History of Adelaide

Before Europeans arrived, it was the Kaurna tribe that lived in what is now known as Adelaide. In the spirit of reconciliation, Car Detailing Adelaide – Ceramic Coating & Paint Protection acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. The Kaurna people called the Adelaide area Tandanya or Tarntanya, which means the Place of the Red Kangaroo. Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and was first settled by European free settlers in 1836.

In the early 1830s, the British drafted plans to settle the area. It was proposed the new colony in South Australia be for free people, not convicts. Surveyor-general William Light selected the site for the capital of the new settlement in December 1836. Adelaide was a planned city and named after the wife of King George IV. The first governor of the new colony was Captain John Hindmarsh, who landed on 28 December 1838.

At first, the settlers were British and Irish, but in the mid-19th century, many Germans settled in Adelaide and the surrounding area. Meanwhile, in 1840 Adelaide was the first city in Australia to be incorporated. The first mayor of Adelaide was James Hurtle Fisher.

In 1840 Adelaide had a population of over 2,000, and by 1850, the population had grown to over 14,000. In 1900 Adelaide had a population of 162,000. Today the population of Adelaide is about 1.3 million.

Many famous buildings were erected in Adelaide in the 19th century. The foundation stone of Holy Trinity Church was laid in 1838. Old Adelaide Gaol was built in 1841. Government House was completed in 1855 and St Francis Xavier Cathedral was dedicated in 1858.

Adelaide is also known for the South Australian Museum and the Migration Museum, which opened in 1986. The South Australia Maritime Museum also opened in 1986.

Surveyor Colonel William Light was entrusted with designing the city. The result was unique– the world’s only city within a park. It truly is a city designed for life– set against the banks of the River Torrens, with wide, sweeping boulevards in a grid format, surrounded by 900 hectares of lush, green parks, known as the Park Lands. As Adelaide has grown into a thriving, charismatic city of approximately 1.3 million people, Light’s Vision continues today. It’s no wonder that Adelaide is consistently voted as one of the top 10 most liveable cities globally by The Economist magazine.

The Adelaide Plains are the traditional lands of the Kaurna people, stretching from Port Broughton down to Cape Jervis. Kaurna actively manage the land and live off the land and waterways of the region. Kaurna is the language spoken, and as you move around the city today, you’ll see it used in many ways. The main square in the heart of the city is known as Victoria Square/ Tarntanyangga, reflecting the Kaurna name for the area. Similarly, the river is named River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri, reflecting the Kaurna name meaning Redgum Forest. All 29 parks and significant heritage sites across the city and Park Lands have been assigned a Kaurna name. Kaurna art and culture In addition to Kaurna, other Aboriginal language groups are represented in art and culture and are widely celebrated throughout Adelaide. A great way to discover it is through the Adelaide Kaurna Walking Trail.