Torrensville, South Australia

Torrensville is a western suburb 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It was named after Irish-born economist and chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, Robert Torrens.

Torrensville
Adelaide, South Australia
Torrensville is one of the three adjacent suburbs in West Torrens, that are densely populated by Greek-Australians
Population4,110 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)5031
Location2 km (1 mi) from Adelaide
LGA(s)City of West Torrens
State electorate(s)West Torrens
Federal division(s)Adelaide
Suburbs around Torrensville:


Flinders Park		 Allenby Gardens, Welland, West Hindmarsh

Hindmarsh
Underdale, Brooklyn Park Torrensville Thebarton, Mile End
Brooklyn Park Cowandilla Mile End, Hilton

Torrensville is in the City of West Torrens local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of West Torrens and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Hindmarsh. The area has a high proportion of Greek-Australians.

Revitalisation of the Adelaide's inner suburbs in the 2000s has made Henley Beach Road a vibrant shopping area with many cafes and restaurants.

History

Like most suburbs on the Adelaide Plains, Torrensville is situated on Kaurna land.[2]

According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography, the suburb was named after Robert Torrens senior, who was chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, which was responsible for setting up and running the colony in its early years.[3]

New Thebarton Post Office opened on 1 November 1879 and was renamed Torrensville in 1909.[4] Torrensville was part of the then largely rural District of West Torrens until 1883, when the residents of the more urban suburbs of Thebarton, Mile End and Torrensville successfully petitioned to become the Corporation of the Town of Thebarton.[5] In 1997 the Town of Thebarton re-amalgamated with the City of West Torrens.[6]

The Star Theatre, at 107 Henley Beach Road,[7] was one of the earliest picture theatres in Dan Clifford's cinema chain,[8] opening in March 1916. It was renamed the Plaza Theatre in 1937,[7] but still operated under Clifford's Star banner,[9] and continued to operate as a cinema until at least 1957.[7] As of 2022 it is operating as the Mile End Office Furniture store.[10]

Demographics

According to the 2016 Australian census, the most common ancestries for Torrensville residents were English (18.8%), Australian (15.9%), Greek (11.8%) and Italian (9.7%) - although 62.4% of respondents were born in Australia.[11] The significant Greek Australian and Italian Australians populations being a result of mass migration in the middle of the 20th century. The 2021 Australian Census identified that 14.8% of residents in Torrensville were of Greek ancestry compared to South Australia 2.7% and Australia 1.7% [12]

Australian Bureau of Statistics data from May 2021 identified Adelaide's western suburbs as having the lowest unemployment in South Australia.[13]

Both the State and Federal MPs, representing the electoral districts that include Torrensville, are notable Greek Australians: Tom Koutsantonis and Steve Georganas of the Australian Labor Party. Their success in winning office could potentially be attributed to the population of Greek Australians in their electoral districts including Torrensville and neighbouring suburbs of Thebarton and Mile End.

Heritage listings and places of interest

Brickworks

The Brickworks Marketplace, a shopping centre, is on the site of the former brickworks of J. Hallett and Son.[14][15] It occupies a large block on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, with the Torrens River (Karrawirri Parri) at its northern boundary.[16]

The Hoffman Brick Kiln, Hallett Brickworks (Lot 32 Ashwin Parade) was heritage-listed on the South Australian Heritage Register in 1983.[14] The Brickworks kiln was constructed in 1912[17] or 1913[18][19] in the Hoffman style,[18] and is the last remaining such kiln in Adelaide.[15] A major renovation of the kiln, costing $1.5 million, was effected by the West Torrens Council between 2016 and 2017.[17] The chimney is 42 m (138 ft) high.[20]

The kiln chimney with the Woodville West Torrens Eagles blue, green and gold colours aloft as 2021 SANFL premiers, above the Glenelg Tigers' black and gold colours as runners-up.

The old brickworks site was converted into a lively market in the late 20th century, with a leisure complex including rides for children, and a multitude of stalls selling goods from fruit and vegetables, to crafted items, jewellery and clothing.[18] This was demoolished and a shopping centre built in its place; Brickworks Marketplace, whose largest tenant is Woolworths (Australia), opened on 35 June 2015.[21][17]

Gate and Ticket Office to Thebarton Oval in Torrensville.

