Message from the Mayor
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Your Council Profile
Kingston SE is located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia and is approximately 300 km from Adelaide, South Australia’s capital city. Kingston SE offers stunning safe beaches, a range of tourist facilities, well maintained parks, gardens, amenities and extensive sporting and recreational facilities. The district has many national parks, including the world recognised Coorong. Kingston SE also boasts a range of quality health and educational services and facilities, which include a modern medical centre, a 26-bed community hospital, aged care facilities, retirement villages and an R-12 community school and library. Prior to European settlement, several groups of First Nations people occupied the region, with the Meintangk most closely aligned to our district.
Kingston SE is characterised by its prime agricultural land and accessible underground water. It is home to a thriving and vibrant rural economy, featuring cattle and sheep farming for both wool and meat. Commercial fishing is also a significant industry within the district, with the local lobster fishing fleet operating out of Cape Jaffa, situated approximately 25km south of Kingston. Kingston is well known for its premium wine production from its Mount Benson Wine Region and is only a short drive to other well-known winegrowing regions, including Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully. The district also supports a thriving forestry industry from its Mount Benson plantations.
The climate can be described as ‘Mediterranean’ with mild wet winters and warm to hot dry summers. Although there is recognition of four seasons, the principal seasonal contrasts are warm to hot, dry summers and cool to mild winters. The average annual temperature is 14.8°C with an average annual rainfall of 562 mm.
The official population count from the 2021 Census is 2,375, with 50.5% male and 49.5% female. This represents a population decrease of -0.33% since 2016. Of the 2,375 residents, 16.3% are 0-17 years, 50.9% are 18-64 years, and 32.8% are 65+ years. In 2024, the population is believed to have increased again as the region attracts more families and workers to the enviable lifestyle Kingston and its surrounds presents.