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Adelaide Destitute Asylum

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107-709: The Destitute Asylum was a government-funded institution in Adelaide in the colony of South Australia , designed to support those of its citizens who had no means of financial support, especially new arrivals and mothers with children. It was first established around 1839 as a Native School (also knowns as the Native School Establishment, and the location as the Native Location), with boarding facilities, for teaching local Aboriginal children, and functioned for some years in this capacity. As

214-575: A concrete slab foundation , lined with Gyprock , and with an outer skin of brickwork, to cope with Adelaide's reactive soils , particularly Keswick Clay, black earth and some red-brown earth soils. The use of precast concrete panels for floor and wall construction has also increased. In addition to this, a significant factor in Adelaide's suburban history is the role of the South Australian Housing Trust . Adelaide has

321-564: A 20th-century motor city. The Mannum–Adelaide pipeline brought River Murray water to Adelaide in 1955 and an airport opened at West Beach in 1955. Flinders University and the Flinders Medical Centre were established in the 1960s at Bedford Park, south of the city. Today, Flinders Medical Centre is one of the largest teaching hospitals in South Australia. In the post-war years around the early 1960s, Adelaide

428-508: A child for instance, or to be admitted to the Asylum. Duties included visiting past inmates to check on their living arrangements. Those who had clearly been dissembling or whose circumstances had improved (through inheritance or marriage etc.) were invoiced for the cost of their accommodation. By 1865 a schoolhouse had been built on the grounds, and one John Young (not John L. Young ) and his wife were appointed teachers. The school closed with

535-551: A commission to enquire into the operation of the Destitute Act. Chairman was the Chief Justice , ( Samuel Way ), and members included C. H. Goode ; Maurice Salom ; W. Haines, W. Bundey (mayor); Henry W. Thompson ; C. Proud acted as secretary. Chief subjects examined were the boys' reformatories at Magill and the hulk Fitzjames at Largs Bay; the girls' reformatory and the evils of the barrack system compared with

642-499: A complex social structure including a class of sorcerers separated from regular society. Within a few decades of European settlement of South Australia , Kaurna culture was almost completely destroyed. The last speaker of Kaurna language died in 1929. Extensive documentation by early missionaries and other researchers has enabled a modern revival of both, which has included a commitment by local and state governments to rename or include Kaurna names for many local places. Based on

749-655: A hectic era of land booms and tumultuous expansionism. Financial institutions in Melbourne and banks in Sydney closed. The national fertility rate fell and immigration was reduced to a trickle. The value of South Australia's exports nearly halved. Drought and poor harvests from 1884 compounded the problems, with some families leaving for Western Australia. Adelaide was not as badly hit as the larger gold-rush cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and silver and lead discoveries at Broken Hill provided some relief. Only one year of deficit

856-491: A hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csa ) under the Köppen climate classification . The city has hot, dry summers and cool winters with moderate rainfall. Most precipitation falls in the winter months, leading to the suggestion that the climate be classified as a "cold monsoon". Rainfall is unreliable, light and infrequent throughout summer, although heavy falls can occur. The winter has fairly reliable rainfall with June being

963-550: A morgue. The Destitute Asylum operated until 1926 providing financial assistance and temporary accommodation to the needy." "The Mounted Police barracks, with a brick archway leading to a quadrangle, was built between 1851 and 1855, and served until 1917, when a new facility was built on the Port Road near the Adelaide Gaol. One of the buildings was used by Adelaide Teachers College from 1921, after they had been evicted by

1070-626: A new morgue was built at the West Terrace Cemetery and went into service that June. The old one was not demolished however, as witnessed by the SA Museum photographer in 1918. Three services were held each Sunday: Baptist, Wesleyan (Methodist), and Episcopalian (Anglican). Catholic Mass was conducted here fortnightly. "Outdoor relief" was an office established to supply basic food to indigent citizens who would otherwise starve. Approved recipients would queue up outside on  ?? at

1177-501: A plan of the establishment designated GRG 27/32. A copy now held by SA Archives, on which some person has pencilled a key to Areas and Building/Room numbers, is reproduced here. Note that, contrary to usual practice, west is at the top. The (colored) location map alongside has been rotated to correspond. In November 1917, with demolition of many of the Asylum's buildings imminent, the South Australian Museum took

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1284-616: A series of photographs, which the State Library now hold, and have made digital copies freely available. A number of these have been adapted and listed below, sequenced by Area, roughly clockwise, and the Room/Building numbers are listed Left to Right (S→N), Top to Bottom (W→E) of the plan. Adelaide Adelaide ( / ˈ æ d ɪ l eɪ d / AD -il-ayd , locally [ˈædəlæɪd] ; Kaurna : Tardanya , pronounced [ˈd̪̥aɳɖaɲa] )

1391-539: A significant increase in the state government's spending on Adelaide's infrastructure occurred. The Rann government invested A$ 535 million in a major upgrade of the Adelaide Oval to enable Australian Football League to be played in the city centre and more than A$ 2 billion to build a new Royal Adelaide Hospital on land adjacent to the Adelaide Railway Station. The Glenelg tramline

