Adelaide Visitor Information
The City of Adelaide
The metropolitan city of Adelaide, located close to the eastern shores of Saint Vincent Gulf some 729 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, is the capital of the state of South Australia. With a population of well over 1.2 million people, it is the state's most populous city, and ranks fifth-largest in the entire country. Established in 1836 by its founding fathers (one of whom was Colonel William Light, the first surveyor-general of the colony of South Australia), this coastal city situated in the northern portion of the Fleurieu Peninsula was named in honour of Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV and queen consort of the United Kingdom and Hanover.
As South Australia's seat of government and commercial centre (it is home to several governmental and financial institutions), Adelaide is one of the state's most important cities. Governed since 1919 by a Lord Mayor, the city is Australia's oldest municipal authority and is divided among 18 local government areas. Today, Adelaideans have very good reason to be proud as the city was listed in 2010 by The Economist (an English-language weekly news magazine) among the top 10 most liveable cities in the world, and ranked as Australia's most liveable city in 2011 by the Property Council of Australia.
Being completely surrounded by parklands, the City of Adelaide is fondly known by its residents as "a city within a park". Among these "green locations" include Adelaide-Himeji Garden, Bonython Park, Botanic Park, Elder Park, Peace Park, River Torrens Linear Park, Rymill Park, Veale Gardens, Victoria Park, and Wirranendi. These parks are kept green during the summer by irrigation from the waters of the Murray River.
Adelaide's other tourist locations include its clean and sandy beaches. Some choice destinations include Aldinga Beach, Maslin Beach, and Moana Beach.