Adelaide city centre

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Adelaide city centre
AdelaideSouth Australia
Adelaide South Australia - panoramio.jpg
Adelaide city centre and, beyond the Parklands, the southern suburbs, in 2014
Population
  • 15,115 (2016 census)[1]
  • 12,962 (2011 census)[2]
 • Density1,440/km2 (3,728/sq mi)
Established1837
Postcode(s)5000
Area10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Location
RegionEastern Adelaide[3]
State electorate(s)Adelaide
Federal Division(s)Adelaide
Suburbs around Adelaide city centre:
Hindmarsh North Adelaide Gilberton
Hackney
Thebarton
Mile End
Adelaide city centre Kent Town
Rose Park
Dulwich
Keswick
Wayville
Unley
Parkside
Eastwood
Glenside

Adelaide city centre is the inner city locality of Greater Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town" to distinguish it from Greater Adelaide and from the City of Adelaide local government area (which also includes North Adelaide and the Park Lands around the whole city centre). The population is 15,115 (2016 census).

Adelaide was planned based on a grid layout featuring streets that run at right angles to each other, surrounded by gardens and parks. Within the city centre, there are other designations used to describe various areas, the broadest being:

  • The city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces, which is also referred to as the CBD, although it contains a mixture of high-rise apartments and various commercial and entertainment premises scattered throughout, and the smaller cottage residences (mostly in the southern half).
    • Within the "square mile", there are also defined precincts such as the West End and the East End with distinctive characters.
  • The section of the parklands between North Terrace up to the River Torrens, which includes the string of medical, educational, cultural and entertainment institutions on the northern side of North Terrace, notably the Adelaide Festival Centre as well as the Parliament of South Australia and Adelaide Railway Station. Part of this area is sometimes referred to as the North Terrace cultural precinct.

Other well-known institutions within the city centre are the Adelaide Central Market, Victoria Square and Rundle Mall shopping area.

History[]

Currie Street looking east, circa 1925

Before the British colonisation of South Australia, the Adelaide Plains, on which Adelaide was built, were home to the Kaurna group of Aboriginal Australians. The colony of South Australia was established in 1836 at Glenelg, and the city itself established in 1837. The location and characteristic grid layout of the city and North Adelaide, as well as the surrounding parklands, were the result of the work of Colonel William Light (1786–1839), who was the first Surveyor General of South Australia. The area where the Adelaide city centre now exists was once known as "Tarndanya",[4] the Kaurna word for as "male red kangaroo rock", which was the name used for an area along the south bank of what is now known as the River Torrens (Karrawiri Pari), which flows through Adelaide.

This view shows about 60 per cent of the city centre, and the south-eastern suburbs and Adelaide Hills, in 1935


Adelaide was not as badly affected by the 1860s economic depression in Australia as other gold rush cities like Sydney and Melbourne, allowing it to prosper. Historian F.W. Crowley noted that the city was full of elite upper-class citizens which provided a stark contrast to the grinding poverty of the labour areas and slums outside the inner city ring. Due to its historic wealth during the 20th century, the city retains a notable portion of Victorian architecture.[citation needed]

Town planning[]

Adelaide city centre, North Adelaide and the Park Lands

Adelaide is separated from its greater metropolitan area by a ring of public parklands on all sides. The so-called "square mile" within the park lands is defined by a small area of high rise office and apartment buildings in the centre north, around King William Street, which runs north-to-south through the centre. Surrounding this central business district are a large number of medium to low density apartments, townhouses and detached houses which make up the residential portion of the city centre.

Layout[]

The city centre from Victoria Square

The layout of Adelaide, sometimes referred to as "Light's Vision", features a cardinal direction grid pattern of wide streets and terraces and five large public squares: Victoria Square in the centre of the city, and Hindmarsh, Light, Hurtle and Whitmore Squares in the centres of each of the four quadrants of the Adelaide city centre. These squares occupy 32 of the 700 numbered "town acre" allotments on Light's plan.[citation needed]

All east–west roads change their names as they cross King William Street, except for North and South terraces.[5] They also alternate between being wide and narrow, 99 and 66 feet (30 and 20 m), except for the central Grote and Wakefield which are extra-wide, 132 feet (40 m),[6] along with the surrounding four terraces.[7] In the south half of the city, in several places the Adelaide City Council has constructed wide footpaths and road markings to restrict traffic to a lesser number of lanes than the full width of the road could support.[citation needed]

The street pairs, design widths, and town acres in Light's Vision are illustrated in this diagram:


 
W
e
s
t

T
e
r
r
a
c
e
North Terrace E
a
s
t

T
c
e
132 ft
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 M
o
r
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 K
i
n
g

 
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 P
u
l
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32
Hindley Street Rundle Street 66 ft
63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93
124 123 122 121 120 119 118 Light

