West Beach, South Australia
| West Beach Adelaide, South Australia | |||||||||||||||
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  West Beach | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°56′43″S 138°30′14″E / 34.945278°S 138.503750°ECoordinates: 34°56′43″S 138°30′14″E / 34.945278°S 138.503750°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 4,964 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5024 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | |||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Colton | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Hindmarsh | ||||||||||||||
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West Beach is a seaside suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in both the City of Charles Sturt and the City of West Torrens.
History[]
West Beach was first laid out in 1929 by Sir Lancelot Stirling, Sir Frank Moulden and Arnold M. Moulden, as trustees of 'The Settled Estates of F.J. and P.J. Gray'.
- This estate which in future will be known as "West Beach" at present consists of high undulating sandhills. The party inspected the work accomplished. This comprised the continuance to the sea, the distance of about a mile, of the Richmond Road, which previously stopped at the Tapley's Hill Road; the grading and topdressing of the sandhills, involving the removal of 200,000 tons of sand, and the building of an esplanade and three roads connecting it with Military Road, which was raised 8 feet and remade. The whole of the work was carried out under the order of the Supreme Court and the town was laid out under the approval of the town planner (Mr W. Scott Griffiths)....[2]
West Beach Post Office opened on 5 May 1959 and closed in March 1982. In July 1982 West Beach North office (open since 1964) was renamed West Beach.[3]
Marineland was an iconic South Australian marine park, located in West Beach from 1969 until its closure in 1988.[4] The popular marine park was where Mr. Percival, the Australian Pelican, who was noted for his starring role in the Australian Movie Storm Boy was born and lived.[5]
Demographics[]
 | This section needs to be updated. (July 2019) |
The 2006 Census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics counted 4,332 persons in West Beach on census night. Of these, 50.0% were male and 50.0% were female.[6]
The majority of residents (74.0%) are of Australian birth, with the other common census response being England (5.4%).[6]
The age distribution of West Beach residents is skewed towards a slightly higher age bracket than the greater Australian population. 73.6% of residents were over 25 years in 2006, compared to the Australian average of 66.5%; and 26.4% were younger than 25 years, compared to the Australian average of 33.5%.[6]
Community[]
 | This section does not cite any sources. (June 2019) |
The local newspaper is the Weekly Times Messenger. Other regional and national newspapers such as The Advertiser and The Australian are also available. The suburb has a local school known as West Beach Primary School.
Attractions[]
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2019) |
West Beach Parks is a South Australian Tourism Hall of fame location and also won the South Australian Tourism Council award in 2021 for "South Australia's best caravan park �� holiday resort".[7]
The West Beach Trust (marketed as West Beach Parks) is a statutory authority created under South Australia's West Beach Recreation Reserve Act 1987 to manage the reserve and its associated facilities. The West Beach Trust Board comprises representatives of the three local Councils and independent members. The West Beach Parks Precinct covers 135 hectares of beachfront land and comprises two accommodation properties, two public golf courses, diverse competition level sporting facilities, meeting and events venues, a boat haven and a broad range of lessees.[8]
West Beach Parks is a world-class tourism, sport and recreation precinct, providing leisure experiences. West Beach Parks is responsible for managing the West Beach Recreation Reserve, an area of significant natural assets, and its commercial and community facilities including accommodation, boating, a coastal park, golfing, leisure and sports West Beach Parks has a number of tenants, including; The Adelaide Sailing Club, Football Federation SA, Softball SA, Surf Life Saving SA and the Westward Ho Golf Club.[9]
West Beach Parks oversees a number of golf courses at the location, including the Patawalonga Golf Course, which has been named the best value public golf course in South Australia and the Northern Territory by Golf Australia Magazine.[10]
The Patawalonga Course consists of 18 holes par72 with fine kikuyu fairways all year round and large undulating good speed bentgrass bunkered greens. Built on a sandy base with mature trees and water hazards the Patawalonga Championship links style course is one of the best public golf courses in Australia. Measuring 5913 metres in length and green sizes averaging 750m2 the Patawalonga caters for all golfer's abilities and needs.[11]
The shopping centre on Burbridge Road services the suburb.
Parks[]
There are numerous parks and greenspaces throughout West Beach, the largest known as Apex Park. Apex Park is a huge park along the river torrens with playgrounds, horses and walkways.
Transport[]
| This section does not cite any sources. (June 2019) |
Roads[]
The suburb is serviced by the following main roads:
- Tapleys Hill Road, running north–south from Queenstown to Glenelg.
- Sir Donald Bradman Drive, running east–west between the City of Adelaide and West Beach.
- Burbridge Road
Public transport[]
The suburb is serviced by bus routes, run by the Adelaide Metro.
Airport[]
Adelaide Airport is in the adjacent suburb also named Adelaide Airport. It was moved here from Parafield Airport in 1955. There are frequent domestic and international flights and the airport is also used for private aviation.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "West Beach (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ The Manning Index of South Australian History – West Beach
- ^ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Byrne, Bob (26 January 2015). "Bob Byrne remembers Marineland, Adelaide's hub of aquatic entertainment". The Advertiser.
- ^ "Storm Boy Pelican dies". ABC News. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "West Beach (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
- ^ "2021 South Australian Tourism Award Winners". South Australian Tourism Council. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Company Profile". West Beach Parks. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "West Beach Parks". West Beach Parks. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Best in SA/NT". Golf Australia Magazine. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "West Beach Parks Golf". West Beach Parks. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
External links[]
- Suburbs of Adelaide
- Beaches of South Australia