SA · Victor Harbor Council
Encounter Bay, 5211
Current weather
10.6°CLight drizzle
76% humidity · 27.7 km/h wind · 12.9° / 10.4° today · 21.7 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Encounter Bay is a smaller suburban community in the Victor Harbor area, home to around 5,305 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 36 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun) with falling year-on-year trends (-55%), roughly 6.8 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $580 (flats $425, houses $580), 8 public transport stops within the suburb, fewer mapped amenities than nearby suburbs, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.
Population
- Population
- 5,305
- Median age
- 66
- Median household income / week
- $929
- Dwelling vacancy
- 27.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 923 of 3,407
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,170
- Employment rate
- 29.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 137 / 58 / 9
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)
- $425
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $580
- All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $580
- Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- 25
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)
- 36
- Against the person
- 14
- Against property
- 22
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 6.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 379 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3.2th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 74
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -55.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Common Assault3
- Other Property Damage And Environmental5
- Other Theft6
- Sct - Residence2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury9
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
Public transport
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bartel Blvd / Nicholas Baudin Dr - South West side (Encounter Bay)
- Mill Rd - South East side (Encounter Bay)
- Stop 4 Maude St / Bay Rd - West side (Victor Harbor)
- Tabernacle Rd - North East side (Estia Health Encounter Bay)
- Whalers Rd / White Cres - South West side (Encounter Bay)
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.
654 planning-related records
2026· 40 proposals
June 2026
- Elevated Single Storey Detached Dwelling18 BOLGER WAY ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition2 POLLARD CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah4 GRIBBLE CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah7 EAGLE WAY ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah and Alfresco38 AINSLIE ROBERTS DR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition and Alterations, Carport and Verandah5 OAKHAM ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Single Storey Dwelling Addition12 CAKEBREAD RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Land Division 1 into 2 (Torrens Title)7 RIDGEWAY ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Shed1 THOMPSON CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- SHED / DOM. STORAGE15 POLTONG CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
May 2026
- new veranda10 HARWOOD CL ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Carport - Hard Copy Application - Unit 3451 -27 MAUDE ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Replacement Dwelling (demolition of existing Dwelling), Alterations and Addition to Dwelling and Deck101 FRANKLIN PDE ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- 2 x Freestanding Carports19 HIGGINS ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Shed Extension17 RUSSELL ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Two storey detached dwelling48 WISHART CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah4 SMITH ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah4 SMITH ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Variation to existing application number 24019454. Two Storey Detached Dwelling and Carport with associated retaining walls16 LAURIE AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling1 THOMPSON CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Verandah36 KOOKABURRA BVD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Two Storey Detached Dwelling and Associated Retaining Walls61 BATTYE RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
April 2026
- new veranda6 HUMP BACK RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Land division to create lease sites associated with a residential parkLOT 10 WAITPINGA RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Outbuilding (shed)39 DODSON RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Erection of a single carport33 CUTTER CCT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Construction of a Verandah8 -10 HARPOON AV ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Split Level Detached Dwelling4 FLUKE CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Retaining Wall and Fence20 CYGNET CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
March 2026
- Supply and construction of 7.668m x 4m x 2.4m high Gable Shed18 CYGNET CT ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Land Division 1 into 21 MARLIN TCE ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Garage and Carport2 NORMA CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah6 OAKHAM ST ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Two single storey detached dwellings and one two-storey detached dwelling42 SOUTHERN RIGHT CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211;44 SOUTHERN RIGHT CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211;46 SOUTHERN RIGHT CR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Carport55 DODSON RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Freestanding Shed and Carport33 WRIGHT TCE ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Verandah11 MINKE WHALE DR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
- Staged land division creating 5 Torrens allotments in stage 1 and 11 Community lots in stage 2.LOT 51 BEVERLEY GR ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Under Assessment
February 2026
- 1 into 6 Torrens titles land division146 -148 BAY RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision Made
- Land Division 1 into 2 (Torrens Title)15 TABERNACLE RD ENCOUNTER BAY SA 5211Decision 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
6 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Stop 4 Maude Street - West sideBus stop
- The Boulevard Cafe On The LakeCafe
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Slipway
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
12 state heritage places
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- 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)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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
- 39.1/100
- National rank
- 3439th in Australia
- State rank
- 349th in SA
- Peer rank
- #24 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #39 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Common Assaultcrime3
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime5
- Other Theftcrime6
- Sct - Residencecrime2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime9
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- 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
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.