SA · Mount Barker Council
Wistow, 5251
Current weather
9.8°CLight drizzle
87% humidity · 25.2 km/h wind · 12.4° / 8.7° today · 16.9 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Rural
- Historic
- Established
- Residential
- Amenities
Suburb profile
Wistow is a quieter smaller community in Mount Barker, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Regional calm with capital access on standby: close enough for outings, distant enough to feel unhurried. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Housing is well-priced for what you get: space, location and everyday convenience.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 285
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,524
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 11 of 115
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,015
- Employment rate
- 55.7%
- 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2024–25)
- 10
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 71 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51th (lower crime is better)
- Family & domestic abuse offences
- 115
- Increase (daily rate)
- +67.1%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Other Property Damage And Environmental2
- Other Theft2
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intent1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injury1
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injury3
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
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Stop Wistow Wellington Rd - North side
- Stop Wistow Wellington Rd - South 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.
52 planning-related records
2026· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Detached dwelling (Single storey) with associated Retaining wall; Retaining wall and fence structure3 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Ancillary Accommodation467 NATIVE AV WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Swimming pool and Deck209 WILES FTRK WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations and additions to existing detached dwelling, verandah, deck and free-standing outbuilding (Carport) and associated earthworks and infrastructure664 WELLINGTON RD WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
April 2026
- Retaining Wall15 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
March 2026
- Four (4) brick pillars with a maximum height of 2.0 metres with vertical tubular/slat fence infill (two (2) pillars located on 1 and 2 Springvale Cresent, Wistow)1 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251;2 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Change of use of existing outbuilding to function venue and the associated carpark, outdoor dining and ceremony area and amenity facilities; and a retrospective outbuilding6 MORNING STAR RD WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
February 2026
- water tank (Above ground).17 FRAMPTON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Single storey detached dwelling and above ground 116kL rainwater tank.LOT 4 WILES FTRK WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Outbuilding (domestic storage)1 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
2025· 16 proposals
November 2025
- Detached dwelling (Single storey)4 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
October 2025
- Detached dwelling (Single storey)18 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
August 2025
- Detached dwelling (Single storey)20 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Land Division (1 into 102, for the staged creation of 102 residential allotments) and associated public reserves, roads, infrastructure and tree removal67 PAECH RD WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
July 2025
- Single Storey Detached Dwelling5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Land Division (1 into 2 allotments)14 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
June 2025
- Detached dwelling (Single storey), outbuildings (Domestic storage and Agricultural implements), internal access driveway and associated culvert crossing52 HARROP RD WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Detached dwelling (Single storey) and associated retaining walls and fencingLOT 74 POTTS RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
May 2025
- Detached dwelling (single storey)LOT 75 POTTS RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- OutbuildingLOT 82 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Retaining walls and fencing structureLOT 82 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Detached dwelling (Single storey)LOT 71 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
April 2025
- Retaining Walls (Springvale Development - Lot 65, 66, 72, 73 & 82 in Stage 1)LOT 65 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251;LOT 66 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251;LOT 72 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251;LOT 73 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251;LOT 82 SPRINGVALE CR WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
March 2025
- Detached dwelling (single storey)5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
February 2025
- Detached Dwelling (Single Storey)5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
January 2025
- Ancillary Accomodation953 WELLINGTON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
2024· 11 proposals
November 2024
- Proposed Outbuilding37 LONG VALLEY RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
October 2024
- Bulk earthworks and associated Retaining Walls (Springvale Development - Stage 1)5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
September 2024
- detached dwelling5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Detached dwelling with associated Retaining Walls and Fencing5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Single storey dwelling with double garage5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
August 2024
- Detached Dwelling5 NELSON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
July 2024
- Alterations and additions to existing detached dwelling and verandah and deck38 MORNING STAR RD WISTOW SA 5251Under Assessment
- Ancillary Accommodation (Retrospective) and Deck115 FRAMPTON RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
February 2024
- Swimming pool and safety fence86 TAVERNER RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
January 2024
- Outbuilding (Domestic Shed)86 TAVERNER RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
- Land Division (boundary realignment 2 into 2)5 FARMER RD WISTOW SA 5251;LOT 12 HENDER RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
2023· 3 proposals
September 2023
- Horse Keeping (not exceeding 2 horses) including associated infrastructure87 LONG VALLEY RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
June 2023
- Outbuilding, Water storage tank (150kL) and associated earthworks128 GLEN BRAE RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision Made
May 2023
- Swimming pool (inground) and associated safety features160 HENDER RD WISTOW SA 5251Decision 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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
13 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 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
- 26.8/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5747th in Australia
- State rank
- 577th in SA
- Peer rank
- #106 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #186 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
- Other Property Damage And Environmentalcrime2
- Other Theftcrime2
- Other Unlawful Entry With Intentcrime1
- Serious Assault Not Resulting In Injurycrime1
- Serious Assault Resulting In Injurycrime3
- 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
More in Mount Barker Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of South Australia.