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Local government areas of South Australia facts for kids

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Local government in South Australia is all about how towns and districts manage their own areas. Think of it like your local council! They help look after things like parks, roads, and rubbish collection. This is allowed by a special rule in the Constitution Act 1934 (SA).

Local Councils Across South Australia

These local councils are often called Local Government Areas (LGAs). They are set up and run according to the Local Government Act 1999 in South Australia. These areas are grouped into different regions by the Local Government Association of South Australia.

Metropolitan Adelaide

This region covers the main city of Adelaide and its surrounding suburbs. Here are some of the councils in this busy area:

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2015) Map
km² sq mi Density
Adelaide, City ofCity of Adelaide Adelaide 1840 16 6 1,448 23,169 Adelaide-LGA-Adelaide-MJC.png
Adelaide Hills Council, Adelaide Hills Council Woodside 1997 795 307 50 40,031 Adelaide-LGA-Adelaide Hills-MJC.png
Burnside, City ofCity of Burnside Tusmore 1856 27 10 1,668 45,034 Adelaide-LGA-Burnside-MJC.png
Campbelltown, City ofCity of Campbelltown Rostrevor 1867 24 9 2,162 51,889 Adelaide-LGA-Campbelltown-MJC.png
Charles Sturt, City ofCity of Charles Sturt Woodville 1997 52 20 2,196 114,209 Adelaide-LGA-Charles Sturt-MJC.png
Gawler, Town ofTown of Gawler Gawler 1857 41 16 552 22,618 Adelaide-LGA-Gawler-MJC.png
Holdfast Bay, City ofCity of Holdfast Bay Brighton 1997 13 5 2,866 37,263 Adelaide-LGA-Holdfast Bay-MJC.png
Marion, City ofCity of Marion Sturt 1886 56 22 1,589 88,983 Adelaide-LGA-Marion-MJC.png
Mitcham, City ofCity of Mitcham Torrens Park 1853 76 29 873 66,347 Adelaide-LGA-Mitcham-MJC.png
Norwood Payneham & St Peters, City ofCity of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Norwood 1997 15 6 2,490 37,350 Adelaide-LGA-Norwood-MJC.png
Onkaparinga, City ofCity of Onkaparinga Noarlunga Centre 1997 518 200 326 168,798 Adelaide-LGA-Onkaparinga-MJC.png
Playford, City ofCity of Playford Elizabeth 1997 345 133 256 88,222 Adelaide-LGA-Playford-MJC.png
Port Adelaide Enfield, City ofCity of Port Adelaide Enfield Port Adelaide 1997 97 37 1,276 123,754 Adelaide-LGA-Port Adelaide-MJC.png
Prospect, City ofCity of Prospect Prospect 1872 8 3 2,677 21,416 Adelaide-LGA-Prospect-MJC.png
Salisbury, City ofCity of Salisbury Salisbury 1933 158 61 877 138,535 Adelaide-LGA-Salisbury-MJC.png
Tea Tree Gully, City ofCity of Tea Tree Gully Modbury 1935 95 37 1,041 98,861 Adelaide-LGA-Tea Tree Gully-MJC.png
Unley, City ofCity of Unley Unley 1906 14 5 2,809 39,324 Adelaide-LGA-Unley-MJC.png
Walkerville, Town ofTown of Walkerville Gilberton 1855 4 2 1,918 7,673 Adelaide-LGA-Walkerville-MJC.png
West Torrens, City ofCity of West Torrens Hilton 1856 37 14 1,594 58,964 Adelaide-LGA-West Torrens-MJC.png

Regional South Australia

Outside of Adelaide, there are many other local government areas that help manage towns and rural communities.

