SA · Berri Barmera Council
Barmera, 5345
Current weather
12.7°CModerate drizzle
78% humidity · 20.9 km/h wind · 16.2° / 10.3° today · 0.8 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Heritage area
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Barmera offers a slower mid-sized suburb life in Berri Barmera, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Distance from the capital is noticeable, but the trade-off is space, calm and a community that knows its neighbours. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,884
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,037
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 196 of 1,437
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,028
- Employment rate
- 45.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 115 / 162 / 17
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.
Housing
- Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $255
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $450
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $322.5
Median weekly rent from SA Housing Authority rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- SA Housing Authority rent & sales reports — Government of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 134
- Against the person
- 47
- Against property
- 87
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 62.1th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 37
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Common Assault18
- Other Property Damage And Environmental34
- Other Theft17
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent9
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury15
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Period: 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2 (1 schools, 1 preschools)
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 941
- Barmera KindergartenAmy StreetPreschools
- Barmera Primary SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 925
- St Joseph's SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 957
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site · Static register
- School ICSEA (ACARA) — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
3 public transport stops in this suburb
- Nookamka Tce / Sturt St - North West side (Barmera)
- Nookamka Tce / Sturt St - South East side (Barmera)
- Pascoe Tce / Fowles Rd - South side (Barmera Visitor Centre)
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Adelaide Metro GTFS stops — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
250 planning-related records
2026· 14 proposals
June 2026
- Construction of a Verandah3 EYRE ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Construction of a verandah42 HAWDON ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
May 2026
- Variation of Development Application 25025624 - Amendments to Bench and Finish Floor Level (FFL)9A QUEEN ELIZABETH DR BARMERA SA 5345Under Assessment
March 2026
- Construction of a verandah45 BROOKE ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Freestanding Patio 8000 x 6000 Galv Frame Coloured - Roof, gutters & Trims83 COMLEY RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Construction of a verandah48 NOOKAMKA TCE BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Construction of a verandah11 MANALLACK CT BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Construction of a carport4 EYRE ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
February 2026
- Construction of a Verandah10 FAIRWAY AV BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Partial demolition of existing dwelling and construction of building alterations, dwelling additions and carport27 LAFFER ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding (garage)107 COMLEY RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
January 2026
- Join gym and umpires room to allow direct access to toilets/changerooms and increase gym space, install doors between gym and trainers roomLOT 151 DEAN DR BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Variation of Development Application 25035178 Construction of an Outbuilding (Garage)31 LAKE AV BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Partial demolition of an existing dwelling, construction of dwelling alterations and additions, and construction of an outbuilding (carport)22 FOWLES ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
2025· 26 proposals
December 2025
- Land division to create 10 additional residential allotments18 HAWDON ST BARMERA SA 5345Under Assessment
- Conversion of part of existing building to managers quarters in association with existing shop premises.10 BARWELL AV BARMERA SA 5345Under Assessment
- Advertisement (double-sided, non-illuminated, billboard sign for third party advertising).9 FIELD DAY DR BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
November 2025
- Installation of fiberglass swimming pool, associated sanitary equipment and safety barrier fencing6 FARMER ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Domestic outbuilding (Colourbond)31 LAKE AV BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
October 2025
- Detached dwelling3 MANALLACK CT BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Carport - amended site plan 13.10.259 MAPLE ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Land division (realignment) - to vary DA 2502398742 GASKELL RD BARMERA SA 5345;LOT 320 STURT HWY BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Practise cricket nets (replacement).LOT 153 NOOKAMKA TCE BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Change of use of former shop to consulting rooms and associated wellness programs, onsite parking and signage.1B DICKERSON ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Colorbond shed to replace existing carport82 NOOKAMKA TCE BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
September 2025
- Colourbond shed (replacement) - modify existing patio42 HAWDON ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
August 2025
- Domestic storage shed and a verandah, amended site plan dated 29.8.202517263 STURT HWY BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling9A QUEEN ELIZABETH DR BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- new full colorbond patio36 LAFFER ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- New single storey school building and demolition of an existing building, with associated works.22 LANGDON TCE BARMERA SA 5345;8A JOYCE ST BARMERA SA 5345Under Assessment
July 2025
- Change of use of the existing three buildings to include residential uses at the rear, with new advertising of the owners' businesses.11 BARWELL AV BARMERA SA 5345;7 BARWELL AV BARMERA SA 5345;9 BARWELL AV BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- SHED7 LAFFER ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
June 2025
- Variation/Addition to recently approved DA 24042240 to construct one additional cabin in site area 1, and alter the internal road.1 LAKESIDE DR BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Verandah104 COATES RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Verandah240 MORGAN RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Horse Keeping (4 horses) with associated yards and stable.36 TILL RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
May 2025
- Outbuilding12 NOOKAMKA TCE BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Swimming Pool26 MANNING RD BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
- Detached Dwelling31 BICE ST BARMERA SA 5345Under Assessment
April 2025
- Dwelling Addition6 COLLINS ST BARMERA SA 5345Decision Made
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site
Amenities
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- TelstraTelephone
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
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
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- On site
- Barmera Health ServiceHawdon StreetPublic Hospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
3 state heritage places
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
- Bushfire safer places
- 1
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
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 28.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5549th in Australia
- State rank
- 551st in SA
- Peer rank
- #93 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #169 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Telstraamenitiestelephone
- Common Assaultcrime18
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime34
- Other Theftcrime17
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime9
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime15
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Barmera Health ServicehealthHawdon StreetPublic Hospital
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · Updated on site
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
More in Berri Barmera Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.