History of Adelaide

Adelaide was initially inhabited by the Kaurna Aboriginal nation, and this was before the British settlement. It was divided into Adelaide Plains and surrounding regions, which spread from Cape Jervis in the southern side to Port Wakefield in the northern side.

Some of the customs that made this region very unique were the controlled bushfires that they would have. However with time this population kept decreasing and by mid 1800s the population of the Kaurna was about 600 in the Adelaide region.

The developing Adelaide

There was an economic boom after World War 1, which saw Adelaide gain momentum in terms of development. This however did not last for long after drought struck and pushed Adelaide into a depression on the early 1900s.  However with strong leadership it was able to get back on its feet, and many secondary industries were set, reducing on the over reliance on the primary industries.

The Geography of Adelaide.

Adelaide is located north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, on the Adelaide Plains between the Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. The city stretches 20 km from the coast to the foothills, and 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south. The region of Adelaide Metropolitan is about 870 sq. kilometers. (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Mount Lofty is located east of the Adelaide metropolitan region in the Adelaide Hills at an elevation of 727 meters (2,390 ft). It is the tallest point of the city and in the state south of Burra.

Adelaide is a planned city, designed by the first surveyor-general of South Australia, Colonel William Light. His plan, was known as Light’s Vision, arranged Adelaide in a grid, with five squares in the inner City of Adelaide and a ring of parks known as the Adelaide Parklands surrounding it. Light’s design was initially unpopular with the early settlers, as well as South Australia’s first Governor, John Hindmarsh. Light persisted with his design against this initial opposition.

This Light’s design worked very well for Adelaide. Some of the features that Adelaide benefited from because of using this design are, firstly it has had wide multi-lane roads right from the beginning. It is easy to navigate around Adelaide. And the magnificent green ring around the city center.

Adelaide is the 5^th largest city in Australia, with a population of about 1.5 Million people (as of 2006 census). The largest chunk of this population (about 70%) live in the Adelaide metropolitan area. This is making Adelaide one very centralized region in Australia.

Culture in Adelaide

Religion-wise Adelaide’s majority of the population is Christian, with Catholics dominating here with about 22%. The other major denominations are Anglicans (14%), Uniting Church (14%) and Eastern Orthodox (3.8%). Another about 25% of Adelaide’s population is atheist, or does not express any religious affiliation.

Adelaide is very much English in terms of its culture. It has attracted many other immigrants from other parts of the world as well. The Germans here came mainly when escaping the religious persecutions that were taking place back at home. The Germans who were first in Adelaide were Lutherans who are responsible for the many vineyards in Barossa Valley. They came with vine cuttings that they planted here and found to do well.

Later through the years, other culture such as Italians, Greeks, Poles and many other Europeans flocked Adelaide Australia inclusive especially after World War 2. Asians have also been added to this following the Vietnam War. Africans have also migrated here with time. The culture in Adelaide currently is one that is a very cosmopolitan and diverse.

This is one region in the south of Adelaide with a diverse landscape and offers vast coastlines with beautiful beaches, rolling Mt Lofty ranges, ancient vineyards and farmland communities.

The middle and south parts of the coast of the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula are a great place for expert surfers. The frequent swells in summer and storms in winter add an extra thrill to the lovers of the board. These different surf conditions offer a variety to the experiences surfers to test their prowess in this hobby, and practice to sharpen the skill as well.

That said, this is an area that has to be approached with caution at all times to avoid any rips. Some parts of this coast are a no go zone since there are not quite safe even for the experienced surfers. Anyone still learning surfing, this is not the best place to do that. The turbulence here is little over the bar for starters.

The best way to get to the Fleurieu Peninsula as you experience other aspects of this magnificent place as well is by a car. The bus and train is also a means that can be used to access the different parts of this region.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is a pristine wilderness – a place that has offered protection to substantial populations of native Australian animals, a place of beauty and a place of escape. The Kangaroo Island is fondly known by the locals are the ‘KI’. There are several things that adorn this magnificent island including dense forests, sand dunes, soaring cliffs and massive arcs of bone white beach.