1498-564: A substantial majority of the South Australian House of Assembly. Of the 47 seats in the chamber, 34 seats (three-quarters of the legislature) are based in Adelaide, and two rural seats include Adelaide suburbs. The Adelaide metropolitan area is divided between nineteen local government areas . At its centre, the City of Adelaide administers the Adelaide city centre , North Adelaide , and the surrounding Adelaide Parklands . It

1605-644: A team of men to set out Adelaide, using various templates for city plans going back to Ancient Greece , including Italian Renaissance designs and the similar layouts of the American cities Philadelphia and Savannah –which, like Adelaide, follow the same layout of a central city square, four complementing city squares surrounding it and a parklands area that surrounds the city centre. The benefits of Light's design are numerous: Adelaide has had wide multi-lane roads from its beginning, an easily navigable cardinal direction grid layout and an expansive green ring around

1712-569: A total land area of 870 km (340 sq mi), while a more expansive definition by the Australian Bureau of Statistics defines a "Greater Adelaide" statistical area totalling 3,259.8 km (1,258.6 sq mi). The city sits at an average elevation of 50 metres (160 ft) above sea level. Mount Lofty , east of the Adelaide metropolitan region in the Adelaide Hills at an elevation of 727 metres (2,385 ft),

1819-662: Is left to be found in reserves such as the Cleland National Park and Belair National Park . A number of creeks and rivers flow through the Adelaide region. The largest are the Torrens and Onkaparinga catchments. Adelaide relies on its many reservoirs for water supply with the Happy Valley Reservoir supplying around 40% and the much larger Mount Bold Reservoir 10% of Adelaide's domestic requirements respectively. Adelaide and its surrounding area

1926-717: Is north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, on the Adelaide Plains between the Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. The city stretches 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills, and 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south. According to the Regional Development Australia, an Australian government planning initiative, the "Adelaide Metropolitan Region" has

2033-493: Is now the suburb of Glenelg North . The event is commemorated in South Australia as Proclamation Day . The site of the colony's capital was surveyed and laid out by Colonel William Light , the first surveyor-general of South Australia, with his own original, unique, topographically sensitive design. The city was named after Queen Adelaide . Adelaide was established as a planned colony of free immigrants, promising civil liberties and freedom from religious persecution, based upon

2140-544: Is one of the most seismically active regions in Australia. On 1 March 1954 at 3:40 am Adelaide experienced its largest recorded earthquake to date, with the epicentre 12 km from the city centre at Darlington , and a reported magnitude of 5.6. There have been smaller earthquakes in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The uplands of the Adelaide Hills , part of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges to

2247-452: Is the capital and most populous city of South Australia , and the fifth-most populous city in Australia . The name "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills ) or the Adelaide city centre . The demonym Adelaidean is used to denote the city and the residents of Adelaide. The traditional owners of the Adelaide region are the Kaurna . The area of

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2354-445: Is the oldest municipal authority in Australia and was established in 1840, when Adelaide and Australia's first mayor, James Hurtle Fisher , was elected. From 1919 onwards, the city has had a Lord Mayor , the current being Lord Mayor The Right Honourable Jane Lomax-Smith . Adelaide's inhabitants are known as Adelaideans. Fullarton, South Australia Fullarton is an inner southern suburb of Adelaide , South Australia in

2461-475: Is the site of many governmental and financial institutions. Most of these are concentrated in the city centre along the cultural boulevards of North Terrace and King William Street . The area around modern-day Adelaide was originally inhabited by the Indigenous Kaurna people, one of many Aboriginal tribes in South Australia. The city and parklands area was known as Tarntanya, Tandanya, now

2568-484: Is the tallest point of the city and in the state south of Burra . The city borders the Temperate Grassland of South Australia in the east, an endangered vegetation community. Much of Adelaide was bushland before British settlement, with some variation – sandhills, swamps and marshlands were prevalent around the coast. The loss of the sandhills to urban development had a particularly destructive effect on

2675-589: The Adelaide city centre and a ring of parks, known as the Adelaide Parklands , surrounding it. Light's selection of the location for the city was initially unpopular with the early settlers, as well as South Australia's first governor, John Hindmarsh, due to its distance from the harbour at Port Adelaide, and the lack of fresh water there. Light successfully persisted with his choice of location against this initial opposition. Recent evidence suggests that Light worked closely with George Kingston as well as

2782-527: The Australian Space Agency being headquartered here. Adelaide's quality of life has ranked consistently highly in various measures through the 21st century, at one stage being named Australia's most liveable city, third in the world. Its aesthetic appeal has also been recognised by Architectural Digest , which ranked Adelaide as the most beautiful city in the world in 2024. As South Australia's government and commercial centre, Adelaide

2889-425: The City of Unley . It adjoins Parkside, Unley, Malvern, Highgate and Myrtle Bank and is bisected by Fullarton Road. Fullarton is bounded by Cremorne Street, Randolph Avenue and Fullarton Road in the north, Glen Osmond Road in the east, Fisher Street, Fullarton Road and Cheltenham Street in the south and Balmoral Street, Fisher Street and Windsor Street in the west. It was first developed by James Frew, who laid out

