Alberton, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Alberton is a metropolitan suburb in Adelaide
, South Australia
, about 20 minutes drive from the city. Part of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
, it is bordered by the suburbs of Rosewater
, Queenstown
, Cheltenham
and Port Adelaide
.
, is rich in historical significance. On 7 March 1839, the South Australian Company was granted private subdivision of preliminary section 423. Section 423 was sold as 'The Town of Albert' and subsequently became 'Albert Town' after Prince Albert, Consort To Queen Victoria
. Eventually, 'Alberton' became commonly used and around the turn of the century was officially adopted as the suburb's name.
With demand for workers at the Port and homes for these workers needed, late in 1840 there were already 61 houses and 235 residents in Alberton. The layout of 'Albert Town' originally had provisions for four public squares, two of which still exist. St Georges' Square became the site for the Anglican Church while St Andrew's Square was later subdivided and became the site of the Trinity Uniting Church. St Patrick's Square and Company Square are today still used as public recreation areas (Couper-Smartt, 2003).
Many of the street in Alberton took the names of the original purchasers while others, such as 'Prince', 'Queen' and 'King' Streets reflect their English heritage.
Alberton Post Office opened on 1 January 1855.
. Residents of Alberton are passionate supporters of both the Power (AFL) and the Magpies (SANFL). They are used to success, with the Port Adelaide Football Club winning a record 35 premierships in the SANFL and AFL
, and the Magpies winning 2 Premierships in the SANFL since 1997.
Alberton Oval
is located on Queen Street. The ground is primarily used for Australian Rules Football and has a capacity of 15,000 people with seated grandstands holding 2,000.
Alberton Oval is the training and administration base for the Port Adelaide Football Club
. The oval also hosts matches for the Port Adelaide Magpies
Football Club in the local SANFL competition.
Alberton Hotel
First licensed in 1848, the Alberton Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in South Australia. For the past 60 years, it has been owned and operated by the Brien family. The old bluestone structure still stands at the same spot on the corner of Port Road and Sussex Street.
Alberton railway station
was one of the first local stations to open in South Australia. The railway from Adelaide
to Port Adelaide
was constructed in 1856 and was the first line to be built in South Australia. Alberton
was one of the original stops, the others being Woodville
and Bowden.
The stone and brick building on the Port Adelaide-bound platform is the original station building dating from 1856.
There is still a regular train service from Alberton station
to Adelaide and Outer Harbor. Unfortunately the ticket office has been closed for the past twenty years and this contributes to the station buildings being a frequent target for vandalism and graffiti.
Local
Alberton has always been a central part of the Port Adelaide Council which merged with Enfield Council in 1996 to become the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
. The current Mayor of the council, Gary Johanson, has held the position since 2006.
State
Alberton lies in the newly created seat of Cheltenham (formerly Price). Price was represented by Murray De Laine from 1985 until 2002. However, De Laine lost preselection in 2002 and ran as an independent, losing to the Labor candidate, Jay Weatherill
.
Federal
Alberton is within the safe Labor seat of Port Adelaide, which has been represented by Rod Sawford since 1988. The seat was created in 1949 and has only had four members since, all Labor. At the 2004 election, Sawford won the seat by a margin of 16% despite suffering a 3% swing against him.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, about 20 minutes drive from the city. Part of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield was established on 1 January 1997 by the amalgamation of the City of Port Adelaide and the City of Enfield, and is one of the larger metropolitan councils within South Australia....
, it is bordered by the suburbs of Rosewater
Rosewater, South Australia
Rosewater is one of the western suburbs of Adelaide and is located 10 km north-west of Adelaide's central business district . Although mainly residential, there are many shops along Grand Junction Road and the retired "Rosewater Loop" railway line runs through the suburb...
, Queenstown
Queenstown, South Australia
Queenstown is a north-western suburb of Adelaide about 10.5 km from the CBD, in the state of South Australia, Australia and the city council area of Port Adelaide Enfield.-History:...
, Cheltenham
Cheltenham, South Australia
Cheltenham is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-Geography:The suburb lies between Port Road and Cheltenham Parade, which form its southwest and eastern boundaries respectively...
and Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
.
History
Alberton, like Port AdelaidePort Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
, is rich in historical significance. On 7 March 1839, the South Australian Company was granted private subdivision of preliminary section 423. Section 423 was sold as 'The Town of Albert' and subsequently became 'Albert Town' after Prince Albert, Consort To Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Eventually, 'Alberton' became commonly used and around the turn of the century was officially adopted as the suburb's name.
