SA · Playford Council
Macdonald Park, 5121
Current weather
10.5°CDense drizzle
90% humidity · 21.6 km/h wind · 13.5° / 10.2° today · 12.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Metro
- Established
- Residential
- Amenities
- Open space
Suburb profile
In Playford, Macdonald Park is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 503
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,557
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 12 of 185
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,509
- Employment rate
- 55.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 19 / 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.
Housing
- Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
- $800
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)
- 42
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 36
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 84 residents
- State safety percentile
- 81.2th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 30
- Increase (daily rate)
- +91.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental8
- Other Theft9
- Sct - Non Residence4
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injury3
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv5
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
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Water MainsHeaslip Road, Buckby Rd20 May 2026 – 16 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Traffic SA road events — Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh
Planning & development
Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.
73 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- New Single Sotery housing - Double Garage - Indoor and door living/entertainment - 4 x Bedroom - 2 x Bathroom25 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
- Proposed Single Storey Residential Building, Swimming Pool, two outbuildings and Tree Damaging Activity (Removal of 4 Regulated and 2 Significant Trees)38 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
May 2026
- Torrens Title Land Division Creating 1 Additional Allotment (1 into 2)81 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Shelter (free standing verandah) over two outbuildings (in the form of two shipping containers).44 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
February 2026
- Relocation of an outbuilding (approved in DA 24013913) and carport.91 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling addition, and construction of a domestic outbuilding (shed)151 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling.82 MCINTYRE RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
January 2026
- Construction of an outbuilding (garage) and tree damaging activity922 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Ancillary Accommodation18 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Outbuilding31 SPENCER ST MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
October 2025
- Verandah and tree damaging activity190 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
September 2025
- Outbuilding (garage)15 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Change in use of existing outbuilding to animal keeping (dog kenneling and breeding) and from existing private open space to ancillary dog running yard17 SPENCER ST MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
July 2025
- Outbuilding (Shed)70 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Construction of an outbuilding and carport44 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
May 2025
- Dwelling Addition31 MASLIN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
April 2025
- Outbuilding135 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
February 2025
- Ancillary accommodation167 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
- Domestic outbuilding (storage shed) and verandah62 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
January 2025
- Single storey detached dwelling.27 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Partial change of use from wholly residential to include the parking of a heavy vehicle (a truck and trailer exceeding 3000 kilograms), associated storage, fencing and landscaping6 DEVON RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Under Assessment
- Retrospective Application - Swimming Pool70 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
November 2024
- Carport and verandah718 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
October 2024
- Outbuilding - shed42 LYNDON RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
September 2024
- Verandah12 DEVON RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
July 2024
- Domestic Outbuilding with lean-to91 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
May 2024
- Single storey detached dwelling27 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- freestanding flat roof verandah102 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
April 2024
- Construction of an extension of a bathroom and en-suite along with the renovation of the existing kitchen.190 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Construction of two Carports190 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Non-inhabitable domestic outbuilding868 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
March 2024
- Non-inhabitable domestic outbuilding190 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
- Domestic Outbuilding -Garage.790 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Existing dwelling to be demolished and replaced with a detached dwelling.62 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
November 2023
- Domestic Outbuilding (Shed) including the parking of a heavy vehicle - vintage truck for hobby purposes.111 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
September 2023
- Store (storage of recreational vehicles)708 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
August 2023
- Dwelling addition25 LYNDON RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
July 2023
- Partial change of use to horse keeping (maximum of 2 horses on site) including associated paddock fencing and horse shelters42 MCINTYRE RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
June 2023
- Construction of a gable carport15 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision Made
May 2023
- Domestic Outbuilding (Shed)115 ELWOOD RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Decision 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
- Place of worship
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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
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
- Bushfire & hazard overlays (SA) — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 19.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6590th in Australia
- State rank
- 666th in SA
- Peer rank
- #67 among Metro Adelaide · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #348 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
- Data confidence
- 52%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime8
- Other Theftcrime9
- Sct - Non Residencecrime4
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injurycrime3
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mvcrime5
- Ancillary Accommodationplanning18 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Lodged 16 Dec 2025 · Decision Made
- Ancillary accommodationplanning167 JULIAN RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Lodged 17 Feb 2025 · Under Assessment
- Carport and verandahplanning718 HEASLIP RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Lodged 20 Nov 2024 · Decision Made
- Change in use of existing outbuilding to animal keeping (dog kenneling and breeding) and from existing private open space to ancillary dog running yardplanning17 SPENCER ST MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Lodged 18 Sep 2025 · Decision Made
- Construction of a gable carportplanning15 GARTRELL RD MACDONALD PARK SA 5121Lodged 06 Jun 2023 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- 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 Playford Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.