Jinding Expands into SA with $180m Mount Barker Approval

Melbourne-based developer Jinding’s first South Australian play—a $180-million masterplanned community—has been approved. 

As part of its expansion beyond Melbourne’s growth corridors and Queensland’s Gold Coast, the property and investment group moved into SA and regional Victoria last year with a series of strategic site acquisitions. 

The approved 22ha Larkview community, to be delivered off Wellington Road at Mount Barker, will include more than 350 housing lots, new parklands and road upgrades.

It’s expected to generate 1000 jobs and help ease pressure in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions, where house prices have jumped 82 per cent since 2019 and the population is tipped to hit 60,000 by 2027. 

Jinding managing director of development Andrew Ashwood said the company aimed to balance affordability with environmental sensitivity.

“Larkview will not only help ease that pressure but also enhance local amenity with new parkland and improved connections to neighbouring communities,” he said.

Mount Barker District Council approved the plans, which form part of Jinding’s broader push into fast-growing regional centres outside major capitals.

▲ Aerial view of Jinding’s approved 22ha Larkview site at Mount Barker.

The site was acquired in mid-2024 as part of a four-property deal spanning South Australia and Victoria, valued about $70 million.

The package included land in Mount Barker, along with sites in Broadford, Dennington and Tatura in regional Victoria.

Together, the four sites will deliver more than 1200 lots, with parklands, wetlands and supporting infrastructure planned across each.

It follows approvals for large-scale communities at Broadford and Dennington in Victoria, both part of the same acquisition round.

Oliver Hume state manager Ryan Davis said the Larkview project aligned with government infrastructure planning and would offer much-needed product diversity.

“It’s positive that Jinding is looking to offer land that delivers on affordability, as the traditional larger lot sizes in Mount Barker have priced many young locals out of the area,” he said.

Jinding’s national pipeline now exceeds $3.7 billion across South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.