2996-561: The SA Government announced plans for a network of transport-oriented developments across the Adelaide metropolitan area and purchased a 10 hectare industrial site at Bowden for $ 52.5 million as the first of these developments. Historically, Adelaide's suburban residential areas have been characterised by single-storey detached houses built on 1,000-square-metre ( 1 ⁄ 4 -acre) blocks. A relative lack of suitable, locally-available timber for construction purposes led to

3103-1172: The Torrens Building in Victoria Square as the Adelaide campus for Carnegie Mellon University, University College London, and Torrens University; the Stock Exchange building as the Science Exchange of the Royal Institution Australia; and the Glenside Psychiatric Hospital as the Adelaide Studios of the SA Film Corporation . The government invested more than A$ 2 billion to build a desalination plant , powered by renewable energy, as an "insurance policy" against droughts affecting Adelaide's water supply . The Adelaide Festival , Fringe , and Womadelaide became annual events. Adelaide

3210-698: The lower house known as the House of Assembly and the upper house known as the Legislative Council . General elections are held every four years, the last being the 2022 South Australian state election . As Adelaide is South Australia's capital and most populous city, the State Government co-operates extensively with the City of Adelaide . In 2006, the Ministry for the City of Adelaide

3317-613: The " City of Churches " due to its diversity of faiths. The city has also been renowned for its automotive industry , as well as being the original host of the Australian Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship from 1985 to 1995. Today, Adelaide is known by its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine , its coastline and hills, its large defence and manufacturing sectors, and its emerging space sector, including

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3424-570: The 1970s, deep red and brown bricks became popular. Until the 1970s, roofs tended to be clad with (painted) corrugated iron or cement or clay tiles, usually red "terracotta". Since then, Colorbond corrugated steel has dominated. Most roofs are pitched. Flat roofs are not common. Up to the 1970s, most houses were of "double brick" construction on concrete footings, with timber floors laid on joists supported by "dwarf walls". Later houses have mainly been of " brick veneer " construction – structural timber or, more recently, lightweight steel frame on

3531-574: The Asylum and into respectable homes. Initial trials of their "boarding-out" scheme proved encouraging, and was adopted by Reed, not only as a humanitarian move but for its potential for saving money. By 1873 organisation of the scheme had been put on a firm foundation. Reed left for England in March 1876 for a year's leave with pay at the end of which time he resigned. Judah Moss Solomon , his replacement, died in August 1880 and Reed, by now back in Adelaide,

3638-466: The Asylum, a Civil Service position. On 3 February 1867 T. S. Reed , brother-in-law of Chief Justice Hanson , was appointed Chairman, and senior to Holthouse, whose salary was reduced by £80. When Holthouse protested, he was accused of lack of respect and dismissed. Emily Clark and Catherine Helen Spence , fearful for the deleterious effect unhealthy and dispirited adults would have on unwanted and orphaned children, sought to remove such children from

3745-509: The Asylum. It was notorious that many women and children became destitute when their husbands and fathers left without trace, into the country or interstate, out of reach of the authorities and any but the most determined and resourceful of wives. Catherine Helen Spence observed in 1906 that the Destitute Board was so fearful of supporting healthy men who could not find work that it refused sustenance to his wife and children, compelling

3852-573: The Australian states were established after the Murray River was successfully navigated in 1853 by Francis Cadell , an Adelaide resident. South Australia became a self-governing colony in 1856 with the ratification of a new constitution by the British parliament. Secret ballots were introduced, and a bicameral parliament was elected on 9 March 1857, by which time 109,917 people lived in

3959-725: The Church of Scotland. Under a new Act — the Destitute Persons Relief Bill, passed on 29 December 1866 — the Board was dissolved and the first meeting of the new Destitute Board, whose responsibilities now also included the Children's Apprenticeship Board, was held at the Destitute Asylum buildings on 15 February 1867. Edward Holthouse (1813–1890) was Secretary of the Board 1850–1867 and Superintendent of

4066-547: The Destitute Department under control of the Chief Secretary. In January 1889 the post of Chairman was added to his responsibilities and £15 p.a. to his salary. G. W. Hawkes, Henry Kelly, J.P., Joshua Gurr, Charles Clark, J.P., and A. A. Fox, J.P. were appointed to the new Board. Lindsay retired in 1905 and was succeeded by T. H. Atkinson (1859–1933), his longtime deputy. In 1883 parliament appointed

4173-592: The Emigration Board, whose remit was to assist new arrivals who as yet were unable to support themselves. By 1848 it had become the Emigration and Destitute Poor Department, which after dropping the "Emigration" remained the responsible department until around 1910, under the direction of the Destitute Board. They had two programs: "outdoor":distribution of rations to those who would otherwise starve, and "indoor": provision of shelter and medical attention to