Kangaroo Island is located about 110 kilometers southwest of Adelaide. It is one great place to surf. The best time to surf here is on the morning especially.  This island is not usually crowded and making it a very peaceful place to surf.

The kangaroo island accommodates every surfer from the beginners to the very experienced surfers. Beginners can paddle their boards in Stokes Bay, Vivonne Bay, and Pennington Bay. For the old-timers in surfing can try out the beach breaks for more difficult waves.

Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula is one of South Australia’s favorite holiday spots. This is a region well known for their cruisy atmosphere and laidback lifestyle. Thinking of swimming, surfing, fishing of a family picnic the Yorke Peninsula is the place to be when in Adelaide.

This gateway place is becoming more and more popular with surfers. Major competitions have been held here in the recent past. There are several spots on the Yorke Peninsula for amateur surfers as well as the experienced lot.

Innes National Park

Innes National Park is approximately 300 km from Adelaide. It is an amazing place to visit – serene, yet full of wildlife, with bushland, rugged cliffs and secluded ocean beaches. It is on the southern tip of the Yorke Peninsula. The waves here crash on the beaches, and the breeze fills the air with freshness in this National Park. Salt lakes also further inland amongst the malle woodlands.

The heritage and coastal scenery that comes with Innes provides the inhabitants of this region with a variety of activities to do. Bush-walking. Photography, camping, learning the aboriginal and European history as well, fishing and surfing are some of the recreational activities people touring this region would enjoy.

One surfing spot in the Innes National Park is the Chinaman.  This breaks is however potentially dangerous and amateurs are not encouraged to surf in this region. Surfing can only be done in low and medium tide when the north-westerly winds are blowing.

So if you are seeking to surf during your vacation in Adelaide, those are a just a few of the places you can check out for a memorable experience.

This was initially a German settlement, and traces of their influence still runs thick through this region. One great example is the Hahndorf which is the oldest surviving German settlement which dates back to 1839. Majority of the buildings here were the initial buildings built by the Germans. The elm and plane trees that line the streets are a century old. There are shops selling German items such as cakes and wursts.

Another town in the Adelaide hills is the Macclesfield. It lies deep in the Hills and a bit further away from Adelaide than most other towns. It’s about an hours drive from the South Australian capital.  This is a town that is donned with marvelous farmlands, vineyards, and natural bushes all around it. Macclesfiled is built in a village which was the center of a major transport route during the gold rush days, this was in the early 1900s. Today it is very laid back, not as busy as it was in those days. There is a market day in Sundays where the farmers from the surrounding regions set up stalls and sell off their produce to the public.

Besides the little beautiful towns in these hills, there is great natural beauty that adorns The Adelaide Hills. One such is the summit of Mount Lofty which is near Adelaide. Other great sites are of the valleys and the Adelaide plains, the Kangaroo Island, and the Yorke Peninsula. You get a perfect, magnificient view of all these from the summit of the mount lofty. The summit is locates in the Cleland National Park, home to the Water Gully. The water fall is a major tourist attraction site.

Besides the fauna and great scenery in the Adelaide hills there are also a couple of wildlife parks that you would enjoy. Cleland Wildlife Park is close to Mt Lofty, and visitors are able to walk through large enclosures and interact with Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas and echidnas.

Just 20 minutes out of Adelaide is the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary. This is much bigger than the Cleland Wildlife Park. There are over 100 species of bird and animals. This is a spectacular wildlife conservancy that will give you an opportunity to experience the bush and wildlife in the state of South Australia in a special way

There are other very intriguing aspects of the Adelaide hills. The German settlements, the art galleries and museums found in the different towns in these hills add a rich streak of history and culture to the hills. The museums have a lot to offer as well in terms of learning and conserving the history of this part of Australia.

On striking museum is the National Motor Museum in Birdwood. An intriguing place to visit. It is home to more than 300 vintage, and classic motor bikes and bicycles. This  is the largest collection in the whole of the country.

The Cedars is a great place to visit if you are the kind that appreciate art. This was first the home and studio of the famed artist Sir Hans Heysen. There is a wide display of his paintings materials, tools, and sketch notes.

