Suburb Property Profile: West Lakes, SA 5021
Located approximately 12km west of Adelaide's CBD, West Lakes sits within the City of Charles Sturt, established in 1976 around an artificial lake system. Once reclaimed swampland, the suburb was created by moving ten million tonnes of earth to form the man-made lake, with the surrounding estate later developed for prestigious lakeside living. Buyers are drawn here for the suburb's waterside lifestyle, close to shopping, beaches and the lake foreshore. Here's our comprehensive guide to the area.
Location Demographics
The population of West Lakes sits at 6,768 according to the 2021 Census, up 17.0% from 5,787 in 2016. The predominant age group is 70–79, reflecting a mature, settled community of long-term owner-occupiers, with childless couples the predominant household type. The suburb carries a strong Italian and broader European heritage.
Travel & Infrastructure
West Lakes doesn't have its own train station, though Grange railway station is around a 5-minute drive away. Frequent bus services connect the suburb to the CBD and Port Adelaide.
Shopping
Westfield West Lakes, which opened in November 1974, anchors local retail with around 260 stores including David Jones, Harris Scarfe, Kmart, Coles, Target, Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi, giving residents a genuinely major shopping destination on their doorstep.
Schools & Recreation
West Lakes Shore Primary School, which opened in 1978 with 254 students, serves as a well-regarded local option, with the area zoned for Seaton High School for secondary students.
Local Amenities
The lake itself is the suburb's defining feature, offering walking trails, rowing, canoeing and dragon boat racing, alongside waterfront properties and a relaxed residential atmosphere. Jubilee Reserve adds further green space, and the former Football Park (AAMI Stadium) site — once the heart of South Australian AFL and SANFL football, hosting a record crowd of 66,887 in the 1976 Grand Final — is being redeveloped for high-density housing following the relocation of AFL matches to Adelaide Oval. Residents also have excellent access to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and several nearby golf courses.
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Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
