Aerial photos reveal the growth of Gawler, Roseworthy, Two Wells, Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Evanston, Angle Vale, Virginia

From farming land to major suburbs – aerial imagery reveals how much of Gawler and surrounding towns have been transformed by housing development in the past 10 years.

Rapidly expanding Adelaide suburbs have forced families to look elsewhere for housing and the Gawler and Barossa regions have been reaping the benefits.

The state government plans to shift away from greenfields developments over the next three decades and build new homes on previously undeveloped land rather than demolish and rebuild on existing blocks.

It means Gawler East, Evanston Gardens, Roseworthy, Concorida and numerous other areas north of Adelaide are growing to help meet the increasing demand for housing the city.

According to the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, the population of Gawler increased from 20,536 in 2011 to 23,034 in just five years.

This growth represented a population increase in excess of 12 per cent over the period, compared with just 5 per cent growth across the state.

The boom is showing no signs of slowing down with state government data predicting Gawler will welcome an additional 14,212 residents by 2035.

There are more than 4000 people living on the council’s immediate boundaries and the proposed development of Concordia, located in the Barossa Council, will naturally form part of the Gawler Township.

When completed this development will have the capacity to essentially double the existing population of the town.

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

If you’re viewing this story on desktop, click and drag the slider tool from left to right to see how an area has changed since 2016. On mobile, click the picture left and right of the line to move the slider.

In hindsight, digging a quarry in what would one day likely be in the path of an expanding city might seem like a bad decision.

But the abandoned quarry along Calton Rd at Gawler East has since started to fill in, and the arguable errors of the past look like one day becoming the footings of the houses of the future.

Indeed, urban sprawl is already occurring to the east of the quarry as part of the popular Springwood Estate.

Around 350 new homes have already been built as part of the first stage of the $500 million, ten-year housing project, which will eventually house 6000 residents across 2000 new homes, with more than 70 hectares of public open spaces.

Adelaide’s north is changing rapidly and that includes the once sleepy, semi-rural town of Angle Vale.

Prime pastoral land is quickly being turned into new housing estates after the state government identified the town as one of the growth areas.

The 2022 population forecast for the Angle Vale Growth Area is 4117, however, this figure is expected to balloon to almost 10,000 by 2036.

Population growth is driven by first homebuyers with developments such as The Entrance, Riverview and Lovegrove Estate.

The federal government’s HomeBuilder program has driven a surge in new homes, including in one of northern Adelaide’s key housing developments – Virginia Grove.

Launched in 2015, the development will see the creation of 937 homes, making room for well over 2000 new residents across the 84ha site.

The entire development has been designed around a series of “fitness loops” to support healthy living and outdoor exercise.

It features a network of trails with 3km and 1.75km loops, a central lake and reserve precinct including water views, a series of lakes, play spaces, shelters, BBQ facilities, a basketball half-court, pump track, skate park and open spaces.

A new childcare centre also features, with the project expected to reach completion in 2024.

Future growth of Evanston and Evanston Gardens was first conceptualised in 2010 when Devine property entered into an agreement with a landowner to develop a 59ha site, now known as Orleanna Waters.

The $240 million development, located on the Corner of Orleana Boulevard and Coventry Road, is set to provide 800 new homes to tap into the growth potential of the northern suburbs.

The development will eventually provide housing for 2000 residents, some of which have already settled in the area as is evident by the image comparison above.

Urban sprawl is also visible in Gawler South where boutique development Woodvale is driving housing demand.

The 140-home development in the Gawler Foot Hills on One Tree Hill Road is currently in its final stages of development with just three blocks for sale remaining.

The development has been particularly popular with young families due to its proximity to Gawler township which is just 2km down the road.

A $2.4 billion residential and commercial development off the Horrocks Highway, south of Roseworthy, will include 800 homes, retail and a new school campus.

St Yves will be at the heart of the broader development of up to 4400 homes between Roseworthy and Hewett, set to boost the local population by up to 12,000 people.

The development is expected to appeal to young families wanting to secure a spot at Trinity College, which has committed to building a $30 million R-10 campus for 650 students within the 68ha estate.

It will also have 8000 sqm of retail space including a supermarket.

Two Wells’ population is set to quadruple, with a range of developments fuelling growth in the Adelaide Plains town.

The 2016 census had the town’s population at 2552 but there are forecasts that figure could swell to 10,000.

This population growth is being driven by hundreds of millions of dollars worth of new investment in the town – spanning housing, retail, schools, infrastructure and leisure facilities.

A key catalyst is the Hickinbotham residential land developments which, in all, will see 3500 new homes built at Eden and Liberty.

Tanunda might be known as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world, but the need for more houses in regional-northern SA has seen a change in direction.

In mid-2020 plan was hatched to turn a former vineyard into a parcel of land ripe for housing development.

By late-2021, that parcel of land had begun to fruit – providing house-thirsty Tanunda aspirants a healthy swig of new homes.

And how could anyone not be interested by the prospect of having your home nestled in among vineyards and just a short walk from world-class wineries?

As one of Gawler’s closest neighbours, Nuriootpa has seen a dramatic increase in housing stock available to those who are prepared to look a little further out.

Evidenced by a population boom over the past 10 years – from 5215 to 7377 – Nuriootpa has seen its name become one associated with an affordable alternative to the larger regional hubs.

Located about an hour’s drive from Adelaide, and only 20 minutes from Gawler, the median price for a three-bedroom in Nuriootpa is about $350,000.

That’s $25,000 less than Gawler and $250,000 less than the metro suburbs.

Revitalising the area was highlighted as a key part of the Barossa Council’s “Big Project” – a 35-year plan to capitalise on growth and deliver improved infrastructure opportunities to residents.