North Adelaide

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North Adelaide is a mainly residential area just north of the River Torrens, surrounded by the Adelaide Park Lands. It was laid out in 1837 in a neat grid by Colonel William Light, and today many grand old homes and heritage buildings still line the streets.

The suburb sits in three grid layouts to fit the land. The northern grid centers on Wellington Square and O’Connell Street, the main commercial strip with cafes, shops and pubs. The middle grid runs along Tynte Street and includes the North Adelaide Primary School, a public library and local shops. The southern grid is smaller and includes St Peter’s Cathedral, the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the Cathedral Hotel. The western grid, Lower North Adelaide, features Melbourne Street, known for its cafes, galleries and pubs.

North Adelaide is home to many pubs and the famous Piccadilly cinema on O’Connell Street, a heritage venue that has been restored and continues to operate as a cinema. The area also houses several university-affiliated colleges, such as Lincoln College, Aquinas College, St Ann’s College and St Mark’s College, along with Kathleen Lumley College.

The suburb has good road access and is served by the Gawler railway line (the station is on the western edge and not heavily used). Bus routes connect North Adelaide to surrounding areas, and since 2014 a free loop bus runs through Adelaide and North Adelaide. The area is bike-friendly, with several routes and lanes.

In 2021, North Adelaide had a population of 6,823 people in about 1,494 families. About 59% of residents had a tertiary education, and there are relatively many young adults aged 20–29 compared with the wider region.

Key sights and facilities include the landmarks in the Adelaide Park Lands just north of the river (the grounds around the Adelaide Oval and other sports fields), St Peter’s Cathedral, the Queen’s Head pub, Palmer Gardens and Pangki Pangki, and a number of historic buildings along O’Connell Street and Melbourne Street. Local schools and colleges, hospitals, and a range of shops and dining options make North Adelaide a popular, easy-to-reach part of the city.