Mount Pleasant, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Mount Pleasant is a town situated at the northern end of the Adelaide Hills
region of South Australia
, 55 kilometres east-north-east of the state capital, Adelaide
(34°46′S 139°3′E). It is located in the Barossa Council
and Mid Murray Council
local government areas, and is at an altitude of 440 metres above sea level. Rainfall in the area averages 687 mm per annum.
Mount Pleasant township was developed by Henry Glover, and surveyed in 1856. It comprised the land from Railway Terrace to Saleyard Road. The name was taken from that used by James Phillis, who had come from an area near Eastry in Kent. The land had reminded him of his homeland. His sister was named Pleasant, who may also have inspired the name.
Totness was surveyed in 1858, with Henry Giles Sr. as the developer; this was the section from Saleyard Road to Pentelows Road. It was named after the birthplace of Henry’s wife, Mary Ann. Henry also developed North Totness, which is the land from Pentelows Road to the Walker’s Falt Road, surveyed in 1869.
John Hendry, a blacksmith living in Totness, developed the land to the west of Mount Pleasant, comprising that from the Crick’s Mill Road (to Williamstown) to Railway Terrace, and this was surveyed in 1865.
looking for suitable land to farm. He settled at Mount Pleasant in 1843, planted wheat, harvested the crop, and then had to take it to Adelaide to sell. From the profits he sailed to England where he bought a flock of Romney Marsh
sheep which he shipped back to the area. Over the years he became one of the district's most prosperous and successful farmers. This is an extract from an article written by Nancy Mavis Pike (née Phillis). Several of Mt Pleasant's pioneer families were to lose sons in the Great War, like William Polden who is now buried in The Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli
.
Gold was found in the district in the 1860s but the deposits were small and the miners soon moved on. The town grew slowly, never being anything more than a small service centre for the surrounding region. The police station, which dates from the 1860s, has been largely replaced by a building with 'ER' on it and the Old Talunga Hotel is quite charming. The main street, Melrose Street, is lined with beautiful plane trees.
heading towards Springton
, Eden Valley
and Angaston
.
At the ABS
2001 census, Mount Pleasant had a population of 529 people living in 240 dwellings.
to Gumeracha
and Mount Pleasant by Affordable Coachlines. A private coach service also goes from Birdwood
to the Barossa Valley
via Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pleasant was once the terminus of a railway line which branched from the Adelaide to Murray Bridge
line at Balhannah
. The line opened on 16 September 1918 and was closed on 4 March 1963, following improved road conditions via the Adelaide-Mannum Road
. The former rail corridor can still be seen from a few roads.
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
region of 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...
, 55 kilometres east-north-east of the state capital, 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...
(34°46′S 139°3′E). It is located in the Barossa Council
Barossa Council
Barossa Council is a Local Government Area in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. It was proclaimed on 1 July 1996 through the amalgamation of several former councils:*District Council of Angaston*District Council of Barossa*District Council of Tanunda...
and Mid Murray Council
Mid Murray Council
Mid Murray Council was formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of the former District Councils of Mannum, Morgan, Ridley-Truro and part of the District Council of Mount Pleasant....
local government areas, and is at an altitude of 440 metres above sea level. Rainfall in the area averages 687 mm per annum.
Origin of the name
Today's Mount Pleasant comprises three townships, Totness, Mount Pleasant and Hendryton.Mount Pleasant township was developed by Henry Glover, and surveyed in 1856. It comprised the land from Railway Terrace to Saleyard Road. The name was taken from that used by James Phillis, who had come from an area near Eastry in Kent. The land had reminded him of his homeland. His sister was named Pleasant, who may also have inspired the name.
Totness was surveyed in 1858, with Henry Giles Sr. as the developer; this was the section from Saleyard Road to Pentelows Road. It was named after the birthplace of Henry’s wife, Mary Ann. Henry also developed North Totness, which is the land from Pentelows Road to the Walker’s Falt Road, surveyed in 1869.