With demand for workers at the Port and homes for these workers needed, late in 1840 there were already 61 houses and 235 residents in Alberton. The layout of 'Albert Town' originally had provisions for four public squares, two of which still exist. St Georges' Square became the site for the Anglican Church while St Andrew's Square was later subdivided and became the site of the Trinity Uniting Church. St Patrick's Square and Company Square are today still used as public recreation areas (Couper-Smartt, 2003).
Many of the street in Alberton took the names of the original purchasers while others, such as 'Prince', 'Queen' and 'King' Streets reflect their English heritage.
Alberton Post Office opened on 1 January 1855.
Sport
Alberton is home to AFL team, the Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
. Residents of Alberton are passionate supporters of both the Power (AFL) and the Magpies (SANFL). They are used to success, with the Port Adelaide Football Club winning a record 35 premierships in the SANFL and AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, and the Magpies winning 2 Premierships in the SANFL since 1997.
Landmarks
Alberton OvalAlberton Oval
Alberton Oval
Alberton Oval is located in Alberton, a north-western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. The ground is primarily used for Australian rules football and has a capacity of 17,000 people with seated grandstands holding 2,000,...
is located on Queen Street. The ground is primarily used for Australian Rules Football and has a capacity of 15,000 people with seated grandstands holding 2,000.
Alberton Oval is the training and administration base for the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
. The oval also hosts matches for the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
Football Club in the local SANFL competition.
Alberton Hotel
First licensed in 1848, the Alberton Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in South Australia. For the past 60 years, it has been owned and operated by the Brien family. The old bluestone structure still stands at the same spot on the corner of Port Road and Sussex Street.
Transport
Alberton railway station, Adelaide
Alberton railway station is on the suburban rail route from Adelaide to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor. Alberton is from Adelaide. The Fussel Street crossing not far from Alberton Station has the Caution More Than One Train Lights...
was one of the first local stations to open in South Australia. The railway from Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
was constructed in 1856 and was the first line to be built in South Australia. Alberton
Alberton railway station, Adelaide
Alberton railway station is on the suburban rail route from Adelaide to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor. Alberton is from Adelaide. The Fussel Street crossing not far from Alberton Station has the Caution More Than One Train Lights...
was one of the original stops, the others being Woodville
Woodville railway station, Adelaide
Woodville station is on the suburban rail routes from Adelaide to Grange and Outer Harbor, 7.5 km from Adelaide. It is the junction station for the Grange branch and is one of the busiest stations on the Outer Harbour and Grange Lines. It has auto pedestrian gates and lights, the only location...
and Bowden.
The stone and brick building on the Port Adelaide-bound platform is the original station building dating from 1856.
There is still a regular train service from Alberton station
Alberton railway station, Adelaide
Alberton railway station is on the suburban rail route from Adelaide to Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor. Alberton is from Adelaide. The Fussel Street crossing not far from Alberton Station has the Caution More Than One Train Lights...
to Adelaide and Outer Harbor. Unfortunately the ticket office has been closed for the past twenty years and this contributes to the station buildings being a frequent target for vandalism and graffiti.
Politics
Alberton and the greater Port Adelaide area has always been strong Labor Party territory.Local
Alberton has always been a central part of the Port Adelaide Council which merged with Enfield Council in 1996 to become the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield was established on 1 January 1997 by the amalgamation of the City of Port Adelaide and the City of Enfield, and is one of the larger metropolitan councils within South Australia....
. The current Mayor of the council, Gary Johanson, has held the position since 2006.
State
Alberton lies in the newly created seat of Cheltenham (formerly Price). Price was represented by Murray De Laine from 1985 until 2002. However, De Laine lost preselection in 2002 and ran as an independent, losing to the Labor candidate, Jay Weatherill
Jay Weatherill
Jay Wilson Weatherill is an Australian politician and current Premier of South Australia. He has represented the electoral district of Cheltenham in the South Australian House of Assembly as a member of the Australian Labor Party since the 2002 election.-Early life:Born in the western suburbs of...
.
Federal
Alberton is within the safe Labor seat of Port Adelaide, which has been represented by Rod Sawford since 1988. The seat was created in 1949 and has only had four members since, all Labor. At the 2004 election, Sawford won the seat by a margin of 16% despite suffering a 3% swing against him.