Adelaide

This article is about the Australian metropolis. For the local government area, see City of Adelaide. For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation).

Adelaide
Tardanya (Kaurna)
South Australia
Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre
Elizabeth Quay bridge
SAHMRI
Brookman Building
University of South Australia
Adelaide Town Hall
Adelaide Town Hall
St Peter's Cathedral
St Peter's Cathedral
General Post Office
General Post Office
Elder Park and Adelaide Oval
Elder Park and Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Victoria Square
Victoria Square
Map of Adelaide, Australia, printable and editable
Map of Adelaide, Australia, printable and editable
Adelaide is located in Australia
Adelaide
Adelaide
Coordinates34°55′39″S 138°36′00″E / 34.92750°S 138.60000°E / -34.92750; 138.60000
Population1,418,455 (2022)[1] (5th)
 • Density426/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Established28 December 1836 (1836-12-28)
Area3,259.8 km2 (1,258.6 sq mi)[2]
Time zoneACST (UTC+9:30)
 • Summer (DST)ACDT (UTC+10:30)
Location
LGA(s)19 municipalities across Metropolitan Adelaide
State electorate(s)Various (34)
Federal division(s)Spence, Makin, Hindmarsh, Adelaide, Sturt, Boothby, Kingston
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
22.6 °C
73 °F		 12.4 °C
54 °F		 536.5 mm
21.1 in

Adelaide (/ˈædɪleɪd/ ⓘ AD-il-ayd,[8][9] locally [ˈædəlæɪd]; Kaurna: Tardanya, pronounced [ˈd̪̥aɳɖaɲa]) is the capital and most populous city of South Australia,[10] and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The demonym Adelaidean is used to denote the city and the residents of Adelaide. The traditional owners of the Adelaide region are the Kaurna.[11][12][13] The area of the city centre and surrounding Park Lands is called Tarndanya in the Kaurna language.[14]

Adelaide is situated on the Adelaide Plains north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, between the Gulf St Vincent in the west and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east. Its metropolitan area extends 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and stretches 96 km (60 mi) from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south.

Named in honour of Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, wife of King William IV, the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia.[15] Colonel William Light, one of Adelaide's founding fathers, designed the city centre and chose its location close to the River Torrens. Light's design, now listed as national heritage, set out the city centre in a grid layout known as "Light's Vision", interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by park lands.

Early colonial Adelaide was shaped by the diversity and wealth of its free settlers, in contrast to the convict history of other Australian cities. It was Australia's third most populated city until the post-war era. It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms, and became known as the "City of Churches" due to its diversity of faiths. The city has also been renowned for its automotive industry, as well as being the original host of the Australian Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 1985 to 1995. Today, Adelaide is known by its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine,[16] its coastline and hills, its large defence and manufacturing sectors, and its emerging space sector, including the Australian Space Agency being headquartered here. Adelaide's quality of life has ranked consistently highly in various measures through the 21st century, at one stage being named Australia's most liveable city, third in the world.[17] Its aesthetic appeal has also been recognised by Architectural Digest, which ranked Adelaide as the most beautiful city in the world in 2024.[18]

As South Australia's government and commercial centre, Adelaide is the site of many governmental and financial institutions. Most of these are concentrated in the city centre along the cultural boulevards of North Terrace and King William Street.

  1. ^ "Greater Adelaide". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Greater Adelaide (GCCSA) (4GADE)". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Great Circle Distance between ADELAIDE and MELBOURNE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Great Circle Distance between ADELAIDE and CANBERRA". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Great Circle Distance between ADELAIDE and SYDNEY". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Great Circle Distance between ADELAIDE and Brisbane". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Great Circle Distance between ADELAIDE and Perth". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  8. ^ Macquarie ABC Dictionary. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. 2003. p. 10. ISBN 1-876429-37-2.
  9. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  10. ^ Vignesh, K.S.; Rajadesingu, Suriyaprakash; Arunachalam, Kantha Deivi (2021). "Challenges, issues, and problems with zero-waste tools". Concepts of Advanced Zero Waste Tools. Elsevier. pp. 69–90. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-822183-9.00004-0. ISBN 9780128221839. S2CID 230570450. Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and includes 19 municipal areas.
  11. ^ SCD2018/001 – Kaurna Peoples Native Title Claim National Native Title Tribunal. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  12. ^ Kaurna Heritage City of Adelaide. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Aboriginal Culture". Experience Adelaide. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Kaurna Place Names". kaurnaplacenames.com. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  15. ^ "How well do you know our Queen?". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Best Adelaide Wine Tasting Tours & Sightseeing". BOS Adelaide Wine Tours and Sightseeing. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  17. ^ Kelsall, Thomas (9 June 2021). "Adelaide named Australia's most liveable city, third in world". InDaily. Solstice Media. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  18. ^ "The Most Beautiful Cities in the World". Architectural Digest. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.