North Adelaide

For other uses, seeNorth Adelaide.

North Adelaideis a predominantly residentialprecinctand suburb of theCity of AdelaideinSouth Australia,situated north of theRiver Torrensand within theAdelaide Park Lands.Laid out in agrid planin three sections byColonel William Lightin 1837, the suburb contains many grand old mansions.

North Adelaide Adelaide,South Australia
North Adelaide looking south downKing William RoadtoSt Peter's Cathedraland theCity
North Adelaide
Coordinates	34°54′22″S138°35′38″E
Population	6,823 (SAL2021)
Established	1837
Postcode(s)	5006
LGA(s)	City of Adelaide
State electorate(s)	Adelaide
Federal division(s)	Adelaide
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 22.1 °C 72 °F 12.1 °C 54 °F 558.1 mm 22 in
Suburbsaround North Adelaide: Bowden Prospect Medindie Thebarton North Adelaide Gilberton Adelaide Adelaide Hackney

History

Looking northeast fromSt Peter's Cathedral,1902

Surveyor-GeneralColonel William Lightof thecolony of South Australiacompleted the survey for the capital city ofAdelaideby 10 March 1837. The survey included 1,042 acres (4.22 km²), including 342 acres (1.38 km²) north of theRiver Torrens.This surveyed land north of the river became North Adelaide.

Looking northwards fromNorth Terrace, Adelaide,c.1935

North Adelaide was the birthplace ofWilliam Lawrence Bragg(1890–1971), co-recipient of theNobel Prize for Physicsin 1915, andEmily Dorothea Pavy(1885–1967), a teacher, sociologist, researcher, and lawyer.

Kumanka

The Kumanka Boys' Hostel located at 206 Childers Terrace, was operated by theSouth Australian Governmentbetween 1946 and 1980. In 1948, there were 23 boys aged between 13 and 18 years resident at the hostel.It was designed to accommodatestate wards,as well as those for whom there was no other suitable accommodation after serving time at the government-runMagill Boys' Reformatory.H. A. Lyndon was appointed as superintendent, with his wife as matron. The aim of the hostel was to help the boys acquire skills for living in the wider community. They were free to come and go, subject to the superintendent's approval. They paid for their board, with the amount adjusted according to their wages, and were obliged to bank some of their income. They were expected to attend church, and encouraged to do other activities, take classes, and undertake voluntary work. There was a workshop, a piano, sporting equipment, and a library.Notable residents includedKaurnaelderUncle Lewis O'Brien,who had fond memories of his stay there, and wrote in his memoir that the Lyndons were "excellent people", who helped him attain his education.

By 1966 the average number of residents was 18. Kumanka was one of several institutions which had allegations of abuse aired during theChildren in State Care Commission of Inquirywhich was run byTed MullighanQC from 2004 to 2008, with most of the incidents reported to have occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.

The house, a double-storeybluestoneresidence built in 1870, still stands, and was registered on theSouth Australian Heritage Registerin 2001.

Heritage listings

The suburb contains many otherheritage-listedbuildings,including:

• North Adelaide Post Office
• "Sunnyside", at 229 Stanley Street, designed by owner-architectF. Kenneth Milnein 1936;won the inauguralSouth Australian Institute of ArchitectsMerit Award for Domestic Architecture in 1944

Design

North Adelaide (north of theRiver Torrens), in relation to the Adelaide CBD (2010)

North Adelaide consists of three grids of varying dimension to suit the geography. North Adelaide is surrounded byparklands,with public gardens between the grids. The North Adelaide park lands (theAdelaide Park Landsnorth of theRiver Torrens) contain gardens, many sports fields (including theAdelaide Oval),a golf course,horse agistment paddocks and some areas sympathetic with the native environment.

