Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colony of South Australia completed the survey for the capital city of Adelaide by 10 March 1837. The survey included 1,042 acres (4.22 km2), including 342 acres (1.38 km2) north of the River Torrens. This surveyed land north of the river became North Adelaide.[2][3]
The Kumanka Boys' Hostel located at 206 Childers Terrace, was operated by the South Australian Government between 1946 and 1980. In 1948, there were 23 boys aged between 13 and 18 years resident at the hostel.[4] It was designed to accommodate state wards, as well as those for whom there was no other suitable accommodation after serving time at the government-run Magill 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.[5] Notable residents included Kaurna elder Uncle 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.[6]
By 1966 the average number of residents was 18. Kumanka was one of several institutions which had allegations of abuse aired during the Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry which was run by Ted Mullighan QC from 2004 to 2008, with most of the incidents reported to have occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.[5]
North Adelaide (north of the River 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 by parklands, with public gardens between the grids. The North Adelaide park lands (the Adelaide Park Lands north of the River Torrens) contain gardens, many sports fields (including the Adelaide Oval), a golf course, horse agistment paddocks and some areas sympathetic with the native environment.[citation needed]
The northernmost (and largest) grid has Wellington Square at its centre, and O'Connell Street (named after Daniel O'Connell[12]) as its main commercial street. O'Connell Street is the continuation of King William Road, and links the main street of Adelaide City with Main North Road. A tram used 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) and Aquinas College (a residential college run by the Marists for the Archdiocese of Adelaide, for students at any Adelaide university[13]), 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's Mix 102.3 and Cruise 1323.
The remaining (western) grid is termed Lower North Adelaide. It is nearest the Torrens floodplain. It contains Brougham 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.[15]
Many of the North Adelaide pubs and hotels are heritage-listed. As of 2021[update] there are 11 pubs operational in the suburb: five in (most on O'Connell Street):[16][17]
The Piccadilly, also known as Piccadilly Cinema(s), and formerly Piccadilly Theatre and The Forum, is a cinema located on the corner of O'Connell Street and Childers Street.[18]
After Clifford's death in 1942, his theatres were bought by Greater Union[23] in 1947,[24] who renamed the Piccadilly as The Forum. In 1983 Wallis Cinemas bought the building in order to save it from being demolished, and reverted to its former name. During the 1990s Wallis converted the old picture palace into a multiplex with three screens.[22]
After an 18-month closure to allow for a major renovation costing A$2 million, the cinema is set to reopen on 15 December 2022. Apart from the interior refit of the theatres, installation of a lift and other features, a new licensed food and drinks lounge space have replaced the shopfronts O'Connell Street, where the original candy bar was situated.[22]
The North Adelaide Primary School[25] on 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 is Esse quam videri, "To be, rather than to seem" and the school colours are red and blue.
Queen's College (1885–1949) on Barton Terrace[26] was the longest lasting proprietary (i.e. privately owned and run) boys' college in Australia.[27] Another private school of historical interest was North Adelaide Grammar School (aka. Whinham College).
There are several Adelaide Metro bus routes that service the area on their way through to other suburbs.[citation needed] 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)[29]
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)[30]
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 the 2021 Australian census, the population of North Adelaide was 6,823, comprising 1,494 families. 58.9 per cent of the population had a tertiary 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)[31]
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.[32] There are many significant heritage buildings in the area.[33]
In federal politics, the suburb is part of the division of Adelaide, and has been represented since 2004 by a Labor MP, since 2019 being Steve 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.
In local government, North Adelaide forms the North ward within the City of Adelaide. Since 2018 the North Ward Councillors are Mary Couros and Phillip Martin. Significant local issues since 2010 have included:
^Marsden, Susan; Corporation of the City of Adelaide (1990). Heritage of the City of Adelaide: An Illustrated Guide. Adelaide: Wakefield Press. p. 405. ISBN978-0909866303.
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