
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, has been one of Australia's most visited travel destinations, hosting many festivals and sporting events. The city has a rich history, with European settlers arriving in 1836, and was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. Adelaide has grown into a thriving city, with a population of over 1.3 million people, and has been ranked as one of the most liveable cities globally. The city has a strong automotive industry, food and wine industries, defence and manufacturing operations, and an emerging space sector. Adelaide has also seen the development of many famous buildings, such as the Holy Trinity Church, Old Adelaide Gaol, and Government House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first settlement by European free-settlers | 1836 |
| Original name | Tarntanya (red kangaroo place) |
| Original inhabitants | Kaurna people |
| Population | 1.35 million |
| Known for | Government and commercial centre, food and wine industries, coastline and hills, defence and manufacturing operations, space sector |
| Unemployment rate (as of November 2015) | 7.4% |
| Youth unemployment rate (as of November 2015) | 15% |
| Global city ranking | Gamma + level |
| Average weekly income for people aged 15+ (as of 2006) | $447 |
| Liveability ranking (2021) | 3rd in the world |
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What You'll Learn

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia and a global city
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is a thriving, charismatic global city. It is one of Australia's most visited travel destinations, known for its festivals, sporting events, and thriving arts scene. Adelaide has consistently ranked within the top ten most liveable cities globally for much of the 21st century.
The area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The land was named "Tarntanya" or "red kangaroo place" by the Kaurna people. In 1836, Adelaide was first settled by European free settlers, with Colonel William Light choosing the banks of the River Torrens to establish the city, naming it after Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.
Adelaide has a rich history and was Australia's first free-settled colony. Many famous buildings were erected in the 19th century, including the Holy Trinity Church, Old Adelaide Gaol, Government House, and St Francis Xavier Cathedral. The city has also been known for its thriving industries, including automotive, defence, manufacturing, and more recently, a growing space sector.
As South Australia's government and commercial centre, Adelaide is home to many governmental and financial institutions, most of which are concentrated in the central business district. The city has a well-developed transport system, with extensive bus, train, and tram networks, and its airport and seaport are among the busiest in Australia.
Adelaide has a population of approximately 1.3 million people and is renowned for its unique design, being the world's only city within a park, surrounded by 900 hectares of lush, green parks. The city has grown and expanded over the years, with settlers moving outward from Adelaide and producing wheat and wool, which provided the basis for export earnings.
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It was Australia's first free-settled colony
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, was Australia's first free-settled colony. It was founded in 1836 and was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The area where the Adelaide city centre now stands was called "Tarndanya", or "Tarntanya", meaning "male red kangaroo rock" or "red kangaroo place". The Kaurna people lived in family groups called yerta, each of which was responsible for an area of land that supported the family.
Colonel William Light was sent from England to South Australia in 1835 to select and survey a suitable site for the new settlement. He chose the banks of the River Torrens, naming the city after Queen Adelaide. The free colony of South Australia was established with much optimism, with no jail included in the original plans, as it was assumed that everyone in the colony would be law-abiding.
Free passage was given to suitable labourers, generally young, healthy men and women of good character. These labourers were expected to work for wages for 3 to 4 years until they could buy land and employ others. Land sales were encouraged by granting one acre of town land in Adelaide for every 80 acres of rural land sold. The South Australia Company, headed by businessman and banker George Fife Angas, bought large amounts of land and influenced the colony's future development.
In February 1836, the vessels John Pirie and Duke of York set sail for South Australia, followed by several other ships carrying settlers and supplies. By the time the Duke of York arrived at Kangaroo Island, HMS Buffalo, carrying Governor John Hindmarsh, was on its way. Colonel Light rejected several potential sites for the new settlement, including Encounter Bay, Kangaroo Island, and Port Lincoln. He was tasked with finding a location with a harbour, arable land, fresh water, building materials, and ready internal and external communications. Light's unique vision for Adelaide as the world's only "city within a park" continues to this day, with the thriving city of approximately 1.3 million people surrounded by 900 hectares of lush, green parks.
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It has a rich history of Aboriginal art and culture
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, has a rich history of Aboriginal art and culture. The area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The Adelaide Plains are the traditional lands of the Kaurna people, stretching from Port Broughton down to Cape Jervis. The name 'Tarntanya', meaning 'red kangaroo place', was given to the area by the Kaurna people, who actively manage the land and live off the land and waterways of the region.
