Elizabeth, South Australia

History

Before the 1950s, most of the area surrounding today's suburb of Elizabeth was farming land. After the end of the Second World War with its shortage of materials, the state government decided that South Australia needed to grow and become industrialised.

A "satellite city" was planned for the Elizabeth area, and the South Australian Housing Trust initiated a housing development program in the area, with a purchase of 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of rural land between the older "country towns" (now Adelaide suburbs) of Salisbury and Smithfield.

The Suburb of Elizabeth was formed on 16 November 1955, being named after Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the suburb in 1963.

As well as the Town Centre, originally with open air shopping malls there was a theatre (named "The Octagon"),

Geography

Elizabeth is the seat of the Playford local government area and thus acts as a central business district for the surrounding suburbs. It lies between the Gawler Central railway line and Main North Road. DSTO Edinburgh is located to the west of Elizabeth.

Demographics

The 2006 Census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics counted 952 persons in the suburb of Elizabeth on census night. Of these, 52.9% were male and 47.1% were female.

The majority of residents (66.2%) were Australian born, with 13.2% born in England.

The age distribution of Elizabeth residents is similar to that of the greater Australian population. 67.5% of residents were aged 25 or over in 2006, compared to the Australian average of 66.5%; and 32.5% were younger than 25 years, compared to the Australian average of 33.5%.

The population of Elizabeth as recorded by this census, encompassing postcodes 5112, 5113 and 5114, was about 60,000.

Community

The local newspaper is the News Review Messenger. Other regional and national newspapers such as The Advertiser and The Australian are also available. The Bunyip Newspaper also covers the Elizabeth area in its Playford Times section.

Schools

Playford International College (formerly Fremont-Elizabeth City High School) is on Philip Highway. Kaurna Plains School is on Ridley Road.

Sport

Elizabeth is the home of the Central District Bulldogs, an Australian rules football team in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). It is currently the strongest team in South Australian football, having (in 2010) won nine of the last eleven SANFL Premierships. They play all of their home games at Elizabeth Oval (currently named "Playford Alive Oval").

Elizabeth also has an association football club (soccer), the Playford City Patriots, who play in the South Australian State League. However, their home stadium is Ramsay Park in Elizabeth West.

Facilities and attractions

The Elizabeth Shopping Centre is in the middle of the suburb. Formerly known as Elizabeth Town Centre, it has been progressively expanded since the 1960s. In its early days it featured open air malls, but today it comprises a single storey undercover mall. A major renovation and extension was completed in 2004.

Parks

Dauntsey Reserve is located between Winterslow Road and Woodford Road. Ridley Reserve is located on the suburb's southern boundary. There are other parks and reserves in the suburb.

Roads

Elizabeth is serviced by Main North Road, connecting the suburb to Adelaide city centre, and by Philip Highway.

Public transport

Elizabeth is serviced by public transport run by the Adelaide Metro.

Trains

The Gawler railway line passes beside the suburb. The closest station is Elizabeth.

Buses

Elizabeth is serviced by buses run by the Adelaide Metro.