Bolivar, South Australia

Bolivar /ˈbɒlɪvɑːr/ is an outer northern suburb and locality of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located within the City of Salisbury, approximately 20 kilometers north of the Adelaide city center. Bolivar is known for its proximity to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant, a significant facility in the region. The suburb mainly serves industrial and agricultural purposes, with some residential areas nearby. Its location and infrastructure make it a critical part of Adelaide's northern urban and environmental landscape.[1]

Bolivar Adelaide, South Australia
Bolivar
lga	City of Salisbury
stategov	Port Adelaide, South Australia
Suburbs around Bolivar: Waterloo Corner Burton Paralowie Globe Derby Park St Kilda

History

The Bolivar was a barque built in 1826 in Monmouth by shipbuilder William Lambert. Measuring 108 feet 6 inches in length, 28 feet 2 inches in beam, and 19 feet 10 inches in depth, the vessel had a tonnage of 386. The Bolivar was registered in London under the ownership of Fenwick. One of the notable voyages of the Bolivar occurred in 1849-1850 under the command of Captain William Murray. The ship departed from London and Plymouth on Thursday, October 4, 1849, bound for Port Adelaide. After nearly four months at sea, the Bolivar arrived at its destination on Monday, January 28, 1850. This journey was part of a series of voyages that connected the United Kingdom to Australia, facilitating the transportation of passengers and goods during the mid-19th century. The Bolivar had previously completed other significant journeys, including a voyage to Hobart Town in 1846. Over its years of service, the ship played a role in the maritime history of the United Kingdom and Australia.[2]

The suburb was established in 1956, and was named after the General Bolivar Hotel. This hotel had been built by Walter Walpole, a settler who had arrived in South Australia in 1850 on the sailing ship Bolivar. According to Ronald Praite, Bolivar, South Australia, took its name from the old General Bolivar Hotel, taken from the Sailing ship Bolivar that may have been named after Simon Bolivar, a Venezuelan soldier who led the revolutions against Spanish rule and liberated several South American countries from the Spanish empire. Simon Bolivar was also known as the Liberator.[3] The Bolivar Post Office in the then rural area opened on 1 July 1905 and closed in 1930.[4] On the 13th & 17th of March in 1910 The first flights in Australia were carried out in Bolivar,[5] the aircraft in operation resembled the Bleriot monoplane that L. Bleriot famously flew during the historic 1909 crossing from France to England, marking a significant milestone in aviation history.[6]

On the 27 June 1967 a historical plaque and mosaic was strategically placed in a prominent location by the City of Salisbury on the corner of Victoria Dr and Port Wakefield Rd, carefully chosen to commemorate the significant event that occurred on the 13 March in 1910 known as the Wittber hop.[7]

Transportation

Roads

Bolivar is serviced by Port Wakefield Road, part of the National Highway, and the North–South Motorway.

Air

On the 13 March 1910 during taxiing test by Mr.Wittber the plane (A Bleriot monoplane) became unexpectantly airborne in a hop caused by a gust of wind known as the Wittber hop,[8] four days later Frederic Custance made Australia's first monoplane flight on the 17 March 1910 in a paddock in Bolivar, South Australia. [9] In the depicted scene, the City of Salisbury celebrates its heritage with a plaque and mosaic commemorating the Wittber Hop, highlighting the achievements of Australia's first pioneering flights.[10]

References

1. Needs Citation
2. Ship Summary - Bolivar on South Australian Maritime Museum, 'Passenger Lists' (Accessed: 1 September 2024)
3. Place names of South Australia, R.Praite J.C.Tolley, P.13.
4. Needs Citation
5. Adelaide Airport a brief overview of its history, West Torrens Historical Society Inc. (A. Litten, G. Grainger 2021), p.2, p.3, (PDF).
6. Salisbury, South Australia A history of town and district, By H.John.Lewis, 1980, p.201.
7. The Wittber Hop on Discover Salisbury (Accessed: 1 September 2024)
8. Salisbury, South Australia, A history of town and district, By H.John.Lewis, 1980, p.201.
9. Needs Citation
10. Salisbury, South Australia, A history of town and district, By H.John.Lewis, 1980, p.202.