Eyre Peninsula

This region is on a large peninsula in South Australia.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2015) Map
km² sq mi
Ceduna, District Council ofDistrict Council of Ceduna Ceduna 1896 5,427 2,095 3,716 Ceduna LGA.png
Cleve, District Council ofDistrict Council of Cleve Cleve 1911 4,507 1,740 1,795 Cleve LGA.png
Elliston, District Council ofDistrict Council of Elliston Elliston 1887 6,500 2,510 1,066 Elliston LGA.png
Franklin Harbour, District Council ofDistrict Council of Franklin Harbour Cowell 1888 3,583 1,383 1,234 Franklin Harbour LGA.png
Kimba, District Council ofDistrict Council of Kimba Kimba 1924 3,986 1,539 1,097 Kimba LGA.png
Lower Eyre Peninsula, District Council ofDistrict Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula Cummins 1921 4,771 1,842 5,087 Lower Eyre Peninsula LGA.png
Port Augusta, City ofCity of Port Augusta Port Augusta 1964 1,153 445 14,522 Port Augusta LGA.png
Port Lincoln, City ofCity of Port Lincoln Port Lincoln 1921 30 12 14,984 Port Lincoln LGA.png
Streaky Bay, District Council ofDistrict Council of Streaky Bay Streaky Bay 1887 6,232 2,406 2,249 Streaky Bay LGA.png
Tumby Bay, District Council ofDistrict Council of Tumby Bay Tumby Bay 1906 2,616 1,010 2,668 Tumby Bay LGA.png
Wudinna District Council, Wudinna District Council Wudinna 1925 5,394 2,083 1,282 Le Hunte LGA.png
Whyalla, City ofCity of Whyalla Whyalla 1970 1,033 399 22,759 Whallya LGA.png

Central Region

This region includes areas north of Adelaide, often known for farming and wine.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2006 census) Map
km² sq mi
Adelaide Plains Council, Adelaide Plains Council Mallala 932 360 8,385 Mallala LGA.png
Barossa Council, Barossa Council Angaston 1996 912 352 22,514 Barossa LGA.png
Barunga West, District Council ofDistrict Council of Barunga West Port Broughton 2,631 Barunga West LGA.png
Clare and Gilbert Valleys, District Council ofDistrict Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys Clare 1997 8,743 Clare and Gilbert Valleys LGA.png
Copper Coast, District Council of theDistrict Council of the Copper Coast Kadina 1997 773 298 12,901 Copper Coast LGA.png
Flinders Ranges Council, Flinders Ranges Council Quorn 4,198 1,621 1,784 Flinders Ranges LGA.png
Goyder, Regional Council ofRegional Council of Goyder Burra 1997 6,719 2,594 4,285 Goyder LGA.png
Light Regional Council, Light Regional Council Kapunda 1,278 493 13,658 Light LGA.png
Mount Remarkable, District Council ofDistrict Council of Mount Remarkable Melrose 1980 3,425 1,322 2,951 Mt Remarkable LGA.png
Northern Areas Council, Northern Areas Council 1997 4,866 Northern Areas LGA.png
Orroroo Carrieton, District Council ofDistrict Council of Orroroo Carrieton 938 Orroroo Carierton LGA.png
Peterborough, District Council ofDistrict Council of Peterborough Peterborough
Port Pirie Regional Council, Port Pirie Regional Council Port Pirie 1997 1,761 680 18,076 Port Pirie LGA.png
Wakefield Regional Council, Wakefield Regional Council Balaklava 1997 3,469 1,339 6,756 Wakefield LGA.png
Yorke Peninsula Council, Yorke Peninsula Council Maitland 1997 5,834 2,253 11,736 Yorke Peninsula LGA.png

Southern and Hills Region

This region covers the areas south of Adelaide, including the beautiful Adelaide Hills and coastal towns.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2006 census) Map
km² sq mi
Alexandrina Council, Alexandrina Council Goolwa 1997 1,827 705 23,160 Alexandrina LGA.png
Kangaroo Island Council, Kangaroo Island Council Kingscote 1996 4,400 1,699 4,612 Kangaroo Island LGA.png
Mount Barker, District Council ofDistrict Council of Mount Barker Mount Barker 29,864 Mount Barker LGA.png
Victor Harbor, City ofCity of Victor Harbor Victor Harbor 1975 387 149 13,608
Yankalilla, District Council ofDistrict Council of Yankalilla Yankalilla 1854 751 290 4,577 Yankalilla LGA.png