4280-791: The Female Immigrant Depot added to his responsibilities, but had no direct involvement. He retired 15 months later. Any problems the staff had were to be resolved by the Secretary of the Destitute Board. The position of Superintendent of the Destitute Asylum was created in 1863, initially as a non-Board position, and was held by: This was a board position, whose duty it was to assess prospective recipients, to check their bona fides and living arrangements, and what resources, including family, they could call on and what assets they could liquidate, then to determine what rations they should be allocated, to pay for essential services, burial of

4387-611: The Resident Commissioner, James Hurtle Fisher . The rural area surrounding Adelaide was surveyed by Light in preparation to sell a total of over 405 km (156 sq mi) of land. Adelaide's early economy started to get on its feet in 1838 with the arrival of livestock from Victoria , New South Wales and Tasmania . Wool production provided an early basis for the South Australian economy. By 1860, wheat farms had been established from Encounter Bay in

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4494-565: The University, pending erection of a new building on Kintore Avenue. "Destitute Asylum situated in Kintore Avenue was built of bluestone in 1877-78. The two storey building depicted is part of the women's general quarters and not on Kintore Avenue. It is part of quadrangle C, buildings 26 and 20. Arches feature along the walls of both storeys providing shelter from the elements." Around 1900, an unnamed government department prepared

4601-461: The Victorian gold rush. Destitute Asylum which was erected in 1854." "By 1856 a quadrangle of buildings in Kintore Avenue off North Terrace known as the Destitute Asylum was providing indoor relief to many women, men and children in the new colony. Welfare provisions introduced at the turn of the century reduced the demand for the home and it was finally closed in 1918." "The Old Destitute Asylum

4708-551: The area in 1849, and named it after his wife, formerly Jane Fullarton. The family resided at an estate Malwood on what is now known as 11 and 13 Frew Street. Other significant historic properties include Woodfield at 78 Fisher Street and Penrose at 115 Wattle Street. Fullarton has a mix of housing styles with leafy, tree-lined streets dotted with character homes – from Victorian Villas through Edwardian, Art Deco and Californian bungalows – alongside many modern rebuilds and subdivisions. Detached houses make up about 45 per cent of

4815-474: The arts, building upon the biennial " Adelaide Festival of Arts " that commenced in 1960. The State Bank collapsed in 1991 during an economic recession. The effects lasted until 2004, when Standard & Poor's reinstated South Australia's AAA credit rating. Adelaide's tallest building, completed in 2020, is called the Adelaidean and is located at 11 Frome Street. In the early years of the 21st century,

4922-576: The boarding-out plan. Goode and Thompson subsequently became members of the State Children's Council . Day-to-day running of the Asylum was in the hands of several appointed officers: Initially, the Destitute Asylum had no-one responsible for day-to-day operations. In 1855 Matthew Moorhouse , Protector of Aborigines, had the position of Comptroller of the Destitute Poor Establishment, and also that of Superintendent of

5029-768: The city centre and surrounding Park Lands is called Tarndanya in the Kaurna language . Adelaide is situated on the Adelaide Plains north of the Fleurieu Peninsula , between the Gulf St Vincent in the west and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east. Its metropolitan area extends 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and stretches 96 km (60 mi) from Gawler in

5136-499: The city centre in a grid layout known as " Light's Vision ", interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by park lands. Early colonial Adelaide was shaped by the diversity and wealth of its free settlers, in contrast to the convict history of other Australian cities. It was Australia's third most populated city until the post-war era. It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms, and became known as

5243-507: The city centre. There are two sets of ring roads in Adelaide that have resulted from the original design. The inner ring route ( A21 ) borders the parklands, and the outer route ( A3 / A13 / A16 / A17 ) completely bypasses the inner city via (in clockwise order) Grand Junction Road , Hampstead Road, Ascot Avenue, Portrush Road , Cross Road and South Road . Suburban expansion has to some extent outgrown Light's original plan. Numerous former outlying villages and "country towns", as well as

5350-399: The city. The plan involved the construction of freeways, expressways and the upgrade of certain aspects of the public transport system. The then premier Steele Hall approved many parts of the plan and the government went as far as purchasing land for the project. The later Labor government elected under Don Dunstan shelved the plan, but allowed the purchased land to remain vacant, should

5457-505: The coastline due to erosion. Where practical, the government has implemented programs to rebuild and vegetate sandhills at several of Adelaide's beachside suburbs. Tennyson Dunes is the largest contiguous, tertiary dune system contained entirely within Metropolitan Adelaide, providing refuge for a variety of remnant species formerly found along the entire coastline. Much of the original vegetation has been cleared with what

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5564-583: The compound for an hour once a week, but were obliged to wear an institution jumper (which Rev. Bryant C. Stephenson , visiting chaplain for much of that decade, deplored) rather than their own clothes. Meals were mostly meat (boiled or roast mutton principally) and potatoes, with bread and lard or butter. A "sick diet" consisted largely of oatmeal, soup and gruel and wine. " It ceased to be an asylum in 1931, The Adelaide Destitute Asylum housed women and children in dire poverty. The number of inmates increased significantly when husbands deserted their families during