John Hendry, a blacksmith living in Totness, developed the land to the west of Mount Pleasant, comprising that from the Crick’s Mill Road (to Williamstown) to Railway Terrace, and this was surveyed in 1865.
European settlement
Settlers moved into the area in the late 1830s with flocks of sheep and with bags of grain. One of the early settlers, James Phillis, had arrived in Adelaide in 1839 and literally rode a horse into the Adelaide HillsAdelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
looking for suitable land to farm. He settled at Mount Pleasant in 1843, planted wheat, harvested the crop, and then had to take it to Adelaide to sell. From the profits he sailed to England where he bought a flock of Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
sheep which he shipped back to the area. Over the years he became one of the district's most prosperous and successful farmers. This is an extract from an article written by Nancy Mavis Pike (née Phillis). Several of Mt Pleasant's pioneer families were to lose sons in the Great War, like William Polden who is now buried in The Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
.
Gold was found in the district in the 1860s but the deposits were small and the miners soon moved on. The town grew slowly, never being anything more than a small service centre for the surrounding region. The police station, which dates from the 1860s, has been largely replaced by a building with 'ER' on it and the Old Talunga Hotel is quite charming. The main street, Melrose Street, is lined with beautiful plane trees.
Geography
Mount Pleasant is located 10 km north-east of BirdwoodBirdwood, South Australia
Birdwood is a town near Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area.- Origin of the name :Formerly known as Blumberg, the German town name was anglicized during World War I, along with many others in the region in 1917...
heading towards Springton
Springton, South Australia
Springton is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Springton had a population of 330.One of the Early Pioneer Families in the area was the Polden Family,whom also settled in the nearby Mt.Pleasant & Mt. Crawford areas from the 1840s....
, Eden Valley
Eden Valley, South Australia
Eden Valley is a small South Australian town in the Barossa Ranges. It was named by the surveyors of the area after they found the word "Eden" carved into a tree. Eden Valley has an elevation of 460 metres and an average annual rainfall of 716.2mm....
and Angaston
Angaston, South Australia
Angaston is a town in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, 77 km north east of Adelaide. Its elevation is 347 m, one of the highest points in the valley, and has an average rainfall of 561 mm...
.
At the ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
2001 census, Mount Pleasant had a population of 529 people living in 240 dwellings.
Facilities
Mount Pleasant has a primary school, kindergarten, a district hospital, volunteer ambulance station, butcher, general store,golf club, chemist, two banks, caravan park, RSL and a football clubTransport
A coach is operated from Tea Tree Plaza InterchangeTea Tree Plaza Interchange
Tea Tree Plaza Interchange is an interchange belonging to the Adelaide Metro. It is the terminating station of the O-Bahn Busway, and is a central public transport hub for the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.The interchange is also a popular hangout for students from the nearby...
to Gumeracha
Gumeracha, South Australia
Gumeracha is a town near Adelaide, South Australia, located on the Adelaide-Mannum Road. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area. At the 2006 census, Gumeracha had a population of 731.-History:...
and Mount Pleasant by Affordable Coachlines. A private coach service also goes from Birdwood
Birdwood, South Australia
Birdwood is a town near Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area.- Origin of the name :Formerly known as Blumberg, the German town name was anglicized during World War I, along with many others in the region in 1917...
to the Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
via Mount Pleasant.
Mount Pleasant was once the terminus of a railway line which branched from the Adelaide to Murray Bridge
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
line at Balhannah
Balhannah, South Australia
Balhannah is a town in the Adelaide Hills about 30 km southeast of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It was established in 1839 as a farming community. The fruit cold store built in 1914 was one of the first in Australia and is still in use. It is on the main interstate railway between...
. The line opened on 16 September 1918 and was closed on 4 March 1963, following improved road conditions via the Adelaide-Mannum Road
Adelaide-Mannum Road
Adelaide–Mannum Road is a road that runs through the northern Adelaide Hills between the South Australian capital, Adelaide and Mannum on the Murray River. It is designated State Highway A10 in the metropolitan area and B10 in rural areas, and is 77 kilometres in length. It is named after the two...
. The former rail corridor can still be seen from a few roads.