There is also another hideout in the Adelaide Hills that you may want to visit. A tour to the many cellar doors would be a great experience. You will get a chance to sample some of the local produce.

The valleys are also lined with spectacular vineyards. The purity of wines produced in this area in unmissable. There are great restaurants in this area too serving exotic and different indigenous cuisines.

The Adelaide Hills is a place you don’t want to miss when you are on tour to South Australia. There is plenty to see and do for you and your family when you are on holiday in Adelaide.

Here are some of the main tourist attractions in Adelaide:

Ayers Historic House Museum

Ayers House is famed as one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in Australia. This was initially a simple house built in 1846 by Henry Ayers who for very many years was prime minister of South Australia.

There are superb collections of period decorative arts, furniture, silverware, artworks and changing exhibitions.   The interior of Ayers House is popular for its beautiful decorative painted finishes on internal walls and ceilings that extend to every room of the house.

South Australian Museum

The South Australian Museum occupies a building with a French-style mansard roof and a tower (1914). It contains a large collection of Aboriginal and Melanesian art and Egyptian antiquities. There are magnificent prehistoric and natural collections.

Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia was built in 1889, with a colonnade added in 1936 previously served a variety of purposes. It was once a church, at another point it was a police barracks, and at another it was a state record office.  It has a fine collection of pictures, drawings and prints, both from Australia, Europe and Asia.

Central Market

This is a great place to tour as you buy a few items, especially fresh fruit, vegetables and culinary delicacies. It is located just next to Victoria Square, on the south side of Grote Street. It has been in existent since 1870.

Edmund Wright House

This is a richly decorated building built by Edmund Wright in 1875. It owes its current life to the local people who campaigned against its demolition in the 1970s. It houses the History Trust of South Australia and is open to visitors.

North Terrace

There are a few spots on this part are public facilities some of which include the State Library, art galleries, museums and former railroad station. A little off the North Terrace are the Torrens Lake, expansive parks and gardens with the Festival Center. Government House, the campus of Adelaide University and the Parade Ground.

Parliament House

The new Parliament House is the most imposing public building in Adelaide and has a monumental colonnade. It was opened in 1939 and it was built in five years.

Victoria Square

At the intersection with Grote Street and Wakefield Street, King William Street opens out into Victoria Square, with beautifully laid out gardens. In the midst of the modern buildings there are a few ancient buildings that have been preserved. At the center of Victoria Square is the statue of Queen Victoria.

On the north side is a charming fountain by John Dowie, with figures representing the three principal rivers of South Australia, the Murray, the Torrens and the Onkaparinga. Nearby are monuments to the explorers Stuart and Sturt.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

These are spectacular Botanical gardens that were established in 1855. They feature a great variety of subtropical and Mediterranean flora. One element of this garden that stands out is the palm house which dates back to 1871. Another spot is the Bicentennial Conservatory which contains plants from the Asian Pacific region.

Adelaide Festival Centre

To the north of Parliament House is the Adelaide Festival Centre which was opened 1977. It is a modern cultural center with a tent-like roof structure. It in a way resembles the Sydney Opera House. Here in alternate years is held the highly regarded Adelaide Arts Festival (theater, opera, ballet, exhibitions, readings by writers, lectures).

Adelaide Hills

About 20 kilometers east of Adelaide are the beautiful Adelaide Hills. They are the southern part of the Mount Lofty Ranges and a popular recreation area for the people of Adelaide, with a rich and varied Australian flora and fauna. It’s a great way of taking a break from the city life.

Belair National Park

This was the first nature reserve in the state of South Australia. Belair National Park was established in 1891. Within the park is Old Government House, with a ballroom and a swimming pool. It was the summer residence of the governor of South Australia until 1880, when it gave way to a much grander house, Marble Hill, in a high and secluded situation in the hills 25km east of Adelaide. The new residence was destroyed in a forest fire in 1955 and thereafter was partly restored.

