Regions of South Australia

InSouth Australia,one of thestatesofAustralia,there are many areas which are commonly known by regional names. Regions are areas that share similar characteristics. These characteristics may be natural such as the Murray River, the coastline, desert or mountains. Alternatively, the characteristics may be cultural, such as common land use. South Australia is divided by numerous sets of regional boundaries, based on different characteristics. In many cases boundaries defined by different agencies are coterminous.

Informal divisions

Convention and common use has divided South Australia into a number of regions. These do not always have strict boundaries between them and have no general administrative function or status. Many of them correspond to regions used by various administrative or government agencies, but they do not always have the same boundaries or aggregate in the same way. The generally accepted regions are:

• Adelaide Plains(the northern part is sometimes known as the Lower North)
• Adelaide Hills/Mount Lofty Ranges
• Barossa Valley
• Eyre Peninsula
• Far North
• Far West Coast(&Nullarbor), defined as such for tourism(includingwhale-watchingthesouthern right whale); cultural(including anative title claimby the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporationas well aslanguage revitalisationprojects;)recreational fishing;weather forecasting;and other purposes
• Fleurieu Peninsula
• Flinders Ranges
• Kangaroo Island
• Limestone Coastis a name which came into use in the early 21st century, supplanting the names Lower South East and Upper South East
• Mid North
  • Clare Valley
• Murray Mallee
  • Murraylands
  • Riverland
• Yorke Peninsula
  • Copper Triangle

Most of the other regional divisions of the state use a combination of these same labels, sometimes grouped, and sometimes with precise boundaries that might be slightly different in each case.

Australian government

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Main article:Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has multiple regional structures for which it analyses and reports data. These regional structures derive from theAustralian Standard Geographical Classification(AGSC). The AGSC defines at the very smallest level, theCensus Collection District(CCD). These CCD's aggregate to form the Statistical Local Area (SLA), which is the common base unit for each of the larger regional structures.The boundaries of the SLA are designed to be typically coterminous with Local Government Areas unless the LGA does not fit entirely into a Statistical Subdivision (SSD), or is not of a comparative nature to other LGA's.Bureau of Statistics provides statistics for Local Government Areas, as well as three other statistical structures:Statistical Divisions,Statistical Regions,andStatistical Districts.

Statistical Divisions

Statistical Divisions (SD) form the main structural hierarchy of statistical analysis. These regions are structured to provide a broad range ofsocial,demographicandeconomicstatistics.The basis for the boundary delineations center on socioeconomic criteria.The eight Statistical Divisions in South Australia are:

• Adelaide
• Outer Adelaide
• Yorke and Lower North
• Murray Lands
• South East
• Eyre
• Northern
• Offshore & Migratory

Weather forecasting

The AustralianBureau of Meteorology(BOM) provides forecasts and observations within South Australia and its adjoining waters using the following 15 land areas which are known as “districts” and 11 areas known as “coastal waters” which are located within both the state's jurisdiction and Australia'smaritime jurisdiction:

Districts

• Adelaide Metropolitan
• Mount Lofty Ranges
• Yorke Peninsula
• Kangaroo Island
• Upper South East
• Lower South East
• Murraylands
• Riverland
• Flinders
• Mid North
• West Coast
• Lower Eyre Peninsula
• Eastern Eyre Peninsula
• North West Pastoral
• North East Pastoral

Coastal waters

• Adelaide Metropolitan Waters
• Gulf St Vincent
• Investigator Strait
• Far West Coast
• Upper West Coast
• Lower West Coast
• Spencer Gulf
• Central Coast
• South Central Coast
• Upper South East Coast
• Lower South East Coast

South Australian Government

South Australian Government regions

South Australian governmentdepartments and agencies with some exceptions use a uniform set of boundaries to describe the extent of 12 administrative regions within the state which are used to “develop and improve reporting, planning and service delivery systems”.

Adelaide Hills

Adelaide Hillsoccupies the area in the Mount Lofty Ranges immediately east of the regions of East, Northern and Southern Adelaide, and consists of the following local government areas - theAdelaide Hills Counciland theDistrict Council of Mount Barker.