5671-597: The downthrown St Vincent Basin and its embayments, including the Adelaide Plains Sub-basin, and the Golden Grove, Noarlunga and Willunga Embayments. These basins contain deposits of Tertiary marine and non-marine sands and limestones, which form important aquifers. These deposits are overlain by Quaternary alluvial fans and piedmont slope deposits, derived from erosion of the uplands, consisting of sands, clays and gravels, interfingering to

5778-536: The early development of a brick-making industry, as well as the use of stone, for houses and other buildings. By 1891, 68% of houses were built of stone, 15% of timber, and 10% of brick, with brick also being widely used in stone houses for quoins, door and window surrounds, and chimneys and fireplaces. There is a wide variety in the styles of these houses. Until the 1960s, most of the more substantial houses were built of red brick, though many front walls were of ornamental stone. Then cream bricks became fashionable, and in

5885-656: The east of Adelaide, are defined on their western side by a number of arcuate faults (the Para, Eden, Clarendon and Willunga Faults), and consist of rocks such as siltstone , dolomite and quartzite , dating from the Neoproterozoic to the middle Cambrian , laid down in the Adelaide Rift Complex, the oldest part of the Adelaide Superbasin . Most of the Adelaide metropolitan area lies in

5992-641: The future need for freeways arise. In 1980, the Liberal party won government and premier David Tonkin committed his government to selling off the land acquired for the MATS plan, ensuring that even when needs changed, the construction of most MATS-proposed freeways would be impractical. Some parts of this land have been used for transport, (e.g. the O-Bahn Busway and Southern Expressway), while most has been progressively subdivided for residential use. In 2008,

6099-753: The gold diggings in (especially) Victoria . In 1855 there were eight beds in this ward. "Lying-in" is the traditional rest period accorded a woman after she has given birth, when her sole responsibility is to her baby, and has little or no contact with men. The Asylum had a lying-in ward on the upper floor of the women's ward east of the quadrangle in 1865, but it was not of a high standard, and newspapers report Adelaide's first lying-in ward as founded in October 1867 in Flinders Street , and had been set up to service recent immigrants and poor but respectable wives and widows, but also young single mothers. Mrs Hunt

6206-413: The home for six months. By which time a strong bond with the baby would usually have developed, and the mother would presumably have benefited from the matron's knowledge and experience. In 1869 a section adjacent the ground floor section was set apart as a Girls' Reformatory. This proved a poor decision, as the introduction of the irresponsible element led to a breakdown of morale and self-discipline among

6313-520: The homeless. In 1855 the Asylum had accommodation for 66 inmates, but held 25 males and 46 females, many of whom had been transferred for convalescence from the chronically overcrowded Adelaide Hospital . In October 1879 ten inmates who were beyond medical help, but whose condition was not contagious and were mentally sound, were transferred to the Home for Incurables in Fullarton , which establishment

6420-402: The hospital for convalescent patients, or those suffering incurable or chronic conditions. Traditional inmate employment, breaking rocks and oakum-picking , was limited by available space. Existence of relatives capable of maintaining them was often discovered by opening their mail. Residents of the Female section (established 1851) were mostly single mothers or wives whose husbands had left for

6527-438: The housing stock with 45 per cent being semi-detached and units. Fullarton also houses a number of aged care facilities including the former Julia Farr Centre . This 2.8 hectare site is marked for redevelopment as Highgate Park. Fullarton Park hosts monthly Fullarton Markets for plants, produce, food and bric-a-brac and houses the Fullarton Community Centre. Katherine St Reserve playground offers varied play areas, including

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6634-463: The ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield about colonial reform, Robert Gouger petitioned the British government to create a new colony in Australia, resulting in the passage of the South Australia Act 1834 . Physical establishment of the colony began with the arrival of the first British colonisers in February 1836. The first governor proclaimed the commencement of colonial government in South Australia on 28 December 1836, near The Old Gum Tree in what

6741-487: The ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield . Wakefield had read accounts of Australian settlement while in prison in London for attempting to abduct an heiress, and realised that the eastern colonies suffered from a lack of available labour, due to the practice of giving land grants to all arrivals. Wakefield's idea was for the Government to survey and sell the land at a rate that would maintain land values high enough to be unaffordable for labourers and journeymen. Funds raised from

6848-451: The man to desert them, a major cause of broken families. Given these facts, it would be expected that most of the Asylum's inmates would be female but that was far from the case. Males outnumbered females two to one. "The Commonwéalth old age pension system came into operation in 1909, and there was a drop in the ratio per thousand of population of persons assisted by the State Government from 9.43 in 1908–09 to 9.31 in 1909–10." The Asylum

6955-402: The needy." "This stone building, with its Dutch gables and slate roof, was originally part of the Police Barracks and was granted to the Destitute Board in April 1851." "Destitute Asylum situated in Kintore Avenue was built of bluestone in 1877-78. Buildings were added over the years to accommodate the poor, infirm and orphans. Some of these buildings included a nursery, wash-house, stables and

7062-439: The north to Sellicks Beach in the south. Named in honour of Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen , wife of King William IV , the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia. Colonel William Light , one of Adelaide's founding fathers, designed the city centre and chose its location close to the River Torrens . Light's design, now listed as national heritage , set out

