SA · Murray Bridge Council
Northern Heights, 5253
Current weather
10.2°CLight drizzle
84% humidity · 17.6 km/h wind · 13.5° / 9.1° today · 8 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Northern Heights is a small locality in the Murray Bridge area, home to around 305 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 12 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun) with falling year-on-year trends (-20%), roughly 39.3 offences per 1,000 residents, limited but present public transport access, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.
Population
- Population
- 305
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,384
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 120
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,174
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 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)
- 12
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 39.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 51 residents
- State safety percentile
- 54.7th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 400
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -19.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Abduction, Harassment And Other Offences1
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
- Other Theft2
- Sct - Residence2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury5
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
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bigmore Rd / Mannum Rd - North side (Murray Bridge)
- Bigmore Rd / Mannum Rd - South side (Murray Bridge)
- Frahn Rd / Nilpena Rd - East side (Northern Heights)
- Nilpena Rd / Frahn Rd - North side (Northern Heights)
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.
28 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
January 2026
- Steel Flat Carport3 BIGMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Agricultural building (Machinery Shed)3 -5 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2025· 6 proposals
September 2025
- Agricultural Building18 -22 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Colourbond Verandah attached to dwelling: - Dimensions: 15m x 5.56m wide x 3.99m high192 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
August 2025
- Dwelling Addition5 -7 NILPENA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling with double garage, front porch and side alfresco all under the main roof, and associated earthworks and retaining wall222 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Building alterations and additions & installation of new extractor units and ventilation system.12 -32 LAGOON RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2025
- VerandahLOT 613 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Land division - community title to create eight (8) additional allotments (total 9) and retaining walls (maximum height 2.6m)198 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
September 2024
- Detached Carport: 5.5m x 5.0m wide x 3.0m high.214 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2024
- Detached dwelling and associated horse stablesLOT 12 WATTS RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
June 2024
- Outbuilding Shed.LOT 619 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
May 2024
- Telecommunications facility - 30m monopole tower, antennas, ground-based equipment and fencing.LOT 116 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
- Detached dwelling, Outbuilding (Garage) and Water Tank.66 KUCHEL RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
April 2024
- Outbuilding (shed) 6.1m x 7.8m x 3.7m(wall height)203 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
- Dwelling addition consisting of a laundry extension to the rear of the existing dwelling2 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
March 2024
- Dwelling addition to the rear of existing dwelling consisting of extension to living, kitchen and laundry areas and including a rear verandah to be under the same roof; and Pergola attached to side of existing dwelling and to the rear of the existing carport192 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
February 2024
- 9 Mtr x 6 Mtr Garage with roller doors for Cars and CaravanLOT 10 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Add an above ground pool to the north east corner of the yard. Pool is 1.22m height, 3.6m wide.19 BIGMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
November 2023
- Garage (Outbuilding) ancillary to existing dwelling2 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
October 2023
- Erecting of a carport on private property. The attached plans detail the depth of the footing into the ground, as well as the various measurements of the proposed structure.4 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
April 2023
- Dwelling additions and alterations in particular; Enclose existing verandah to be used as a bedroom1 PILMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
2022· 1 proposal
December 2022
- Demolition of agricultural building (implement shed) Construction of zincalume agricultural building (implement shed)LOT 617 NILPENA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
2021· 3 proposals
September 2021
- Advertisements comprising of; - Seven drop down banner signs - The installation of two (2) panel board signs, 2400mm high x 1600mm wide, - The installation of two (2) panel signs attached to the existing chain mesh fence, each sign 9m long x 1.5m high201 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
July 2021
- New Swimming poolLOT 2 TOORA RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Decision Made
April 2021
- Single storey detached dwellingLOT 10 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Under Assessment
Other· 2 proposals
- THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL MURRAY BRIDGE PTY LIMITEDFood Production and Animal Plant ProcessingEPA licence
- THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL MURRAY BRIDGE PTY LIMITEDOtherEPA 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
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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)
- 1
- 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
- 33.6/100
- National rank
- 4453rd in Australia
- State rank
- 454th in SA
- Peer rank
- #47 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #120 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
- Abduction, Harassment And Other Offencescrime1
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime1
- Other Theftcrime2
- Sct - Residencecrime2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime5
- 9 Mtr x 6 Mtr Garage with roller doors for Cars and CaravanplanningLOT 10 FRAHN RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Lodged 08 Feb 2024 · Decision Made
- Add an above ground pool to the north east corner of the yard. Pool is 1.22m height, 3.6m wide.planning19 BIGMORE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Lodged 14 Dec 2023 · Decision Made
- Advertisements comprising of; - Seven drop down banner signs - The installation of two (2) panel board signs, 2400mm high x 1600mm wide, - The installation of two (2) panel signs attached to the existing chain mesh fence, each sign 9m long x 1.5m highplanning201 MANNUM RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Lodged 17 Sep 2021 · Decision Made
- Agricultural Buildingplanning18 -22 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Lodged 09 Sep 2025 · Decision Made
- Agricultural building (Machinery Shed)planning3 -5 DOYLE RD NORTHERN HEIGHTS SA 5253Lodged 19 Jan 2026 · 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
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Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.