Barossa Light and Lower North

Barossa Light and Lower North occupies land located immediately of the north of theAdelaide metropolitan areaand contains the following local government areas - theTown of Gawler,theAdelaide Plains Council,theBarossa Counciland theLight Regional Council.

Eastern Adelaide

Eastern Adelaide occupies the area to the immediate north, east and south of theAdelaide city centreand consists of the following local government areas: theCity of Adelaide,theCity of Burnside,theCity of Campbelltown,theCity of Norwood Payneham & St Peters,theCity of Prospect,theCity of Unleyand theTown of Walkerville.

Eyre Western

Eyre Western consists of land on theEyre Peninsulawhich is part of a local government area, land in the west of the state on the coastline between Eyre Peninsula and the border withWestern Australiaincluding theMaralinga Tjarutjalands, all of the islands within theGreat Australian Bightand those islands adjoining the Eyre Peninsula coastline. It includes the following local government areas -District Council of Ceduna,District Council of Cleve,District Council of Elliston,District Council of Franklin Harbour,District Council of Kimba,District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula,City of Port Lincoln,District Council of Streaky Bay,District Council of Tumby Bay,Wudinna District CouncilandCity of Whyalla.

Far North

Far Northconsists of all inland regions in the north of the state including theAnangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjaralands. It is bounded to the north and north-east by theNorthern TerritoryandQueensland,in part to the west by Western Australia and in part to the east byNew South Walesand by the regions of Eyre Western, Yorke and Mid North, and Murray and Mallee from west to east in the state's south. While most of it is in the state's unincorporated area, it does include the following local government areas - theCity of Port Augusta,theFlinders Ranges Council,theDistrict Council of Coober Pedyand theMunicipal Council of Roxby Downs.

Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island

Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island consists of all of the land on both theFleurieu PeninsulaandKangaroo Island,and some land to the north-east of the Fleurieu Peninsula including the western side ofLake Alexandrinaand islands both in the Lake Alexandrina system and adjoining the coastline. It consists of the following local government areas: theAlexandrina Council,theCity of Victor Harbor,theKangaroo Island Counciland theDistrict Council of Yankalilla.

Limestone Coast

Limestone Coastconsists of land in the state's south east of the state which includes the following local government areas - theCity of Mount Gambierand the District Councils ofGrant,Kingston,Robe,TatiaraandNaracoorte Lucindale,and theWattle Range Council.

Murray and Mallee

Murray and Mallee consists of land in east of the state extending from the continental coastline in the south to the borders with New South Wales andVictoriain the east. It is also bounded by the Limestone Coast to its south and by the following regions to its west and north - Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Light and Lower North, Yorke and Mid North and Far North. It includes the following local government areas - theBerri Barmera Council,theCoorong District Council,theDistrict Council of Karoonda East Murray,theDistrict Council of Loxton Waikerie,theMid Murray Council,theSouthern Mallee District Council,theRenmark Paringa Counciland theRural City of Murray Bridge.

Northern Adelaide

Northern Adelaide occupies the northern end of the Adelaide metropolitan area and consists of the following local government areas: theCity of Playford,theCity of Salisbury,theCity of Tea Tree Gullyand the east half of theCity of Port Adelaide Enfield.

Southern Adelaide

Southern Adelaide occupies the southern end of the Adelaide metropolitan area and consists of the following local government areas: theCity of Holdfast Bay,theCity of Marion,theCity of Mitchamand theCity of Onkaparinga.

Western Adelaide

Western Adelaide occupies the area in the Adelaide metropolitan area located to the north-west of the Adelaide city centre and consists of the following local government areas: theCity of Charles Sturt,theCity of West Torrensand the western half of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield.

Yorke and Mid North

Yorke and Mid North consists of land on theYorke Peninsulaincluding some nearby islands and land on the east side ofSpencer Gulfextending from just south ofHamley Bridgein the south to just south ofQuornin the north. The latter area is commonly known as theMid North.Yorke and Mid North consists of the following local governments within the area commonly known as the ‘Mid North’ - theDistrict Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys,theRegional Council of Goyder,theDistrict Council of Mount Remarkable,theNorthern Areas Council,theDistrict Council of Orroroo Carrieton,theDistrict Council of Peterborough,thePort Pirie Regional CouncilandWakefield Regional Council,and the following local government areas fully or partly within the Yorke Peninsula - theDistrict Council of Barunga West,theDistrict Council of the Copper Coastand theYorke Peninsula Council.