7169-473: The northernmost entrance, where they would be issued with flour, salt, tea and sugar. Chits for meat and (as an alternative to the flour ration) bread were issued, redeemable at the contract butcher and the Aerated Bread Company. It was the duty of the Relieving Officer to visit the homes of those seeking or receiving rations, to check the bona fides of recipients. A stock of well-thumbed books, whose original covers had been replaced with sturdy buckram boards,

7276-410: The number attending remained small, largely due to indolence on the part of the colonisers. However this site was dismantled in 1845, on the orders of Governor George Grey , who thought it best to take the children away from their parents, and a new Native School run by the government, which taught only in English, was established near what is now Kintore Avenue . The Native School closed in 1851, with

7383-457: The old asylum now houses the Migration Museum in Kintore Avenue . The asylum was eventually closed in 1912. In 1839 The South Australian Register called for establishment of a benevolent society which would provide the necessities of life for widows and orphans, abandoned children, and industrious workers who by sickness or injury could not provide for themselves and their families; all assuming they had no family to call on. No consideration

7490-409: The only transport infrastructure developed to cope with the urban growth. The O-Bahn Busway is an example of a unique solution to Tea Tree Gully's transport woes in the 1980s. The development of the nearby suburb of Golden Grove in the late 1980s followed a planned approach to urban growth. In the 1960s, a Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study Plan was proposed to cater for the future growth of

7597-567: The opening of the Industrial School at Magill and the increase in boarding-out and adoption of orphans. Another key position was that of head wardsman, held by Ernest Charles Gunther (died 1929) from at least 1901–1911. Gunther and matron Uppington represented the Asylum when the Duke and Duchess toured North Terrace in 1901. Most of the occupants of the laying-in department were unmarried girls. Their best hopes of subsequent solvency, if they had no family to return to, lay in marriage or domestic service, otherwise they were destined for prostitution or

7704-651: The plains which stretched north and south of Tarntanya as well as the wooded foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges . The River Torrens was known as the Karrawirra Pari (Red Gum forest river). About 300 Kaurna populated the Adelaide area, and were referred to by the settlers as the Cowandilla. There were more than 20 local clans across the plain who lived semi-nomadic lives, with extensive mound settlements where huts were built repeatedly over centuries and

7811-468: The principal venereal diseases. The lying-in home was governed by the Destitute Board but registered separately from the Asylum, and there was to be no fraternisation between inmates of the two institutions. The matron served as midwife, and officiated at all births that did not require use of obstetric instruments, in which case a surgeon would be called from the Adelaide Hospital. The matron

7918-610: The province. In 1860, the Thorndon Park reservoir was opened, providing an alternative water source to the now turbid River Torrens. Gas street lighting was implemented in 1867, the University of Adelaide was founded in 1874, the South Australian Art Gallery opened in 1881 and the Happy Valley Reservoir opened in 1896. In the 1890s Australia was affected by a severe economic depression, ending

8025-564: The remaining children were taken to Poonindie Mission at Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula . In October 1848 a contingent of 219 Irish orphan girls arrived by the Roman Emperor and were given temporary accommodation in the under-utilised schoolhouse by Matthew Moorhouse , who had the dual responsibilities of Protector of Aborigines and Immigration Officer. It had been expected that these girls, aged 9 to 14, would relieve

8132-409: The reports of visitors in the early 20th century, noting that "many visitors to Adelaide admired the foresighted planning of its founders", as well as pondering the riches of the young city. Adelaide enjoyed a postwar boom, entering a time of relative prosperity. Its population grew, and it became the third most populous metropolitan area in the country, after Sydney and Melbourne . Its prosperity

8239-403: The sale of land were to be used to bring out working-class emigrants, who would have to work hard for the monied settlers to ever afford their own land. As a result of this policy, Adelaide does not share the convict settlement history of other Australian cities like Sydney , Brisbane and Hobart . As it was believed that in a colony of free settlers there would be little crime, no provision

8346-581: The satellite city of Elizabeth , have been enveloped by its suburban sprawl . Expanding developments in the Adelaide Hills region led to the construction of the South Eastern Freeway to cope with growth, which has subsequently led to new developments and further improvements to that transport corridor. Similarly, the booming development in Adelaide's South led to the construction of the Southern Expressway . New roads are not

8453-505: The school was not fully supported and therefore under-utilised, it started being used for young women arriving in the colony on their own, sometimes as orphans, and around 1850 became the Destitute Asylum. By 1855 it was holding both males and females, many of whom had been transferred for convalescence from the Adelaide Hospital . The Destitute Asylum was housed in several buildings, some of which were altered over time. Part of

8560-705: The servant shortage in the colony, but most found husbands instead. Roman Emperor was followed in June 1849 by Posthumous , Florentia , Sir Edward Parry , and Inconstant , all within a few weeks of each other, and additional accommodation for those who did not find a placement immediately was provided at the "Native Location". It was not long before a letter was published in the South Australian Register by one Michael D'Arcy, writing as "Aliquis", alleging that these women were being paid for sex by male colonists. The South Australian Government instituted