The northernmost (and largest) grid hasWellington Squareat its centre, and O'Connell Street (named afterDaniel O'Connell) as its main commercial street. O'Connell Street is the continuation of King William Road, and links the main street of Adelaide City withMain North Road.Atramused to run up O'Connell Street and Melbourne street; the government is investigating extending the Glenelg tram along King William Road to terminate at Brougham Place. O'Connell Street has many cafes, restaurants, burger bars, shops and six pubs.Lincoln College (University of Adelaide)andAquinas College(a residential college run by theMaristsfor theArchdiocese of Adelaide,for students at any Adelaide university), are also situated in this grid. Tynte Street is another commercial street in the largest grid running between Wellington Square and the east parklands. It contains the North Adelaide Primary School, a public library, a civic hall, a post office and a pub. Also on Tynte Street are the studios of Adelaide'sMix 102.3andCruise 1323.

The southernmost (and smallest) grid is bordered byBrougham Placeto the north,Pennington Roadto the south,Sir Edwin Smith Avenueto the east andPalmer Placewith adjoiningPalmer Gardens/Pangki Pangkito the west (these two named afterLt Col George Palmer(1799-1883), aSouth Australian Colonisation Commissioner). This area contains theWomen's and Children's Hospital,theMemorial Hospital,St Peter's Cathedral,St. Mark's College,the Cathedral hotel (popular with cricket fans due its proximity to the Adelaide Oval), and the Queen's Head hotel (the oldest Adelaide pub, renovated in 2003).

The remaining (western) grid is termed Lower North Adelaide. It is nearest the Torrens floodplain. It containsBrougham Place Uniting Church,St. Ann's College,and four pubs. Melbourne Street, with cafes, restaurants, galleries, shops and two pubs, is its commercial street.

Leisure

A former wine shop on Wellington Square

Dining and pubs

O'Connell Street and Melbourne Street are known for their many restaurants.

Many of the North Adelaide pubs and hotels areheritage-listed.As of 2021there are 11 pubs operational in the suburb: five in (most on O'Connell Street):

Piccadilly Cinema

Main article:Piccadilly Cinema

Piccadilly Theatre, North Adelaide, 1941

The Piccadilly, also known asPiccadilly Cinema(s), and formerly Piccadilly Theatre and The Forum, is acinemalocated on the corner of O'Connell Street and Childers Street.

It was built forD. Clifford Theatres Ltd.as the Piccadilly Theatre in 1940, inart deco/modernestyle. It is heritage-listed on both theSouth Australian Heritage Registerand theRegister of the National Estate.Dan Cliffordchose the name due to his association with the town ofPiccadillyin theAdelaide Hillsas well as the famousPiccadilly Circusin London.

After Clifford's death in 1942, his theatres were bought byGreater Unionin 1947,who renamed the Piccadilly as The Forum. In 1983Wallis Cinemasbought the building in order to save it from being demolished, and reverted to its former name. During the 1990s Wallis converted the oldpicture palaceinto amultiplexwith three screens.

After an 18-month closure to allow for a major renovation costingA$2 million,the cinema is set to reopen on 15 December 2022. Apart from the interior refit of the theatres, installation of aliftand other features, a new licensed food and drinks lounge space have replaced the shopfronts O'Connell Street, where the originalcandy barwas situated.

Education

St Mark's College

The North Adelaide Primary Schoolon Tynte Street was established in 1877 and is one of the oldest schools in South Australia. At 2007 its enrolment from reception to year seven was 250. The school's motto recorded on its World War One honour board isEsse quam videri,"To be, rather than to seem" and the school colours are red and blue.

Queen's College(1885–1949) on Barton Terracewas the longest lasting proprietary (i.e. privately owned and run) boys' college in Australia.Another private school of historical interest wasNorth Adelaide Grammar School(aka. Whinham College).

Many residential colleges affiliated with theUniversity of Adelaideare in North Adelaide, includingAquinas College,Lincoln College,St. Ann's College,St. Mark's College,Kathleen Lumley College(Postgraduate)andAustralian Lutheran College,theLutherantertiary institution andseminary.

