SA · Kangaroo Island Council
Middle River, 5223
Current weather
11.4°CMainly clear
64% humidity · 32.2 km/h wind · 13.5° / 11° today · 17.5 mm rain
Updated
- Green suburb
- River access
- Café precinct
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Middle River is a residential smaller community in Kangaroo Island with a familiar suburban feel. Remote from the metro area in the best sense: quiet streets, big skies and a town that runs on its own timetable. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience.
A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Population
- Population
- 23
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,124
- Dwelling vacancy
- 69.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 30 of 43
- Median monthly mortgage
- $0
- Employment rate
- 60%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 3 / 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.
15 planning-related records
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Tourist accommodation and wellness complex comprising 60 accommodation modules, a restaurant, day spa and reception building, services outbuildings, ancillary tourism experience structures, footpaths and decking, 33 geothermal bathing pools, 26 staff accommodation units, landscaping, carpark, new internal roads and access, and on-site infrastructure including solar PV, water storage dams and waste treatment facilities.6538 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
May 2025
- Boundary Realignment - 2 Allotments into 26025 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223;6203 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
April 2025
- Construction of 18.0m x 7.8m x 3.6m shed5280 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2024· 3 proposals
October 2024
- Construction of a single storey dwelling and associated earthworks and rainwater tanksLOT 106 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
September 2024
- Construction of a single storey dwelling and rainwater tank (residential use for a temporary period not exceeding 1 December 2027 or until such time as a certificate of completion/occupancy has been issued for the principal dwelling, which ever comes first)5753 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Under Assessment
March 2024
- Agricultural building (shed) and 109,000 litre water tankLOT 106 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2022· 3 proposals
August 2022
- Proposed dwelling replaces existing6203 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
April 2022
- Construction of an agricultural building for storage of machinery and equipment.LOT 501 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
January 2022
- Temporary accommodation in an area affected by bushfireLOT 52 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Temporary accommodation in an area affected by bushfire5753 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
November 2021
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling including water storage tank and associated earthworks185A BARKER RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
September 2021
- Temporary placement of a transportable kitchen facility (in the form of a shipping container) associated with existing restaurant/cafe venue5997 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223;Lot 200 North Coast Road Middle River CT6224/140Decision Made
July 2021
- Retrospective application Proposed bedroom and attic storage (internal alterations)6362 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
June 2021
- Amendment to Approved Development 520/L002/19 - to include an additional 2 accommodation units, new 200KL holding tank, reconfiguring to internal roadway and other minor works6208 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision Made
April 2021
- Construction of one (1) replacement dwelling with modifications - Bushfire impacted156A KING GEORGES RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Decision 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
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)
- 6/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 39
- 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
- Agricultural building (shed) and 109,000 litre water tankplanningLOT 106 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 07 Mar 2024 · Decision Made
- Amendment to Approved Development 520/L002/19 - to include an additional 2 accommodation units, new 200KL holding tank, reconfiguring to internal roadway and other minor worksplanning6208 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 24 Jun 2021 · Decision Made
- Boundary Realignment - 2 Allotments into 2planning6025 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223;6203 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 20 May 2025 · Decision Made
- Construction of 18.0m x 7.8m x 3.6m shedplanning5280 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 15 Apr 2025 · Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling including water storage tank and associated earthworksplanning185A BARKER RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 08 Nov 2021 · Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey dwelling and associated earthworks and rainwater tanksplanningLOT 106 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 17 Oct 2024 · Decision Made
- Construction of a single storey dwelling and rainwater tank (residential use for a temporary period not exceeding 1 December 2027 or until such time as a certificate of completion/occupancy has been issued for the principal dwelling, which ever comes first)planning5753 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 23 Sep 2024 · Under Assessment
- Construction of an agricultural building for storage of machinery and equipment.planningLOT 501 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 28 Apr 2022 · Decision Made
- Construction of one (1) replacement dwelling with modifications - Bushfire impactedplanning156A KING GEORGES RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 24 Apr 2021 · Decision Made
- Proposed dwelling replaces existingplanning6203 NORTH COAST RD MIDDLE RIVER SA 5223Lodged 25 Aug 2022 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- PlanSA development applications & EPA licences — Government of South Australia — PlanSA · Updated on site
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