SA · Northern Areas Council
Laura, 5480
Current weather
10.1°CPartly cloudy
82% humidity · 21.1 km/h wind · 12° / 7.6° today · 5.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Affordable
- Rural
- Schools
- Shops
- Established
Suburb profile
Laura is a quieter smaller community in Northern Areas, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Out in the wider region, it rewards those who value open country and a pace set by the land, not the clock. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 765
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,042
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 63 of 368
- Median monthly mortgage
- $892
- Employment rate
- 51%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 24 / 15 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 6
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 1
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 7.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 153 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.4th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 5
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -59.9%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Acts Intended To Cause Injury1
- Other Theft1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury3
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injury1
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
- 993
- Laura Preschool Centre6 Booyoolie StreetPreschools
- Laura Primary SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 993
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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Horrocks Hwy / North Tce - East side (Laura Information Centre)
- Horrocks Hwy / Samuel St - West side (Laura Information 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.
104 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Extend house at western end Alter internal layout to facilitate toilet and seperate shower in main bathroom Alter roof shape and pitch adding celestory windows Alter location of window in bedroom in north west corner2 O'HALLORAN ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
May 2026
- Freestanding verandah33 MILL ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Swimming Pool and Safety Fence2 GARDEN ST LAURA SA 5480;2A GARDEN ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
April 2026
- Stratco outback verandah, free standing - 7x4m, cool deck roofing,2A GARDEN ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
February 2026
- Outbuilding (garage)45 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Small-scale retail use with an ancillary takeaway coffee service, contained entirely within the existing shopfront area. No building expansion is proposed. Maintenance and repair works, including flooring replacement and like-for-like verandah repairs. All works will maintain the existing scale and character of the building.15 MILL ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
- Attached verandah4 ALEXANDER ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
2025· 19 proposals
November 2025
- To add a lean to timber framed extension on the southern side of the front bedroom, to house a dressing room with wardrobes and a bathroom containing shower, toilet and basin.33 MILL ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
- To add two more bedrooms to existing dwelling and to extend the living area.2 SAMUEL ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- To construct a verandah adjacent to the wall of the house on one side, and the current verandah on the other.4 HERBERT ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Shed colour bond 12m x 4.5 m x 3.9 m high53 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
July 2025
- Single story dwelling10 SAWLEY CL LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- New Colorbond Shed 12mL x 9mW x 3.6mH Colour: Windspray – all materials Purpose: Storage of Vehicles, Domestic Items Stormwater to Trees/Kerb (Tanks will be installed soon after shed)26 GARDEN ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Variation to existing hours38 VICTORIA ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Erect new shade sails to used car yard15 HERBERT ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
June 2025
- 35m x 12m Colorbond gable roof shed for storage88 LAURA-BEETALOO RD LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
- Colorbond Carport 8.5m x 6.5m, Pergola 8.5m x 4m, 2 x Garden Structures 5.95m x 3m11 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Partial dismantle of existing piggery (eco-shelter) and construction of new fodder storage shed over existing concrete work.202 HIGGINS RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Partial dismantle of existing piggery (eco-shelter) and construction of new fodder storage shed over existing concrete work.202 HIGGINS RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Demolish existing masonry building. Replace with timber frame addition.55 LAURA BLOCKS RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
May 2025
- 6m x 10m storage shed202 POSSUM PARK RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
April 2025
- Hay shed, 3 sides enclosed, 1 long side open facing the east Size 51.2 x 21.3 x 7.9m Zinc corrugated sheeting on walls and roof Footings- concrete, following engineering plans Steel framework according to engineering drawings Approx 600 m off Zanker Road and 10m off western section boundary Large rainwater storage tank to be attached to shed for firefighting purposesLOT 9 ZANKER RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
March 2025
- 2 Bedroom detached dwelling, 2 x outbuildings and 1 x shipping container9-11 WILLIAM ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
February 2025
- 7.6mx15m colourbond shed to be placed in front of existing easement on the North Western area of the block. Shed will have three roller doors and two windows facing the road (South) and one personnel access door facing East. Shed will be gable roofed with maximum height of 3.93m and finished in hertitage green and cream colourbond steel.4 O'HALLORAN ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
January 2025
- 6m x 7m Gable top structure, Open sides and ends, Colorbond colours to suit house and shed (ironstone roof with Classic Cream posts)47 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- All weather purpose undercover sun smart structure over part of the beer garden on the side of the church building.38 VICTORIA ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Extension/addition to southern side of existing shed/workshop24 HERBERT ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
October 2024
- DOMESTIC GABLE SHED3 EAST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Dwelling Addition to link the old building with the new building Carport 6m x 7m x 3m31 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
- Install 320,000 litre tank at Laura Sporting Reserve to upgrade the watering infrastructure allowing for more efficient watering of town facilities.2 EAST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
September 2024
- Single story dwelling165 LOOKOUT RD LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- 3 Bedroom Secondhand Transportable Dwelling12 WHITE ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
- New Colorbond Shed 10.5L x 9mW x 3.8mH Purpose: Storage of Vehicles and Domestic Items Stormwater to Rainwater Tank, excess to Kerb43 WEST TCE LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- New Colorbond Shed 6mL x 4mW x 3mH, with a 6m x 3m verandah Purpose: Storage of Vehicles and Domestic Items Stormwater to existing tank, excess to garden.4 WALTER ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
August 2024
- Lysaght Living collection verandah to be installed along the western side of the shed to block out weather9 O'HALLORAN ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- New 2 bed home with carport and verandah8A SAMUEL ST LAURA SA 5480Under Assessment
May 2024
- To construct a lightweight amenities block with DDA component to serve the additional person utilising caravan park1 VICTORIA ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Domestic Outbuilding- Woodland Grey (12m x 9m x 3.6m), stormwater to 10,000ltr rainwater tank10 GARDEN ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Free Standing Carport9 BRISTOW ST LAURA SA 5480Decision Made
- Storeroom addition to existing dwelling. Timber frame construction, skillion roof.17 MILL ST LAURA SA 5480Decision 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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bottle-OAlcohol
- Bbq
- Bench (2)
- David Medlow Chocolates - coco lauraChocolate
- Regional Hardware SuppliesHardware
- Parking
- Laura Redeemer Lutheran ChurchPlace of worship
- Condons North Laura HotelPub
- Sanitary Dump Station
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
- Laura and District Hospital33 Mill 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)
- 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
1 state heritage place
- 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)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 30.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5089th in Australia
- State rank
- 505th in SA
- Peer rank
- #78 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #148 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
- Other Acts Intended To Cause Injurycrime1
- Other Theftcrime1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime3
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injurycrime1
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Laura and District Hospitalhealth33 Mill StreetPublic Hospital
- 2 Bedroom detached dwelling, 2 x outbuildings and 1 x shipping containerplanning9-11 WILLIAM ST LAURA SA 5480Lodged 11 Mar 2025 · Decision Made
- 3 Bedroom Secondhand Transportable Dwellingplanning12 WHITE ST LAURA SA 5480Lodged 26 Sep 2024 · Under Assessment
- 35m x 12m Colorbond gable roof shed for storageplanning88 LAURA-BEETALOO RD LAURA SA 5480Lodged 12 Jun 2025 · Under Assessment
- 6m x 10m storage shedplanning202 POSSUM PARK RD LAURA SA 5480Lodged 05 May 2025 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & GP Plus clinics (SA) — SA Health · Updated on site
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site
- SAPOL reported crime statistics — South Australia Police — OpenData · Updated on site · Financial-year releases
More in Northern Areas Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.