SA · Salisbury Council

Pooraka, 5095

Current weather

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82% humidity · 20.1 km/h wind · 13.2° / 10.6° today · 21.1 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

49.7/100
Average

Top 20% of South Australia's suburbs

96% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Top transport
  • Parks
  • Affordable
  • Schools
  • Shops
What Pooraka is known for: Top transport, Parks, Affordable, Schools, Shops

Suburb profile

In Salisbury, Pooraka is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.

Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.

Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.

The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment against similar metro suburbs, even with transport and access and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
7,583
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$1,225
Dwelling vacancy
5.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
155 of 3,021
Median monthly mortgage
$1,300
Employment rate
52.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
217 / 358 / 44

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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

Flats / units (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$500
Houses (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$600
All types (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
$597.5
Rental bonds lodged (01/01/26 to 31/03/26)
65
Median house price (Q1 2026)
$900,000
Median price change
+18.3%

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 reportsGovernment of South Australia · Period: 1 January - 31 March 2026; 1Q 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases

Crime & safety

Total offences (2024–25)
648
Against the person
130
Against property
518
Rate per 1,000 residents
85.5
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 58 residents
State safety percentile
81.3th (lower crime is better)
Family & domestic abuse offences
192
Increase (daily rate)
+16.7%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Other Property Damage And Environmental142
  • Other Theft108
  • Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury71
  • Theft From Motor Vehicle62
  • Theft From Shop74

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • SAPOL reported crime statisticsSouth 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)
Median school ICSEA
954
  • Pooraka Community Kindergarten14 McCarthy CourtPreschools
  • Pooraka Primary SchoolPrimary · ICSEA 954

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

59 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Stop 30 Main North Rd - East side
  • Stop 32 Main North Rd - East side
  • Stop 33 Main North Rd - South East side
  • Stop 35 Main North Rd - South East side
  • Stop 37 Main North Rd - South East side

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from PlanSA register (lodged 2020–2026) and EPA licensed activities.

473 planning-related records

2026· 40 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Two (2) Verandah's
    19 NALPA ST POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Convert the front office into a takeaway coffee outlet between the hours of 7am and 12pm only
    UNIT 1-9 25 RESEARCH RD POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Verandah
    LOT 62 HARDY CT POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • One single storey detached dwelling & one double storey detached dwelling including fencing above 2.1m
    11 HANCOCK AV POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Supported Accommodation in the form of two (2) Detached Dwellings, associated combined Retaining and Fencing taller than 2.1m, and removal of Regulated Tree.
    9 CHELLASTON AV POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Verandah
    24 -28 LANGFORD ST POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Land division (creation of two (2) allotments from one (1) existing allotment)
    166 BRIDGE RD POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Three (3) detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement with associated retaining walls and fencing
    32 LOCK CR POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Spa pool & associated safety barriers
    24 SCOTT ST POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • May 2026

  • Verandah
    34 COWAN DR POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Verandah
    8 LUBCKE CT POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Single Storey Dwelling and Fencing Over 2.1m
    17B MURIEL DR POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Single Storey Dwelling and associated combined Retaining and Fences taller than 2.1m
    17A MURIEL DR POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Land Division (Creation of Two (2) Allotments from One (1) Existing Allotment)
    4 ELDER AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Land Division 1 into 2 allotments.
    1 ADALUMA AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • April 2026

  • Residential Land Division - 1 into 2
    11 ROWLAND RD POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Amendment to Development Approval (DA) 361/1549/2016/3B (as Varied by Planning Consent 23038141, DA 361/1547/2019 and DA 361/994/2020) for a Place of Worship and Cemetery, Comprising: • Change of Use of Existing Building at 94 Research Road from Warehouse to Place of Worship (Originally Proposed At 90 Research Road, Pooraka) • Alterations And Additions to the Existing Building at 94 Research Road, Pooraka including Front and Side Façade Upgrades, a Front Addition Accommodating Offices, Meeting R
    256 -258 BRIDGE RD POORAKA SA 5095;94 RESEARCH RD POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Installation of pre-cast sandstone front fence.
    64B MURIEL DR POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Two single-storey dwellings and associated fencing/retaining walls.
    27 LOCK CR POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • March 2026