National Motor Museum

An attractive excursion is through the Adelaide Hills to Birdwood Mill, a historic mill idyllically situated on the Torrens River, with play and picnic areas. At Birdwood Mill is the National Motor Museum, the oldest exhibit in which is a Peugeot of 1897. Every two years is held the Bay to Birdwood Rally, in which veteran and vintage cars cough and splutter their way from Holdfast Bay up into the hills.

Black Hill Conservation Park / Morialta Conservation Park

These are steep crags northeast of Adelaide on the scenic Old Norton Summit Road. Some of them include The Three Sugarloaves which are about 466m and are part of the Black Hills. The adventurous gouges and the spectacular waterfalls on fourth Creek draw many visitors from the city.

These few places we have discussed above are just a scratch on the surface in terms of what Adelaide has in store for you. This is surely a destination of choice for many tourists each year for very good reasons. You experience the South of Australia in an unforgettable manner.

Here are some of the activities that you can engage the children in.

• The Bicentennial Conservatory is a great place to take a walk in. It is the largest single conservancy in the southern hemisphere. There is a great variety of tropical rainforest flora in this conservancy. Tour River Torrens, and feed ducks as you cruise in it. The Popeye boats that kids can use in this river are a major attraction for the kids.
• Another very great location is the St. Kilda Adventure Playground. There are very many games that you and the kids can involve in and you will be surprised how much fun you can have. There is the flying fox, spiral slide, giant wave slide, the monorail and the maze things that will ensure everyone is entertained.
• Another must see and one that children will enjoy is the Adelaide Gaol, which is a historical landmark. The artifacts go back as far as Gaol’s morning years.
• Morialta Conservation Park is also another spectacular place to visit. You can take bush walks in this park and get to see the glorious waterfalls as well.
• You can also take them out to Chinatown and get to enjoy great Chinese cuisine here.
• The Adelaide Zoo is also another place kids can really enjoy and learn when on the tour. There are more than 3000 animals exhibited in the magical gardens which are about 8 hectares
• A hike at Mt. lofty Summit would be a great thing for the children to do. The view of Adelaide from this spot is breathtaking. An adventure that not just the kids but you as well would enjoy.
• The Cleland Wildlife Park is also another great spot. The many animals such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus and waterfowls are found in this park. Participating in feeding them would be a great experience for the children.
• A visit at the Maritime Museum in Port Adelaide would be great as well. It is not only fun but a great learning experience.
• Children can also indulge in mini golf, at the Semaphore. The water slides at the beach house would also be a great day to spend a day for the children. The Amusement park is also a place with an array of activities they can engage in.
• A day spent at the Greenhill’s Adventure Park, would be great fun for the whole family. The wave slides, aqua bikes, mini golf, archery, bouncy castles, and waterslides are some of the things you can enjoy at this park.
• There is also the six floors of the South Australian Museum. Great art from the Australian aboriginals art to exhibits from ancient Egypt.
• Victor Harbor is also a great place; you can catch the horse drawn tram to Granite Island.
• Children and adults alike would love a ride by the Steamranger ‘Cockle’ train between Victor Harbor and Goolwa.
• The Monarto Open Range Zoo is also a great place to take a Safari, there are a wide range of wildlife fin this zoo. Some of which includes giraffe, zebras, antelope, cheetah, rare white rhinoceros, lions and many more animals.
• Visit the National Railway Museum, climb aboard the train exhibits or take a miniature train ride. A great place for train buffs of all ages.

There is a great array of activities for the children when they visit Adelaide. If you are thinking of a family vacation then Adelaide would be a great destination.

As you go from city to city your not sure what is available but here are a series of links that you can use that can really help you.

It provides you with all the different categories of businesses that you may need.

Melbourne Travel

Sydney Travel

Brisbane Travel

Canberra Travel

Hobart Travel

Darwin Travel

Adelaide Travel

Perth Travel

I am sure this will be of great assistance.

Good luck.

Here is a series of Australian cities and links that makes it ease to try different test searches to obtain a result.

Melboune Businesses

Sydney Businesses

Brisbane Businesses

Adelaide Businesses

Perth Businesses

Canberra Businesses

Hobart Businesses

Darwin Businesses

Hope this helps.