suburb.guide

SA · Kangaroo Island Council

Ballast Head, 5221

Current weather

10.5°CMainly clear

66% humidity · 25.1 km/h wind · 13.9° / 10.2° today · 8.1 mm rain

Updated

  • Green suburb
  • Café precinct
  • Education hub
What Ballast Head is known for: Green suburb, Café precinct, Education hub

Suburb profile

Ballast Head is a welcoming smaller community in Kangaroo Island, with a settled community character. Far from the capital hubbub, it offers genuine distance, local character and room to live at a slower pace. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.

The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.

This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.

Population

Population
21
Median age
45
Median household income / week
$2,249
Dwelling vacancy
66.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
6 of 9
Median monthly mortgage
$0
Employment rate
68.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
0 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Planning & development

Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.

1 planning-related records

2025· 1 proposal

  • March 2025

  • Decommission of existing dwelling and change to outbuilding, and construction of new detached dwelling (earth-sheltered dwelling) with associated earthworks
    280B BALLAST HEAD RD BALLAST HEAD SA 5221Decision Made

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

2 state heritage places

  • Heritage placeState heritage
  • Heritage placeState heritage

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid against all current SA Planning risk layers (high, medium, general, urban interface, regional, outback). Safer places from CFS designated locations.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
23
Parks (OSM)
0

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Recent changes

  • Heritage placeheritageState heritage
  • Heritage placeheritageState heritage
  • Decommission of existing dwelling and change to outbuilding, and construction of new detached dwelling (earth-sheltered dwelling) with associated earthworksplanning280B BALLAST HEAD RD BALLAST HEAD SA 5221Lodged 29 Mar 2025 · Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

More in Kangaroo Island Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.