  • Land Division (Creation of Two (2) Allotments from One (1) Existing Allotment)
    8 GEORGE ST POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Two Single Storey Detached Dwellings
    14 TALLERING AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Variation to DA 25020988 (Increase in Floor Area)
    4 ELDER AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Single Storey Dwelling
    11 LOCK CR POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Detached Dwelling
    8 DAY ST POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Single storey dwelling with associated retaining walls and fence combined height exceeding 2.1m
    57A MURIEL DR POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Removal of one (1) regulated street tree on road verge adjacent to 16 Glover Avenue
    16 GLOVER AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Outbuilding (domestic storage shed)
    8 TALLERING AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Verandah
    5B RICHARD AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • February 2026

  • Attached verandah
    UNIT 7 122 -124 SOUTH TCE POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Shed
    18 TALLERING AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Two carports
    24 SCOTT ST POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Removal of 1 Significant tree
    50 -52 DIAGONAL RD POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Dwelling Addition and Carport
    101 PRATT AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Verandah (retrospective)
    7 ROYAL AV POORAKA SA 5095Under Assessment
  • Conventional land division creating 2 allotments from 1 allotment including removal of one regulated tree
    11 HANCOCK AV POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • January 2026

  • Verandah
    UNIT 3 12 JOHNSON ST POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Land division (creation of five (5) community allotments with common land in association with land use DA 25000952)
    17 -21 MAXWELL RD POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Single Storey Detached Dwelling with associated retaining walls and fencing exceeding 2.1m
    LOT 701 QUINLIVAN RD POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Verandah
    8 EARLE CT POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made
  • Remove regulated Acacia sp. in rear yard
    13 COLLINS CT POORAKA SA 5095Decision Made

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

65 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bbq
  • Bench
  • Bus stop (7)
  • School Bus Stop - Bridge Road - West sideBus stop
  • Stop 30 Main North Road - East sideBus stop
  • Stop 30 Main North Road - West sideBus stop
  • Stop 31 Main North Road - South East sideBus stop
  • Stop 31 Main North Road - West sideBus stop
  • Stop 31 Montague Road - South sideBus stop
  • Stop 31 Scott Street - East sideBus stop

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 amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
2/10
IRSD decile (2021)
1/10

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

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

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

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
13
Parks (OSM)
13

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 featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability Index

Desirability score
49.7/100 — Average
State standing
Top 20% of South Australia's suburbs
National rank
1800th in Australia
State rank
140th in SA
Peer rank
#32 among Metro Adelaide · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#102 among Metro Adelaide suburbs
Data confidence
96%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime142
  • Other Theftcrime108
  • Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime71
  • Theft From Motor Vehiclecrime62
  • Theft From Shopcrime74
  • Amendment to Development Approval (DA) 361/1549/2016/3B (as Varied by Planning Consent 23038141, DA 361/1547/2019 and DA 361/994/2020) for a Place of Worship and Cemetery, Comprising: • Change of Use of Existing Building at 94 Research Road from Warehouse to Place of Worship (Originally Proposed At 90 Research Road, Pooraka) • Alterations And Additions to the Existing Building at 94 Research Road, Pooraka including Front and Side Façade Upgrades, a Front Addition Accommodating Offices, Meeting Rplanning256 -258 BRIDGE RD POORAKA SA 5095;94 RESEARCH RD POORAKA SA 5095Lodged 22 Apr 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Attached verandahplanningUNIT 7 122 -124 SOUTH TCE POORAKA SA 5095Lodged 27 Feb 2026 · Decision Made
  • Conventional land division creating 2 allotments from 1 allotment including removal of one regulated treeplanning11 HANCOCK AV POORAKA SA 5095Lodged 06 Feb 2026 · Decision Made
  • Convert the front office into a takeaway coffee outlet between the hours of 7am and 12pm onlyplanningUNIT 1-9 25 RESEARCH RD POORAKA SA 5095Lodged 19 Jun 2026 · Under Assessment
  • Detached Dwellingplanning8 DAY ST POORAKA SA 5095Lodged 16 Mar 2026 · Decision Made

Data sources & freshness

More in Salisbury Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.