SA · Ceduna Council
Smoky Bay, 5680
Current weather
13.6°CMainly clear
74% humidity · 23.4 km/h wind · 15.7° / 11.7° today · 5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- River access
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Smoky Bay offers a slower smaller community life in Ceduna, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Far from the capital hubbub, it offers genuine distance, local character and room to live at a slower pace. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer. Infill and new builds are slowly updating the area without overwhelming its existing character.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because growth momentum and housing affordability lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in parks and green space and safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 216
- Median age
- 57
- Median household income / week
- $1,237
- Dwelling vacancy
- 52.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 98 of 187
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,000
- Employment rate
- 58.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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)
- 6
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 5
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 216 residents
- State safety percentile
- 40.7th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 7
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -45.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental1
- Other Theft1
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury1
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mv1
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
- Williams St / Beach Esplanade - North side (Smoky Bay General Store)
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.
30 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
April 2026
- Carport (11m L X 10m W x 4.66m H)9 TREMAINE ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Under Assessment
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Storage shed (Store)LOT 79 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
May 2025
- Raised deck.12 BEACH ESP SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
April 2025
- Proposed 12mtr * 9mtr * 3.5mtr shed/garage.20 -22 BEACH ESP SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
March 2025
- Land Division 1 into 2113 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- construction of viewing platform within aquaculture lease area (retrospective)LOT 36 JETTY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
February 2024
- Upgrade to existing Telecommunications Facility: • The removal of two (2) grid parabolic antennas (19.5m and 29.0m); • The installation of two (2) new 1.8m diameter solid parabolic dishes (25.0m and 35.5m); • The installation of ancillary equipment, including outdoor units, flextwists and balanced power splitters; and • The installation of ancillary equipment within the equipment shelter.61 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Under Assessment
January 2024
- Boundary realignment to correct encroachment1 WILLIAMS ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680;12 BEACH ESP SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
2023· 9 proposals
October 2023
- Verandah and alterations to existing first floor balustrade6 WATSON COVE SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
September 2023
- Outbuilding (Remove existing shed and replace with new shed)20 LLOYD ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
- Outbuilding8-9 BARLOW CT SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
July 2023
- Proposed additional Shed for use in Oyster Farming Industry. Includes office and Staff amenities area.3 PACIFIC DR SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
May 2023
- Install new shed and remove old shed16 BAYSIDE CT SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
- Replace existing roller door with a larger, electronic controlled roller doorLOT 102 TREMAINE ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
March 2023
- Upgrading Shed14 BAYSIDE CT SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
February 2023
- Garaport made to order 12.0x7.5x4.2 with a verandah attached 4.0x7.5mx3.8m high flat roof4 LLOYD ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
January 2023
- General purpose shed (store for vehicles/caravans/personal use)LOT 73 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
2022· 7 proposals
November 2022
- Storage shed for boats, trailers, general goods and aquaculture materials15 WARNA MAR RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
September 2022
- Free standing carport16 LLOYD ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
May 2022
- Dwelling addition (detached building envelope - master bedroom with ensuite)2 BEACH ESP SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
- Install a 1.4m high x 19.0m long concrete sleeper retaining wall to the property boundary between 1 Hunt Street & 2 Denton Street, Smoky Bay SA 56801 HUNT TCE SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
March 2022
- Erection of a greenhouse for the purpose or drying/storing native seed for revegetation projects.LOT 50 FLINDERS HWY SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
- Advertisements including freestanding signage and associated hoarding structures113 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680;125 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Under Assessment
- Building addition for cold storage of oysters.14 OYSTER DR SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
2021· 4 proposals
October 2021
- Building addition 6.1m x 9.1m = 55.51m2. to existing oyster processing shed (331.54 m2) supporting aquaculture9 ANCHOR DR SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
June 2021
- Outbuilding (Standard Gable Shed)6 LLOYD ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
April 2021
- Raised deck with roof over29 DENTON ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
January 2021
- Building addition to existing garage23 DENTON ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
2020· 2 proposals
November 2020
- Industrial shed of 14mx16mx4m with concrete floor. Also kitchen, office, bathroom and workshop to be built inside.LOT 1 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision Made
September 2020
- Replacement Building (demolish existing outbuilding -garage/shed- and replace with new building in substantially same location and substantially the same appearance)8 LLOYD ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680Decision 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
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Acraman Creek 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
1 state heritage place
- 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)
- 17
- 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
- 19.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6542nd in Australia
- State rank
- 662nd in SA
- Peer rank
- #148 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #244 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 Environmentalcrime1
- Other Theftcrime1
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime2
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime1
- Theft/Illegal Use Of Mvcrime1
- Heritage placeheritageState heritage
- Acraman Creek Conservation ParkgovernmentNational parks and reserves listing
- Advertisements including freestanding signage and associated hoarding structuresplanning113 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680;125 SMOKY BAY RD SMOKY BAY SA 5680Lodged 22 Mar 2022 · Under Assessment
- Boundary realignment to correct encroachmentplanning1 WILLIAMS ST SMOKY BAY SA 5680;12 BEACH ESP SMOKY BAY SA 5680Lodged 25 Jan 2024 · Decision Made
- Building addition 6.1m x 9.1m = 55.51m2. to existing oyster processing shed (331.54 m2) supporting aquacultureplanning9 ANCHOR DR SMOKY BAY SA 5680Lodged 20 Oct 2021 · Decision Made
Data sources & freshness
- National parks & reserves (SA) — Department for Environment and Water (SA) · Updated on site
- 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
More in Ceduna Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.