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Adelaide

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia. It is also the fifth-most populous city in all of Australia.

Adelaide 2022 Skyline
Adelaide 2022 Skyline

The city sits on the Adelaide Plains. To the west, you will find the Gulf St Vincent. To the east, the Mount Lofty Ranges rise up.

Adelaide, Australia ESA384290
Adelaide, Australia ESA384290

The wider metropolitan area is very large. It includes over 430 different suburbs. These suburbs stretch from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south.

Before the city was built, the Kaurna people lived here. They had lived on this land for many thousands of years.

Kaurnaland
Kaurnaland

They called the area Tarndanyangga or Tarntanya. This name refers to a red kangaroo rock formation. The Kaurna people lived in many local clans. They lived in settlements with huts built over many centuries. They also knew the River Torrens as the Karrawirra Pari. This name means the red gum forest river.

North Terrace, 1841
North Terrace, 1841

British settlers arrived to start the colony in 1836. They named the city after Queen Adelaide.

Beechey, William - Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen - NPG 1533
Beechey, William - Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen - NPG 1533

Colonel William Light was a founding father of the city. He was the first surveyor-general. Light designed the city centre with a special grid layout. This plan is called "Light's Vision." It features wide boulevards and large public squares. The city centre is also surrounded by green park lands.

Adelaide supplement to the Illustrated Sydney News
Adelaide supplement to the Illustrated Sydney News

Adelaide has many interesting facts and numbers. It was a planned colony for free settlers. This made it different from other Australian penal colonies. The city was once Australia's third-most populous city. Today, it is a huge center for many things. It hosts the Adelaide Fringe, which is a massive arts festival.

The Orb, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
The Orb, Adelaide Entertainment Centre

The city also hosts many sports. These include the Adelaide 500 and the Tour Down Under. It even hosts major tennis events.

Adelaide Oval - panoramio
Adelaide Oval - panoramio

Many people love to visit or live in Adelaide. It is known for its food and wine industries. The city is also home to the Australian Space Agency.

]] People have called it the "City of Churches" for a long time. It has also been ranked as a very liveable city. In 2021, it was named the most liveable city in Australia. In 2024, it was even called the most beautiful city in the world.

Adelaide South Australia - panoramio
Adelaide South Australia - panoramio
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🖼️ Images & Media (39)
File:Kaurnaland.png
Kaurnaland.png
File:Beechey, William - Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen - NPG 1533.jpg
Beechey, William - Adelaide of...
File:Adelaide supplement to the Illustrated Sydney News.png
Adelaide supplement to the Illustrated...
File:North Terrace, 1841.jpg
North Terrace, 1841.jpg
File:Adelaide MKL Bd. 1 1890 (133265370).jpg
Adelaide MKL Bd. 1 1890 (133265370).jpg
File:North Terrace in 1938.jpg
North Terrace in 1938.jpg
File:Aerial view of Adelaide, 1935 (adjusted).jpg
Aerial view of Adelaide, 1935 (adjusted).jpg
File:Adelaide 2022 Skyline.jpg
Adelaide 2022 Skyline.jpg
File:Adelaide, Australia ESA384290.jpg
Adelaide, Australia ESA384290.jpg
File:Adelaide South Australia - panoramio.jpg
Adelaide South Australia - panoramio.jpg
File:Transformers - Victoria Square Adelaide SA - panoramio.jpg
Transformers - Victoria Square Adelaide...
File:Heritage terraces on Adelaide's North Terrace.jpg
Heritage terraces on Adelaide's North Terrace.jpg

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