8667-438: The short name of Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute , Tarndanya, or Tarndanyangga , now the dual name for Victoria Square, in the Kaurna language . The name means 'male red kangaroo rock', referring to a rock formation on the site that has now been destroyed. The surrounding area was an open grassy plain with patches of trees and shrubs which had been managed by hundreds of generations. Kaurna country encompassed

8774-693: The south to Clare in the north. George Gawler took over from Hindmarsh in late 1838 and, despite being under orders from the Select Committee on South Australia in Britain not to undertake any public works, promptly oversaw construction of a governor's house, the Adelaide Gaol , police barracks, a hospital, a customs house and a wharf at Port Adelaide . Gawler was recalled and replaced by George Edward Grey in 1841. Grey slashed public expenditure against heavy opposition, although its impact

8881-612: The summer typically range from 8 to 10 °C (46 to 50 °F). There are usually several days in summer where the temperature reaches 40.0 °C (104.0 °F) or above; the frequency of these temperatures has been increasing in recent years . Temperature extremes range from −0.4 °C (31.4 °F), 8 June 1982 to 47.7 °C (117.9 °F), 24 January 2019. The city features 90.6 clear days annually. The average sea temperature ranges from 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) in August to 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) in February. Adelaide

8988-407: The west with transgressive Pleistocene to Holocene marine sands and coastal sediments of the shoreline of Gulf St Vincent. Adelaide is a planned city, designed by the first Surveyor-General of South Australia, Colonel William Light . His plan, sometimes referred to as "Light's Vision" (also the name of a statue of him on Montefiore Hill ), arranged Adelaide in a grid , with five squares in

9095-455: The wettest month of the year, averaging around 80 mm. Frosts are occasional, with the most notable occurrences in 1908 and 1982. Hail is common in winter. Adelaide is a windy city with significant wind chill in winter, which makes the temperature seem colder than it actually is . Snowfall in the metropolitan area is extremely rare, although light and sporadic falls in the nearby hills and at Mount Lofty occur during winter. Dewpoints in

9202-589: The world's second National Park City, after the state government had lobbied for this title. It was ranked the most liveable city in Australia by the Property Council of Australia , based on surveys of residents' views of their own city, between 2010 and 2013, dropping to second place in 2014. Adelaide, as the capital of South Australia, is the seat of the Government of South Australia . The bicameral Parliament of South Australia consists of

9309-677: The young mothers, and in 1881 the Reformatory girls were moved to what had been the Boys' Reformatory at Magill. Adelaide city morgue was established in an open field behind the State Library well away from any other building, however in the ensuing thirty years the Destitute Asylum had expanded to such an extent that parts of the Asylum, notably the Lying-in wards, were uncomfortably close, calls were made for it to be replaced. In 1886

9416-407: Was as yet no separate institution for the blind. There was a separate section for consumptives, but their building had no indoor lavatory, so commodes were used. Dr. Clindening, who found the inmates obnoxious, visited each of the tubercular patients once a week. There were three nurses for the female section: two during the day and one at night, all supervised by the matron. The men were allowed out of

9523-481: Was consistently ranked in the world's 10 most liveable cities through the 2010s by The Economist Intelligence Unit . In June 2021, The Economist ranked Adelaide the third most liveable city in the world, behind Auckland and Osaka . In June 2023, Adelaide was ranked the twelfth most liveable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit. In December 2021, Adelaide was named

9630-629: Was created to facilitate the State Government's collaboration with the Adelaide City Council and the Lord Mayor to improve Adelaide's image. The State Parliament's Capital City Committee is also involved in the governance of the City of Adelaide, being primarily concerned with the planning of Adelaide's urban development and growth. Reflecting South Australia's status as Australia's most centralised state, Adelaide elects

9737-444: Was expanded at the nearby port of Whyalla . The South Australian Government in this period built on former wartime manufacturing industries but neglected cultural facilities which meant South Australia's economy lagged behind. International manufacturers like Holden and Chrysler made use of these factories around the Adelaide area in suburbs like Elizabeth , completing its transformation from an agricultural service centre to

9844-407: Was expected to notify the hospital when a birth was imminent so trainee doctors could observe, however the exchange of knowledge which could have benefited both parties was limited due to professional jealousy. An abuse of the system, whereby a woman who after giving birth would dispose of the child then hire herself out to a well-to-do family as a wetnurse , was mitigated by requiring her to remain at

9951-410: Was extended through the city to Hindmarsh down to East Terrace and the suburban railway line extended south to Seaford. Following a period of stagnation in the 1990s and 2000s, Adelaide began several major developments and redevelopments. The Adelaide Convention Centre was redeveloped and expanded at a cost of A$ 350 million beginning in 2012. Three historic buildings were adapted for modern use:

10058-502: Was first accommodated in the old Police Court, a collection of single-storey buildings around a quadrangle near the Barracks. In the early 1860s, in response to overcrowding, those buildings to the east and south of the quadrangle were given an upper storey, and a schoolroom was added. The courtroom became the children's ward; a living room with sleeping quarters at each end, and a bathroom (hot and cold water) attached. Clothing for inmates