In addition to the Kaurna, other Aboriginal language groups are represented in art and culture and are widely celebrated throughout Adelaide. The Adelaide Kaurna Walking Trail is a great way to discover this art and culture. The trail includes The Riverbank, a Kaurna Marketplace, by Kaurna Artist Paul Herzich, built in 2018. The artwork consists of a series of sandblasted images along Topham Mall. Drawn from Kaurna culture, this installation allows people to walk in the ancient footsteps of the Kaurna people between the river and the market.
Tarnanthi, a biennial festival held in Adelaide and across South Australia, is another significant platform for celebrating Aboriginal art and culture. The name 'Tarnanthi' comes from the language of the Kaurna people and means 'to come forth or appear – like the sun and the first emergence of light'. Tarnanthi provides a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the country to share important stories and illuminate the diversity and depth of art and culture in communities nationwide.
Adelaide is also home to contemporary Aboriginal artists like Elizabeth Close, who is of Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara descent and has family links to the APY Lands in Central Australia. Close has spent nearly two decades crafting a dynamic, multi-disciplinary visual arts practice that speaks to her personal Connection to Country and the concept of connection to place and space more broadly. She works across various mediums, including 2D studio-based works, large-scale mural installations, and digital media. Close is passionate about increasing the visibility of Aboriginal arts and culture in public spaces and the broader Australian discourse.
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$15.91

The city has a thriving automotive, defence, manufacturing and space industry
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, has long been a desirable destination for migrants and new residents due to its thriving industries, particularly in the automotive, defence, manufacturing, and space sectors.
The automotive industry in Adelaide has been a significant contributor to the city's economy for decades. The city is home to the Elizabeth-based General Motors Holden plant, which operated from 1958 to 2017 and played a crucial role in the city's growth. While the plant's
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Adelaide is one of Australia's most visited destinations
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is one of Australia's most visited travel destinations. The city is known for its festivals and sporting events, such as the Adelaide Fringe, the world's second-largest annual arts festival. Adelaide has also been renowned for its automotive industry, having hosted the Australian Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 1985 to 1995. The city has a rich history, with many famous buildings erected in the 19th century, including the Holy Trinity Church, Old Adelaide Gaol, Government House, and St Francis Xavier Cathedral.
The area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. In 1836, it became Australia's first free-settled colony, with European settlers arriving and establishing the city. Adelaide was chosen for its site by Colonel William Light, who was tasked with surveying the city layout. The result was unique—Adelaide became the world's only city within a park.
As South Australia's government and commercial centre, Adelaide is home to many governmental and financial institutions. The city has a thriving economy, with prominent industries including defence, manufacturing, and food and wine. Adelaide is also known for its emerging space sector, with the Australian Space Agency headquartered there. The city has a well-developed transport system, with extensive bus, train, and tram networks operated by Adelaide Metro, and an international airport that is one of the busiest in Australia.
Adelaide has consistently ranked within the top-ten most liveable cities globally for much of the 21st century. The city has a population of approximately 1.3 million people and offers a range of amenities and attractions, including the Adelaide Oval, the University of Adelaide, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Adelaide Festival Centre. Adelaide is a city designed for its residents, with wide, sweeping boulevards surrounded by lush, green parks, known as the Park Lands.
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Frequently asked questions
Adelaide was Australia's first free-settled colony, and the British government encouraged emigration from Britain to the colony, promoting it as a respectable enterprise for ordinary British folk. Free passage was given to suitable labourers, who were expected to work for wages for 3 to 4 years until they could buy land of their own. The South Australian Association also advertised and sold land in the colony before settlers arrived.
Adelaide is a thriving, charismatic city with a population of around 1.3 million people. It has been classed as a Gamma + level global city and is one of Australia's most visited travel destinations, hosting many festivals and sporting events. It has a strong automotive industry, food and wine industries, defence and manufacturing operations, and an emerging space sector. Adelaide has consistently ranked within the top ten most liveable cities globally for much of the 21st century.
Yes, the area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The Kaurna people originally called the area Tarntanya, meaning "red kangaroo place". Today, the Kaurna people actively manage the land and live off the land and waterways of the region.






