Square
115 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 Hind-
marsh
Square
99 98 97 96 95 94
Currie Street Grenfell Street 99 ft
125 126 127 128 129 130 131 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 150 151 152 153 154 155
186 185 184 183 182 181 180 177 176 175 174 173 172 171 170 169 168 167 166 165 164 161 160 159 158 157 156
Waymouth p
h
e
t
t

 
Street Pirie t
e
n
e
y

 
Street 66 ft
187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 H
u
t
t

S
t
r
e
e
t
219
252 251 250 249 248 247 246 245 244 243 242 241 240 239 238 237 236 235 234 233 232 231 230 229 228 227 226 225 224 223 222 221 220
Franklin Street Flinders Street 99 ft
253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 Victoria

Square
270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286
320 319 318 317 316 315 314 313 312 311 310 309 308 307 306 303 302 301 300 299 298 297 296 295 294 293 292 291 290 289 288 287
Grote Street Wakefield Street 132 ft
321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 B
r
o
w
n
329 330 331 332 333 334 335 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 H
a
n
s
o
n
345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356
392 391 390 389 388 387 386 385 384 383 382 381 380 379 378 375 374 373 372 371 370 369 368 367 366 365 364 363 362 361 360 359 358 357
Gouger Street W
i
l
l
i
a
m

S
t
Angas Street
E
a
s
t
99 ft
393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430
468 467 466 465 464 463 462 461 460 459 458 457 456 455 454 453 452 451 450 449 448 447 446 445 444 443 442 441 440 439 438 437 436 435 434 433 432 431
Wright Street Carrington Street 66 ft
469 470 471 472 473 474 475 Whit-
more
Square
478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 Hurtle

Square
494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506
544 543 542 541 540 539 538 535 534 533 532 531 530 529 528 527 526 525 524 523 522 519 518 517 516 515 514 513 512 511 510 509 508 507
Sturt Street Halifax Street T
c
e

 
99 ft
545 546 547 548 549 550 551 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583
622 621 620 619 618 617 616 615 S
t
614 613 612 611 610 609 608 607 606 605 604 603 602 601 600 599 S
t
598 597 596 595 594 593 592 591 590 589 588 587 586 585 584
Gilbert Street Gilles Street 66 ft
623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661
700 699 698 697 696 695 694 693 692 691 690 689 688 687 686 685 684 683 682 681 680 679 678 677 676 675 674 673 672 671 670 669 668 667 666 665 664 663 662
South Terrace 132 ft

 
                 132 ft 99 ft 132 ft 99 ft 132 ft 132 ft                  (width)

Street and square names[]

Architectural detail of the former Adelaide General Post Office on King William Street

The streets and squares were named by a committee of a number of prominent settlers after themselves, after early directors of the South Australian Company, after (appointed by the British government to oversee implementation of the acts that established the colony), and after various notables involved in the establishment of the colony.

The Street Naming Committee comprised:[8]

All members of the committee (except Stephens) had one or more of the streets and squares in the Adelaide city centre and North Adelaide named after themselves. Brown Street, named for John Brown, was subsequently subsumed as a continuation of Morphett Street in 1967. In the same year, Hanson Street, named for Richard Hanson, was subsumed as a continuation of Pulteney Street.

The squares were named after:

The east–west streets named on 22 December 1836 were:[11]

Most of these people did not reside in or visit South Australia.

The naming of the streets was completed on 23 May 1837[8] and gazetted on 3 June.[13]

East–west streets:

North–south streets:

Dual naming of squares and parklands[]

The Adelaide City Council began the process of dual naming all of the city squares, each of the parks making up the parklands which surround the city centre and North Adelaide, and other sites of significance to the Kaurna people in 1997.[15] The naming process, which assigned an extra name in the Kaurna language to each place, was mostly completed in 2003,[16] and the renaming of 39 sites finalised and endorsed by the council in 2012.[17]

  • Victoria Square - Tarntanyangga ('red kangaroo dreaming')
  • Hindmarsh Square - Mukata
  • Hurtle Square - Tangkaira
  • Light Square - Wauwi
  • Whitmore Square - Iparrityi

20th-21st century precincts[]

The Lion Arts Centre, an iconic live music and performance venue in Adelaide's West End.