Transport

King William Road at night

North Adelaide is well served by road, although inpeak hoursome roads, particularly O'Connell Street and Melbourne Street, are quite congested.

North Adelaide railway stationis located on theGawler lineof theAdelaide rail network.The railway station is however on the western edge of North Adelaide with infrequent services and is little used.

There are severalAdelaide Metrobus routes that service the area on their way through to other suburbs.Buses run along several routes:

• King William Road, O'Connell Street, Ward Street, Hill Street, Mills Terrace then a bus only link to War Memorial Drive (since 1912, former electric tram route)
• King William Road, O'Connell Street, Ward Street, Jeffcott Street and Jeffcott Road
• King William Road, O'Connell Street and Prospect Road (since 1883, former horse tram route)
• King William Road, O'Connell Street and Main North Road (since 1883, former horse tram route)
• King William Road, Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and Melbourne Street (since at least 1912, former electric tram route)
• Frome Road and Melbourne Street
• Montefiore Road and Jeffcott Street (since October 2006)

Since 27 January 2014 a free loop bus operated jointly between the Adelaide City Council and the state government circulates through Adelaide and North Adelaide replacing a community bus operated by the Adelaide City Council.

There is provision for bicycles along LeFevre Terrace/Frome Road and Montefiore Road/Jeffcott Street/Wellington Square and many of the streets have little traffic and are bicycle friendly.

Residents

Many of the houses in North Adelaide are historic and therefore heritage-listed.

In the2021 Australian census,the population of North Adelaide was 6,823, comprising 1,494 families. 58.9 per cent of the population had atertiary education.The proportion of the population 20–29 years (12.1% 20–24 years, 8.7% 25–29 years) is greater than South Australia as a whole (6.1% 20–24 years, 6.6% 25–29 years)

In the2016 Australian census,there were 6,950 people in North Adelaide.

Built form

There were 2,659 occupied private dwellings of which 43.6% were semi-detached, 28.7 were flats or apartments, and 26.4% were separate houses. The average household size in North Adelaide is 1.9, less than the South Australian average of 2.4.There are many significant heritage buildings in the area.

Politics

2022 State Election
Polling Booth		North Adelaide	2PP	North Adelaide East	2PP
	Liberal	44%	47.6%	46.4%	49.9%
	Labor	39%	52.4%	35.7%	50.1%
	Greens	11.5%		12.4%
	Other Formal	5.5%		5.4%
	Formal Votes	2166		870

2019 Federal Election
	Polling Booth	North Adelaide	2PP	Lower North Adelaide	2PP
	Liberal	47.1%	51.7%	49.8%	55.8%
	Labor	29.9%	48.3%	27.8%	44.2%
	Greens	17%		17%
	Other Formal	5.9%		5.3%
	Formal Votes	2198		881

In state government, North Adelaide is part of the stateelectoral district of Adelaide,which has been held since 2022 by Labor MPLucy Hood.

In federal politics, the suburb is part of thedivision of Adelaide,and has been represented since 2004 by a Labor MP, since 2019 beingSteve Georganas.North Adelaide has one or two polling booths for federal and state elections, North Adelaide at the North Adelaide Primary School and for most elections, Lower/East North Adelaide at St Cyprian's Anglican Church. The first preference votes by booths for recent state and federal elections are shown in tables.

Inlocal government,North Adelaide forms the Northwardwithin the City of Adelaide. Since 2018 the North Ward Councillors are Mary Couros and Phillip Martin. Significant local issues since 2010 have included:

• Adelaide oval precinct
• Barton Road bus link
• LeCornu development site
• Height limits on developments
• Late night closing of hotels
• Redevelopment of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre by the Adelaide Crows

Further reading

• Nomenclature of the Streets of Adelaide and North Adelaide(PDF).State Library of South Australia.taken from The City of Adelaide Year Book, 1939-1940

External links

• Media related toNorth Adelaideat Wikimedia Commons