10165-425: Was founded in 1856. It housed 65 women, 30 men and 43 children. It provided government assistance to vulnerable immigrants who had no relatives in the colony." "Buildings were added over the years to accommodate the poor, infirm and orphans. Some of these buildings included a nursery, wash-house, stables and a morgue. The Destitute Asylum operated until 1926 providing financial assistance and temporary accommodation to

10272-685: Was given to destitution as the result of general unemployment. Around 1839 a Native School, later designated "Native School Establishment" with boarding facilities was established in the Park Lands near North Terrace in a section designated the Native Location (later the "Old Location"). It was opened in December 1940, supported by Governor George Gawler . By 1841 it had had sufficient success to establish that Aboriginal children were every bit as bright and teachable as white students; however

10379-667: Was later renamed the Julia Farr Centre in honour of its founder . The South Australian approach to destitute relief was highly centralised, contrary to that of Britain. Membership of the first Destitute Board (1850–1859) changed frequently and consisted almost exclusively of ministers of religion, notably Dean James Farrell , the Catholic Fr Michael Ryan (c. 1808 – 24 August 1865) (not to be confused with his nephew, Msgr Michael Joseph Ryan (29 July 1847 – 30 January 1922)), and Rev. Rev. Robert Haining of

10486-540: Was made at the women's work room, and washed by the stronger women in the laundry. The Destitute Asylum was a hodge-podge of individual buildings erected as the need arose and where space was available. As a consequence for example, there were two men's dormitories, situated at either side of the complex, the centre being occupied by the females. Male inmates were exclusively aged, invalid or diseased; no able-bodied man would be admitted. However many people were admitted who were not paupers but admitted through lack of space at

10593-739: Was made for a gaol in Colonel Light's 1837 plan. But by mid-1837 the South Australian Register was warning of escaped convicts from New South Wales and tenders for a temporary gaol were sought. Following a burglary, a murder, and two attempted murders in Adelaide during March 1838, Governor Hindmarsh created the South Australian Police Force (now the South Australia Police ) in April 1838 under 21-year-old Henry Inman . The first sheriff, Samuel Smart,

10700-458: Was negligible at this point: silver was discovered in Glen Osmond that year, agriculture was well underway, and other mines sprung up all over the state, aiding Adelaide's commercial development. The city exported meat, wool, wine, fruit and wheat by the time Grey left in 1845, contrasting with a low point in 1842 when one-third of Adelaide houses were abandoned. Trade links with the rest of

10807-407: Was opened every Thursday by Rev. Dendy, who acted as librarian. Most inmates were literate, and fresh donations were welcomed. Of course conditions for the inmates changed over time, but in the 1890s there was one nurse to attend the male inmates during the day and a (male) night attendant, also a wardsman selected from within their ranks to assist and keep order. The inmates included blind men; there

10914-588: Was reappointed as chairman. In 1886 the State Children's Council was formed to take over that part of the Destitution Board's responsibilities, then in 1888 a Commission charged with streamlining government recommended abolition of Reed's position. The five board members (Adamson, Bower, Dempsey, Smith, Gilbert) resigned in protest at not being consulted. In the meantime their work was done by Superintendent Arthur Lindsay (1828–1909) and members of

11021-469: Was recorded, but the price paid was retrenchments and lean public spending. Wine and copper were the only industries not to suffer a downturn. Adelaide was Australia's third largest city for most of the 20th century. Electric street lighting was introduced in 1900 and electric trams were transporting passengers in 1909. 28,000 men were sent to fight in World War I . Historian F. W. Crowley examined

11128-591: Was short-lived, with the return of droughts and the Great Depression of the 1930s. It later returned to fortune under strong government leadership. Secondary industries helped reduce the state's dependence on primary industries . World War II brought industrial stimulus and diversification to Adelaide under the Playford Government, which advocated Adelaide as a safe place for manufacturing due to its less vulnerable location. Shipbuilding

11235-411: Was surpassed by Brisbane as Australia's third largest city. The Dunstan Governments of the 1970s saw something of an Adelaide "cultural revival", establishing a wide array of social reforms. The city became noted for its progressivism as South Australia became the first Australian state or territory to decriminalise homosexuality between consenting adults in 1975. Adelaide became a centre for

11342-531: Was the matron in 1879 when the facility moved to the Destitute asylum, and she became matron to both institutions. The upper storey housed the most tractable and responsible women, chiefly married women and girls pregnant for the first time; those needing closer oversight (chiefly unmarried girls pregnant for the second or third time) on the ground floor, and a separate ward was dedicated to infected prostitutes; there being at that time no cure or useful treatment for

11449-552: Was wounded during a robbery, and on 2 May 1838 one of the offenders, Michael Magee, became the first person to be hanged in South Australia. William Baker Ashton was appointed governor of the temporary gaol in 1839, and in 1840 George Strickland Kingston was commissioned to design Adelaide's new gaol. Construction of Adelaide Gaol commenced in 1841. Adelaide's early history was marked by economic uncertainty and questionable leadership. The first governor of South Australia, John Hindmarsh , clashed frequently with others, in particular

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