SA · Whyalla Council
Mullaquana, 5608
Current weather
13.2°CLight drizzle
76% humidity · 15.5 km/h wind · 16.6° / 9.8° today · 0.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Whyalla, Mullaquana keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Set in the wider countryside, it offers distance from the capital and a strong sense of place. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. 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.
Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 272
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,575
- Dwelling vacancy
- 10.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 106
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 53%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 18 / 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)
- 18
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 45 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 509
- Increase (daily rate)
- +501.6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental2
- Property Damage By Fire Or Explosion3
- Sct - Non Residence2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury3
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injury2
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
1 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop 1 Mullaquana Rd / Berkshire Rd - South East side
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.
24 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
May 2026
- In-ground Fibreglass Swimming Pool and Safety Fence with Gate14 COVINO RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Under Assessment
February 2026
- Airside fenceline 8 km in lengthLOT 125 BROADBENT TCE MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
- Verandah31 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
2025· 4 proposals
August 2025
- Stratco Carport to protect cars19 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
June 2025
- Colorbond Shed (24m x 16m x 5m) and two containers (12m x 2.4m x 2.6h ea) with dome canopy (12m x 12m x 5mh) for domestic and residential storage2 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
April 2025
- Colorbond gable roof shed with open bays (15.2m x 9.1m x 3.6m h) and Colorbond flat roof carport (8.5m x 3.5m x 2.8mh)6 TAMWORTH RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
January 2025
- Upgrade to runway, taxiway and apronLOT 125 BROADBENT TCE MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
2024· 4 proposals
December 2024
- 12m x 9m x 3.6m high garage111 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
May 2024
- Freestanding Pitched Roof Carport (6m x 7.5m x 2.6mh)13 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
March 2024
- Attached rear verandah19 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
January 2024
- Free-standing ensuites x31 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
2023· 1 proposal
May 2023
- Verandah (14.5m x 2m x 2.9m high) to existing building (cabins 222-225)1 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
2022· 9 proposals
December 2022
- Placement of single storey detached dwelling with decking19 HANCOCK RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
November 2022
- Domestic garage33 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
- Building comprising 4x cabins1 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
September 2022
- Olympic domestic garaport15 COVINO RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
- Domestic shed with two open bays18 BERKSHIRE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
June 2022
- Colorbond verandah to existing shed.31 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
May 2022
- Domestic Garage ancillary to Dwelling13 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
April 2022
- Swimming Pool17 LANDRACE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
January 2022
- Domestic shed13 BERKSHIRE RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
2021· 1 proposal
May 2021
- Detached dwelling with front porch, side verandah and decking4A GARRETT RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Decision Made
Other· 2 proposals
- CITY OF WHYALLAHydrocarbon and ChemicalEPA licence
- SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATIONResource Recovery Waste Disposal and RelatedEPA 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
- EnterpriseCar Rental
Lincoln Highway, Mullaquana
- 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- 16.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6770th in Australia
- State rank
- 687th in SA
- Peer rank
- #160 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #259 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- EnterpriseamenitiesLincoln Highway, Mullaquanacar_rental
- Sanitary Dump Stationamenitiessanitary_dump_station
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime2
- Property Damage By Fire Or Explosioncrime3
- Sct - Non Residencecrime2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime3
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injurycrime2
- 12m x 9m x 3.6m high garageplanning111 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Lodged 26 Dec 2024 · Decision Made
- Airside fenceline 8 km in lengthplanningLOT 125 BROADBENT TCE MULLAQUANA SA 5608Lodged 20 Feb 2026 · Decision Made
- Attached rear verandahplanning19 MULLAQUANA RD MULLAQUANA SA 5608Lodged 27 Mar 2024 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
- 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 Whyalla Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.