SA · Murray Bridge Council
Monarto, SA, 5254
Current weather
11.3°CLight drizzle
83% humidity · 23.4 km/h wind · 13.2° / 9.4° today · 9.4 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Monarto is a small locality in the Murray Bridge area, home to around 203 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 7 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun) with rising year-on-year trends (+40%), roughly 34.5 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, 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
- 203
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $1,471
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 10 of 83
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 57.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 7
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 34.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 68 residents
- State safety percentile
- 50.5th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 15
- Increase (daily rate)
- +40.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental2
- Other Theft1
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury3
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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Monarto Rd - North side (Monarto Safari Park)
- Monarto Rd - South side (Monarto Safari Park)
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.
34 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- 11 Broiler (Chicken) Sheds in association with existing Broiler Farm, including; • 17 Grain feed silos • 4 Gas tanks • Stormwater basin • Relocation of existing stormwater basin • Five water tanks3201 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shade sail structure, includes 6 posts 2 sails with total area of 207m2.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
2025· 3 proposals
December 2025
- Change of use of the existing dwelling to tourist accommodation; and New single storey detached dwelling with front porch, attached verandahs and detached carport1009 MONARTO RD MONARTO SA 5254Under Assessment
August 2025
- Shed369 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
March 2025
- Six open-sided structures to be used as shade shelters for visitor use at animal exhibit viewing points.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254;623 MONARTO RD ROCKY GULLY SA 5254Decision Made
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Construction of a visitor viewing platform and access tunnel within a new Elephant habitat.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
September 2024
- We are requiring a storage shed on our Poultry farm inside our production area for bio-security.3201 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
August 2024
- Change of use to existing farm building to ancillary accommodation and verandah addition, decommission and remove above ground pool, Installation 100,000 litre fire tank626 PALLAMANA RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
July 2024
- Second dwelling in the form of a single storey detached transportable building262 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
June 2024
- Single storey detached dwelling and decommission of existing dwelling to outbuilding626 PALLAMANA RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Construct a visitor shelter for small group educational talks within a native animal breeding area.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Elephant Keeper Office3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Extend existing Elephant Barn roofline and install concrete walls.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Outbuilding(shed) 18m x 7.6m x 3m(wall height) for elephant hay/fodder.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
February 2024
- Shed - outbuilding117 PAECH RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
2023· 6 proposals
October 2023
- New shed for storage of caravan, tow vehicle & general storage225 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
June 2023
- Agricultural Building124 BROWNS RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
May 2023
- Flat Verandah136 HARTMANN RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Outbuilding (Garage)445 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
April 2023
- Agricultural building (Hay Shed)422 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
January 2023
- Installation of a 30M x 18M garage for storing safari vehicles.3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
2022· 8 proposals
November 2022
- Single storey detached dwelling with verandah and garage UMR; and attached front verandahLOT 2 HARTMANN RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
June 2022
- Agricultural Building (Implement Shed)86 BROWNS RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Toilet Facilities at the following locations associated with the Monarto Safari Park: Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9: One (1) multipurpose / disabled unit; Site 5: One (1) multipurpose / disabled unit, three (3) double units, and one (1) urinal; Site 8: One (1) multipurpose / disabled unit, and one (1) double unit3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254;525 MONARTO RD ROCKY GULLY SA 5254;623 MONARTO RD ROCKY GULLY SA 5254Decision Made
April 2022
- Variation to Development Application 20105064 From- Temporary Boarding Facility (Animal Keeping) for up to 12 Cats and 10 Dogs with associated Car Parking, Reception Area (office), Exercise Yard and fencing To- Relocation of Temporary Boarding Facility (Animal Keeping) for up to 10 Dogs, relocation of associated Car Parking, minor alteration to Reception Area (office)126 HARTMANN RD MONARTO SA 5254Under Assessment
March 2022
- 3 advertisements - 1 directional signage with 2 animal signs3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Partial demolition of existing dwelling (removal of existing doorway, carport columns, and creating a new doorway); and Dwelling additions (bedroom, ensuite, WIR, and storeroom); and Decking extension to the rear of the dwelling615 ANDERS RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
February 2022
- Dwelling addition86 BROWNS RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
January 2022
- Carport337 SCHENSCHER RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
2021· 3 proposals
November 2021
- Freestanding Colorbond Shed to be used for storage purposes onlyLOT 2 HARTMANN RD MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
August 2021
- Domestic storage shed3201 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Decision Made
- Temporary Boarding Facility (Animal Keeping) for up to 12 Cats and 10 Dogs with associated Car Parking, Reception Area (office), Exercise Yard and fencing126 HARTMANN RD MONARTO SA 5254Under Assessment
Other· 2 proposals
- GLENELLEN MONARTO PTY LTDAnimal Husbandry and Other ActivitiesEPA licence
- INTENSIVE FARMING PTY. LTD.Animal Husbandry and Other ActivitiesEPA licence
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
2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Monarto Lutheran ChurchPlace of worship
427 Schenscher Road, Monarto
- Yalkin Spanish HorsesSports field
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)
- 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
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- 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 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)
- 22
- 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
- 26.2/100
- National rank
- 5732nd in Australia
- State rank
- 593rd in SA
- Peer rank
- #121 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #226 among Country & regional 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
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime2
- Other Theftcrime1
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime3
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- 11 Broiler (Chicken) Sheds in association with existing Broiler Farm, including; • 17 Grain feed silos • 4 Gas tanks • Stormwater basin • Relocation of existing stormwater basin • Five water tanksplanning3201 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Lodged 05 May 2026 · Under Assessment
- 3 advertisements - 1 directional signage with 2 animal signsplanning3401 OLD PRINCES HWY MONARTO SA 5254Lodged 23 Mar 2022 · Decision Made
- Agricultural Buildingplanning124 BROWNS RD MONARTO SA 5254Lodged 23 Jun 2023 · Decision Made
- Agricultural Building (Implement Shed)planning86 BROWNS RD MONARTO SA 5254Lodged 17 Jun 2022 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- 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
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.