Murray Mallee Region

This region follows the Murray River and extends into the Mallee lands.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2006 census) Map
km² sq mi
Berri Barmera Council, Berri Barmera Council Murray Mallee 1996 508 196 11,240 Berri Barmera LGA.png
Coorong District Council, TheThe Coorong District Council Meningie 1995 8,831 3,410 5,825 Coorong LGA.png
Gerard Community Council, Gerard Community Council Winkie 1974 86 33 96 Gerard LGA.png
Karoonda East Murray, District Council ofDistrict Council of Karoonda East Murray Karoonda 1979 4,415 1,705 1,193 Karoonda East Murray LGA.png
Loxton Waikerie, District Council ofDistrict Council of Loxton Waikerie 1997 7,957 3,072 4,612 Loxton Waikerie LGA.png
Mid Murray Council, Mid Murray Council 1997 7,957 3,072 8,511 Mid Murray LGA.png
Murray Bridge, Rural City ofRural City of Murray Bridge Murray Bridge 1977 7,957 3,072 19,402 Murray Bridge LGA.png
Renmark Paringa Council, Renmark Paringa Council Renmark 1996 916 354 9,882 Renmark Paringa LGA.png
Southern Mallee District Council, Southern Mallee District Council Pinnaroo 6,000 2,317 2,189 Southern Mallee LGA.png

Southeast Region

This region is in the southeast corner of South Australia, known for its forests and volcanic landscapes.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2006 census) Map
km² sq mi
Grant, District Council ofDistrict Council of Grant Mount Gambier 1996 1,904 735 8,652 Grant LGA.png
Kingston District Council, Kingston District Council Kingston SE 1873 3,338 1,289 2,469 Kingston LGA.png
Mount Gambier, City ofCity of Mount Gambier Mount Gambier 308 119 21,256 Mt Gambier LGA.png
Naracoorte Lucindale Council, Naracoorte Lucindale Council Naracoorte 1993 4,517 1,744 8,489 Naracoorte Lucindale LGA.png
Robe, District Council ofDistrict Council of Robe Robe 1869 1,091 421 1,480 Robe LGA.png
Tatiara District Council, Tatiara District Council Bordertown 1876 6,476 2,500 6,660 Tiatara LGA.png
Wattle Range Council, Wattle Range Council Millicent 1997 3,924 1,515 12,554 Wattle Range LGA.png

Outback

This vast region covers the remote, dry areas of South Australia. It includes some special councils for Aboriginal communities.

Local Council Main Office Year Started Land Area Population (2006 census) Map
km² sq mi
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Umuwa 1981 102,650 39,633 2,230 APY LGA.png
Coober Pedy, District Council ofDistrict Council of Coober Pedy Coober Pedy 1987 78 30 1,913 Coober Pedy LGA.png
Maralinga Tjarutja, Maralinga Tjarutja Ceduna 2006 102,863 39,716 105 MT LGA.png
Nepabunna Community Council, Nepabunna Community Council Nepabunna 1998 76 29 53 Nepabunna LGA.png
Outback Communities Authority, Outback Communities Authority Port Augusta 1978 624,339 241,059 3,959
Roxby Downs, Municipal Council ofMunicipal Council of Roxby Downs Roxby Downs 1982 110 42 4,484 Roxby Downs LGA.png
Yalata Community, Yalata Community 1994 4,563 1,762 100 Australia-Map-SA-AC-Yalata.png

Images for kids

  • South Australia Local Government Areas

    Partial map of LGAs

  • Australia-Map-SA-LGA-Regions

    LGA regions

  • South Australia LGA types

    Types of LGAs

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