Aerial photos reveal the growth of Mount Barker, Hahndorf, Nairne and Littlehampton

From prime pastoral land to one of the fastest-growing communities in SA – aerial photos reveal how much Mount Barker and its surrounding towns have transformed.

Once known as the “cream bowl” of the Adelaide Hills, with cows outnumbering the locals 10 to one, Mount Barker has come a long way since the days of dairy farm dominance.

A growing population since the early 1980s has resulted in green pastures being replaced by sprawling housing and industrial estates, taking the city’s population to just under 39,000.

Mount Barker’s urban sprawl can be traced back to 2010, when the former Labor government rezoned 13,000ha to cater for Adelaide’s rapid population growth.

Since then, the once-quaint community has welcomed an extra 9000 people to its fold, with a further 12,000 set to call Mount Barker home by 2036.

The below images, courtesy of Nearmap, show just how much certain areas have changed.

Slide the white line left and right to see how these areas have transformed

According to the latest council figures, Mount Barker dwelling applications have spiked by 117 per cent since July 2020.

That equates to about 91 housing applications being processed by council staff each month, compared with just 43 the previous years.

The increase is attributed to the federal government’s HomeBuilder stimulus, with many developments in and around Mount Barker reaping the benefits.

It’s also led to a dramatic increase in urban sprawl with the council on Monday revealing it was seeking legal advice to freeze developments.

It comes as neither the Liberals nor Labor have committed to funding the completion of Heysen Blvd, despite calls for assistance from the council, which is seeking $65m to finish the developer-led project.

Rezoning of land from rural to residential has not only driven demand for new homes but also for sport and recreation facilities in the region.

In April 2021, the council formally opened the much-anticipated Summit Sports and Recreation Park – a $23m landmark project funded with the help of Football South Australia, as well as all levels of government.

In 2008, Mount Barker Council purchased 36ha of land fronting Springs and Bald Hills roads, of which the Summit Sport and Recreation Park occupies around 50 per cent, with the balance earmarked for future recreational use.

Completion of Stage 1 features two full-size premier synthetic pitches, clubrooms, four change rooms, two match officials change rooms and lighting. Stage 2, for which funding is yet to be sought, will see an additional two pitches constructed at the site.

Mount Barker’s urban sprawl is perhaps best witnessed in the town’s southern growth area – the 1300ha of former pastoral land which was rezoned by Labor in 2010.

The council estimates that around 3000 new homes have been built there over the past decade, with the town welcoming almost 8000 new residents.

Mount Barker’s largest master planned community – Aston Hills – is about to get even bigger with Lanser Development receiving approval to create an additional 302 residential allotments along the Heysen Boulevard. Glenlea’s housing development is also on the move with 342 new residential allotments approved.

Meanwhile, a new multimillion-dollar shopping precinct, including a 24/7 supermarket and speciality shops, is on the cards for Bluestone along Wellington Rd. The project is estimated to create around 400 jobs annually with the majority of staff employed by supermarket franchise Coles and an integrated Liquorland. Also on Wellington Rd will be a new $20m tavern, complete with a bistro, sports bar, gaming lounge, function rooms and outdoor playgrounds. To be constructed by the Matthews family – one of SA’s largest family-owned hotel groups – the three-storey pub will create 150 permanent jobs.

Located 7km from Mount Barker, Nairne is quietly becoming a development hot zone.

So much so that in 2020 it was named Australia’s best regional town for first-home buyers, according to an MB Bank report.

A survey conducted by the bank in June found 60 per cent of first-home buyers were drawn to regional centres in a bid to save money and improve their lifestyle.

Nairne ranked most favourable among the survey locations, due to its value for money and liveability. The biggest sprawl in housing can be witnessed at Oakford Heights along Woodside Rd, however a new estate – The Orchard – is also well underway.

With more families moving to the area, construction is about to commence on the town’s first dedicated childcare centre near the Old Princes Highway. Eden Academy will be have room for 123 children and 23 staff.

Hahndorf is perhaps one of the Hills’ most tightly-held towns with its population only increasing from 2547 to 2670 in the five years between 2011 and 2016.

However, the above images show there has been some growth, primarily due to the town being one of SA’s key tourism destinations.

It is estimated that around one million tourists visit the town annually, on top of commuters and trucks using the main street as a key thoroughfare to Mount Barker and the SE Freeway.

To help improve infrastructure, the council approved a $6 million upgrade to Hahndorf’s historic main street, including new footpaths, street lighting, additional outdoor dining, on-street carparking, street furniture, and provision for crime prevention measures.

Unfortunately the project has so far failed to attract government funding and as such is on the backburner.

This is despite the council calling on the state and federal governments to absorb the revitalisation works in the $250m Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade currently under consideration.

Marginal growth can also be observed in Littlehampton, Mount Barker’s closest neighbour.

According to the 2016 census, the town was home to 3044 residents, only 304 more than recorded in 2011.

Despite this, the town’s main street – The Old Princes Highway – is abuzz with activity and will soon include a new Adelaide Hills Business Park.

Littlehampton also recently celebrated the reopening of former tourism business Platform 1 Heritage Farm Railway– albeit in a different format. It now operates as a private function and events centre.