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

Protected areas

Further information:Protected areas of South Australia

South Australia'sprotected areasare grouped into 11 regions:

• Adelaide
• Adelaide Hills
• Barossa
• Clare Valley
• Eyre Peninsula
• Fleurieu Peninsula
• Flinders Ranges and Outback
• Kangaroo Island
• Limestone Coast
• Murray River
• Yorke Peninsula

Natural resource management

TheNatural Resources Management Act 2004established the following Natural Resources Management (NRM) regions “to give ownership of and responsibility for NRM to regional communities”: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin and the South East.

Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA)

Primary Industries and Regions SA(PIRSA) supports economic development in the non-metropolitan regions of South Australia. It identifies eight non-metropolitan regions:

• Adelaide Hills
• Barossa, Light and Lower North
• Eyre and Western
• Far North
• Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island
• Limestone Coast
• Murray and Mallee
• Yorke and Mid North

Electoral districts

Map of rural state electoral districts showing results from the2014 electionand changes since.

Map of metropolitan state electoral districts showing results from the2014 electionand changes since.

South Australia is divided into 47electoral districtseach of which elects a single member into theSouth Australian House of Assembly(also called the lower house of parliament).

It is divided intoten electoral divisionswhich each elect a member into theHouse of Representativesof theParliament of Australia.These divisions are:

• Adelaide
• Barker
• Boothby
• Grey
• Hindmarsh
• Kingston
• Makin
• Mayo
• Sturt
• Spence

The federal divisions overlay the state electoral districts, but do not aggregate them. A state district may be divided amongst two or more federal divisions.

Local government

Main article:Local government areas of South Australia

South Australia's Local Government Areas (LGAs) have grouped themselves into seven Regional Local Government Associations. These are:

• LGA Metropolitan Group
• Central Local Government Region
• Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association
• Murray and Mallee Local Government Association
• Southern and Hills Local Government Association
• South East Local Government Association
• Provincial Cities Association
• Outback areas do not have local government except for a small number of towns

Biogeographic regions

IBRA 6.1 regions map

TheInterim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia(IBRA) is abiogeographicregionalisation of Australia; divided into 89bioregionsand 419 subregions. Each region is a land area made up of a group of interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form across the landscape. Regions and subregion cross state and territory boundaries. The bioregions that are located wholly or partly in South Australia are:

• Broken Hill Complex(shared with New South Wales)
• Central Ranges(shared with Western Australia and Northern Territory)
• Channel Country(mostly in Queensland but also South Australia, New South Wales and Northern Territory)
• Eyre Yorke Block
• Finke(shared with Northern Territory)
• Flinders Lofty Block(mostly in South Australia but extends to New South Wales)
• Furneaux(shared with Victoria)
• Great Victoria Desert(shared with Western Australia)
• Gawler
• Kanmantoo
• Murray Darling Depression(shared with New South Wales and Victoria)
• Naracoorte Coastal Plain(shared with Victoria)
• Nullarbor(shared with Western Australia)
• Riverina(mostly in New South Wales and Victoria)
• Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields(shared with New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland)

Industry regions

Tourist regions

South Australia has been divided into the following 12tourism regionsfor the purpose of coordinating both government and tourism industry efforts to promote South Australia as a visitor destination: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley, Eyre Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula, Flinders Ranges and Outback, Kangaroo Island, Limestone Coast, Murray River, Lakes & Coorong, Riverland and Yorke Peninsula.

Wine regions

Main article:South Australian wine

The wine industry has a number of definedwine zones and regions,however they do not cover the entire state (especially as some areas are not suitable for growing grapes). These are controlled asAustralian geographical indicationsby theAustralian Grape and Wine Authority.As of March 2015, the following zones are in use in South Australia:Barossa,Far North,Fleurieu,Lower Murray,Limestone Coast,Mount Lofty RangesandThe Peninsulas.

See also

• List of regions of Australia