Port Adelaide, South Australia
Port Adelaide /pɔt 'ædəleid/ is a suburb and a major port city in South Australia, located northwest of Adelaide’s central business district. It serves as a crucial
| Port Adelaide Adelaide, South Australia | ||
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| Port Adelaide, Light House. | ||
| postal code | 5015 | |
hub for maritime, industrial, and logistical activities in the region. The area is renowned for its historic architecture, maritime museum, and vibrant arts scene.
Port Adelaide is situated on the eastern side of the Gulf St Vincent, bordered by the Port River. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Semaphore, Ethelton, and Rosewater. The area has undergone significant redevelopment to enhance its residential, recreational, and commercial spaces.
History
Port Adelaide the primary port and harbor for South Australia, located northwest of Adelaide. It serves as a hub for transportation, industry, and shipping.[1] Colonel William Light named it the Port of Adelaide, in tribute to Queen Adelaide and King William IV. Serving as the main port for both Adelaide and South Australia, it gained official town status in late 1855 and became a city in mid-1901.[2]
In its undeveloped state it was sometimes referred to as Port Misery, the Aborigines knew the locality as Yertabulti meaning land of sleep or death.[3]
Cultural Mapping and Survey Project
In 2007, the State Government initiated a comprehensive cultural mapping survey of Port Adelaide's Inner Harbour, celebrating the area's rich maritime history and its social, economic, and built heritage. The survey focused on structures of the old working port and the broader cultural mapping program. This initiative provided insights into the lives, work, and activities of the people connected to the port's past. The project was undertaken in three stages, starting with the Musgrave and Sugar Company wharves and concluding with the Fletcher’s Slip area.
Industrial Heritage
Port Adelaide was a bustling hub of activity until the rise of containerisation in the 1970s changed its landscape. The transition from maritime to land-based transport and the shift of industry to new centres left many historical buildings and remnants, now serving as reminders of the area’s industrial past.
Key Sites and Structures
Significant sites within the Inner Harbour include:
• Hart's Mill: The oldest continuously operating flour milling enterprise in South Australia from 1855 to 1980, now a focal point for community and artistic activities.
• Musgrave Wharf: Part of the early 20th-century expansion, it played a crucial role in industrial operations along the Port River.
• Fletcher’s Slip: Originally established in 1849 for ship repairing and later shipbuilding, it is a testament to the maritime heritage of Port Adelaide.
References
- Macquarie Consise Dictionary, Fourth Edition, P.944.
- Place Names of South Australia, By R.Praite & J.C.Tolley, P.148.
- Place Names of South Australia, By Rodney cockburn, P.5.
