SA · Kangaroo Island Council
Penneshaw, 5222
Current weather
10.2°CMainly clear
67% humidity · 24 km/h wind · 13.4° / 9.8° today · 9.5 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Penneshaw is a small locality in the Kangaroo Island area, home to around 269 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 12 offences in 2024–25 (Jul–Jun) with rising year-on-year trends (+201%), roughly 44.6 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550, 2 school and preschool sites in the area, limited but present public transport access, a reasonable spread of amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 269
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $961
- Dwelling vacancy
- 56.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 149 of 265
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,400
- Employment rate
- 52.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 7 / 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)
- $550
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)
- 12
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 44.6
- State safety percentile
- 60.2th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 2
- Increase (daily rate)
- +200.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Theft5
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent1
- Sct - Non Residence1
- Theft From Motor Vehicle3
- Theft From Shop2
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2 (1 schools, 1 preschools)
- Penneshaw CampusHoward DrivePrimary/Secondary Combined
- Penneshaw KindergartenHoward DrivePreschools
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- Government education sites register — Government of South Australia · Period: current · Updated on site · Static register
Public transport
4 public transport stops in this suburb
- Middle Tce / Bay Tce - North side (Penneshaw Beach Stay)
- North Tce - North side (Kangaroo Island Seafront Hotel Penneshaw)
- North Tce - South side (Kangaroo Island Seafront Hotel Penneshaw)
- Penneshaw Ferry Terminal
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.
85 planning-related records
2026· 8 proposals
June 2026
- Agricultural Building (Shed)LOT 25 CAPE WILLOUGHBY RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling and outbuilding (garage/carport) and associated earthworks175 BINNEYS TRK PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
May 2026
- Installation of sculpture measuring 2.3m x 500mm wide and constructed of steel, granite and glass.LOT 2 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of an elevated detached dwelling including garage and associated landscaping1 TRETHEWEY TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of a detached dwelling with undercroft garage22 KARATTA TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of an elevated detached dwelling and outbuilding (garage)5 TRETHEWEY TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of a two storey detached dwelling with attached carport and verandah/balcony and associated earthworks and retaining walls16 VERNON CT PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of storage shedLOT 21 CURRAWONG AV PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
2025· 14 proposals
November 2025
- Single storey detached dwelling, storage shed and retaining walls and fencing up to a maximum height of 2.5m37 FREYCINET WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
October 2025
- Additions and alterations to existing dwelling (short stay holiday let) comprising a new tourist accommodation unit5 CHEOPIS ST PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Construction of a single storey detached dwelling with suspended floor, ancillary accommodation, outbuilding (garage) and associated earthworks and retaining walls11 FERNANDE CT PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
August 2025
- Replacement freestanding signLOT 91 HOG BAY RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Construction of single level detached dwelling and associated earthworks and retaining walls8 WRIGHT RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Variation to Development Application 25003423 - Vary Condition 8 – inclusion of live and amplified music for licensed premises comprising wine bar/café.18 NORTH TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Dwelling addition, alterations, replacement shed and deck located forward of dwelling48 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
July 2025
- Single storey detached dwelling, outbuilding (shed) and outbuilding (workshop).53 DOLPHIN WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
May 2025
- Outbuilding (shed)25 DOLPHIN WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling, freestanding carport, deck, verandah and 2 x 27,000 litre water tanksLOT 17 BATES WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- Additions and alterations to existing dwelling including new garage, verandahs and deck14 CAPE WILLOUGHBY RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
April 2025
- Construction of free-standing toilet facility adjacent to existing clubrooms. Please see negotiated development application fee waiver negotiation correspondence.43 HOWARD DR PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
February 2025
- Change of land use from restaurant/cafe (with former temporary residential tenancy) to a licensed premises in the form of a wine bar with ancillary cafe / light food offering, including internal alterations and new roof awning18 NORTH TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Single storey Detached dwelling with undercroft garage, associated deck and retaining walls up to a maximum of 1200mm.20 WARRAWEE TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
2024· 15 proposals
November 2024
- Replace fence, define the parking area12 WILLIAM WALKER WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
October 2024
- Construction of single storey detached dwelling on poles with deck, verandah and outbuilding (shed)1 FERNANDE CT PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
September 2024
- Construction of a domestic outbuilding.11 WARRAWEE TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Change of use to short term workers accommodation and tourist accommodation27 MIDDLE TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
August 2024
- Variation to DA 23014354 - Detached dwelling, carport, garage, deck, verandah and retaining wall.2 WRIGHT RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Tourist accommodation and deck7 TRETHEWEY TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
July 2024
- Demolition of existing dwelling, and construction of a detached dwelling with a carport, and associated retaining walls, with landscaping.48 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Under Assessment
- 70,000 litre Water tank50 WRIGHT RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
June 2024
- Proposed two storey detached dwelling, shed with storage loft, retaining walls, verandah and shed.68 DOLPHIN WAY PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
May 2024
- Demolition of existing public bathrooms and construction of new bathrooms (replacement building)15 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
April 2024
- Part demolition of existing fire damaged building2-8 THOMAS WILLSON ST PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
February 2024
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling, deck and verandah24 SOUTH TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
January 2024
- Installation of Electrical Vehicle Charging Facility15 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling with garage under main roof, and associated earthworks (variation to DA 23027114)12 FLINDERS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling, deck and verandah221 BINNEYS TRK PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
2023· 3 proposals
December 2023
- Infrastructure works comprising, replacement of existing berthing guide piles, new vehicular ramp for ferry access, new air bridge arrangement on existing concrete block piers, additions and alterations to existing terminal building including new external windows, a new deck and upgrades to associated car park and loading bays, including earthworks and retaining wallsLOT 1 BAY TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222;LOT 89 BRICKWORK RD PENNESHAW SA 5222;LOT 89 NORTH TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222;LOT 91 HOG BAY RD PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
November 2023
- Electrical Vehicle Charging Facility8-10 NORTH TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision Made
- Electrical Vehicle Charging Facility8 FRENCHMANS TCE PENNESHAW SA 5222Decision 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
26 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Penneshaw Hotel BottleshopAlcohol
- Bbq (6)
- Bench (2)
- Bicycle Parking
- Fat BeagleCafe
- Millie Mae's PantryCafe
- BudgetCar Rental
- Chemist
- Penneshaw Fuel and HardwareDoityourself
- ChargePointEV charging
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Baudin Conservation Park
Data sources & freshness
- National parks & reserves (SA) — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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
Heritage
19 state heritage places
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- Heritage placeState heritage
- 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 safer places
- 1
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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
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
- 24.5/100
- National rank
- 6017th in Australia
- State rank
- 613th in SA
- Peer rank
- #42 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #60 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Other Theftcrime5
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime1
- Sct - Non Residencecrime1
- Theft From Motor Vehiclecrime3
- Theft From Shopcrime2
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
Data sources & freshness
- SA Heritage Places database — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · 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.