentage points since 2011.
Incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $974 a week. Only 6.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is among the lowest for its level.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 43.8% of people have a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 9.9% of residents who need help with daily activities, a figure well above the national average.
Volunteerism is a strong feature, with 22.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. This high level of community activity is also seen in the 15.5% of people who provide unpaid care.
Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.0 people per household. This is driven by the high number of people living alone (33.3%) and a high proportion of couples without children (50.2%).
The area is dominated by detached houses (89.0%), and nearly half of all homes (49.7%) are owned outright. Renting is much less common than in most areas, with only 20.9% of households renting.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.3% of people commute using public transport. About 10.7% of the workforce works from home, which is slightly above the state average.
The area has seen steady movement, with 41.1% of residents moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are very few at 3.2%, far below the national figure.
Only 38.9% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national average. Many people are retired, and those who do work are often employed in health care and social assistance.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.7. While most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, very few are within a similar distance of schools, groceries, or health services.