The City of Adelaide Council has defined a number of neighbourhood precincts in the city centre, each with a character of their own:

  • The East End, centering on Rundle Street - known for its restaurants, bars, high-end fashion shops, the Palace Nova Cinema;[18]
  • The West End, from the western end of North Terrace and encompassing several blocks southward, which includes UniSA "CityWest" campus, the Samstag Museum of Art, JamFactory, Lion Arts Centre, Mercury Cinema, numerous bars, clubs and restaurants, and "BioMed City";[19]
  • The South East of the city, largely residential, but including many cafés, restaurants, pubs, etc.;[20] and
  • The South West is very diverse; largely residential and including the Adelaide Central Market[20]

In addition to these, the north-eastern side of North Terrace is often referred to as the "North Terrace cultural precinct" or "cultural boulevard", and includes the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Library of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, the Migration Museum, the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the University of Adelaide and the "CityEast" campus of the UniSA[21]

Demographics[]

The population is 15,115 (2016 census) in the Adelaide city centre, 38.8 percent born in Australia.[1] The next most common countries of birth were China 17.5%, Malaysia 4.4%, England 3.4%, Hong Kong 2.8% and India 1.9%. 44.6% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Mandarin 19.6%, Cantonese 4.9%, Arabic 1.9%, Korean 1.9% and Vietnamese 1.1%. The most common response for religion in Adelaide was 'No Religion' at 47.7% of the population.[1]

Politics[]

At federal level, Adelaide is within the Division of Adelaide, a marginal seat which historically has alternated between the Liberal and Labor parties. It has been held since 2019 by Steve Georganas of the Labor party.[22]

In the South Australian House of Assembly, Adelaide is within the Electoral district of Adelaide. Since the March 2010 state election, the seat has been held by Rachel Sanderson of the Liberal party.

Culture[]

The interior of the Mortlock Chamber at the State Library of South Australia

Adelaide's cultural and entertainment precincts/venues are generally concentrated in the city centre. They include the Convention Centre, Entertainment Centre and the redeveloped Adelaide Oval. Additionally, most of the events relating to the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe are held within Adelaide's city centre during February and March. This time is known as "Mad March", due to the large number of other cultural festivities at the same time, including the Adelaide 500 and WOMADelaide. North Terrace is considered Adelaide's "cultural boulevard" because of its tight concentration of galleries and museums.

Gallery[]


Pictures of Adelaide city centre skyline

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Adelaide (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 23 November 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Adelaide (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 January 2015. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ "Eastern Adelaide SA Government region" (PDF). The Government of South Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Tarndanya", KauranaPlaceNames.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  5. ^ Royal Automobile Association. "Adelaide CBD & North Adelaide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2014. This map, showing the Adelaide city centre, North Adelaide and the Adelaide Parklands, was published on the website "soul underground".
  6. ^ Elgar, Frederic (1863). Handbook to the Colony of South Australia. London: "Australian and New Zealand Gazette" Office. p. 3. Retrieved 8 December 2014. ... principal north and south streets (from 99 to 132 feet wide) being nearly one mile in length, and the east and west streets (from 66 to 132 feet wide) from a mile and a quarter to a mile and three-quarters.
  7. ^ Margaret Anderson (31 December 2013). "Light's Plan of Adelaide 1837". adelaidia.sa.gov.au. History SA. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
    The page contains a copy of one of the two surviving original plans drawn in 1837. Quote: "It is a watercolour and ink plan, drawn by 16-year-old draughtsman Robert George Thomas to instructions from Light. ... The streets were named by a Street Naming Committee that met on 23 May 1837, indicating that this plan must have been completed after that date."
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Street Naming Committee". HistorySouthAustralia.net. 30 September 2001. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  9. ^ The Colonial Storekeeper, like the Colonial Secretary, was an official position.
  10. ^ "Stephens, Edward (1811-1861)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. 1967. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 22 September 2011 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  11. ^ "City Streets named 22 December 1836". SAHistorians.org.au.
  12. ^ Daniel Bell Wakefield should not to be confused with his uncle, Daniel Wakefield. Note that the street is named after him, not after his better known brother Edward Gibbon Wakefield - Refer Wakefield Street Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine in "Streets Named on 23 May 1837", HistorySouthAustralia.net.
  13. ^ "City of Adelaide municipal year book". Adelaide: Adelaide City Council. 1972: 57, 70. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Spence & Beams (2006) p. 33
  15. ^ Adelaide City Council. "Adelaide City Council Placenaming Initiatives". Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  16. ^ Adelaide City Council. "Kaurna Placename Meanings within the City of Adelaide". Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Kaurna place naming: Recognising Kaurna heritage through physical features of the city". City of Adelaide. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  18. ^ "East End". City of Adelaide. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  19. ^ "West End". City of Adelaide. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "City neighbourhoods". City of Adelaide. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  21. ^ "North Terrace cultural precinct". Adelaidia. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  22. ^ Antony Green (6 June 2019). "Adelaide Inner City - Australia Votes". ABC News Online - Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 March 2021.

References[]

  1. Spence, Catherine Helen; Beams, Maryan (2006). Susan Magarey; Barbara Wall; Maryan Beams; Mary Lyons (eds.). Ever yours, C.H. Spence: Catherine Helen Spence's An autobiography (1825-1910), Diary (1894) and Some correspondence (1894-1910). Wakefield Press. ISBN 978-1-86254-656-1.

Further reading[]

Coordinates: 34°55′44″S 138°36′04″E / 34.929°S 138.601°E / -34.929; 138.601

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