From 2021 the South Australian tradition which commenced in 1954 of placing the SANFL premiership team colours on top of the chimney at the West End Brewery (first in Hindley Street[22][23] and after 1980 at the Thebarton site[24]), was moved to the Brickworks kiln chimney. The Woodville West Torrens Eagles were the 2021 SANFL Premiers,[25] and after temporary placement on a replica chimney on the day of the ceremony,[24] the colours were unveiled on it on the actual chimney on 19 October 2021.[26]

Other places
  • Thebarton Oval, once used as an Australian Rules Football ground by West Torrens Football Club
    • Ashley Street: Gate and Ticket Office, Thebarton Oval was heritage-listed in 1993.[27]
    • The Hotel Royal in Torrensville was built in 1879 and is heritage listed. The West Torrens Council has controversially approved a $4 million dollar upgrade to the hotel in 2022 that has raised concerns from the Art Deco and Modernism, Adelaide Chapter. The concerns are based on the hotel losing its Art Deco elements and characteristics.[28]
Thebarton Theatre exterior
  • Thebarton Theatre, a historic and popular entertainment venue, at 112 Henley Beach Road, heritage-listed in 1982.[29]
  • World Series Cricket icon David Hookes grew up on Clifford Street Torrensville and played cricket in Torrensville.[30] There is a monument to him on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, Torrensville.[31]
  • 4-8 Hayward Avenue: Torrensville Uniting Church[32]
  • 92 South Road: World War Two Civil Defence Sub-Control Station[33]

Acclaimed restaurants Parwana Afgan Kitchen which has attracted celebrities such as Nigella Lawson[34] and the British Raj Restaurant which has been the Indian restaurant of choice for the visiting Indian Cricket team for many years [35] are both in Torrensville. The Indian Cricket teams most recent visit in November 2022 attracted a sea of fans at the restaurant, all gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the cricketers and in particular cricket superstar Virat Kohli.[36] Virat Kohli has scored more runs as a touring player at Adelaide Oval than any other cricketer in history.[37]

The New Indian Express printed in its newspaper that the British Raj in Torrensville is famous in this part of the word for its Indian cuisine.[38]

David Hookes monument in Torrensville near Thebarton Oval

Education

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Torrensville (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
  2. Horton, David R. (1996). "Map of Indigenous Australia". AIATSIS. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. "Torrens, Robert (1780–1864)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 2. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. 1967. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  4. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  5. Payne, P. (1996): Thebarton, Old and New. Thebarton City Council. ISBN 0 646 30157 8
  6. City of WestTorrens > Local history > Story of West Torrens. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  7. Roe, Ken. "Plaza Theatre in Adelaide, AU". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  8. "Career more colorful than any film he showed". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 31, no. 1, 594. South Australia. 12 December 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Star Programmes". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 13 June 1938. p. 21. Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "107 Henley Beach Road, street view". Google Maps. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  11. "2016 Torrensville, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics".
  12. "Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data Torrensville". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  13. "Adelaide's West Leads Employment Surge". InDaily. 28 June 2021.
  14. "Former Hoffman Brick Kiln, Brickworks Marketplace (former Hallett Brickworks)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  15. "The Hoffman Kiln at Torrensville". Weekend Notes. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  16. "Ashwin Parade · Torrensville SA 5031, Australia". Google Maps. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  17. Keam, Patrick; McLauchlan, Cathryn (2 June 2017). "Look at Adelaide's favourite old chimney now". adelaidenow. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  18. Sutton, Malcolm (6 August 2021). "Crowds return for SANFL as the Brickworks kiln is flagged as new grand finalists tower". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  19. City of Adelaide; Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs (April 1998). "Early bricks and brickwork in South Australia". Heritage Conservation Practice Notes. Technical Note. ISSN 1035-5138. September 2008: Published online with revised contact details: Department for Environment and Heritage 2008
  20. "Hoffman Kiln Brickworks Chimney Project". Waco International. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  21. "The New Brickworks Marketplace". WeekendNotes. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  22. "Port have it in black and white". The News (Adelaide). Vol. 63, no. 9, 718. South Australia. 4 October 1954. p. 22. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. "West End Brewery, Hindley Street" (Photo + text). State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  24. Sutton, Malcolm (5 October 2021). "The Eagles' back-to-back triumph given 'replica' honours on alternative SANFL chimney". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  25. Millbank, Zac (5 October 2021). "Eagles Begin a New West End Tradition". SANFL. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  26. "Eagles colours reign at SANFL premiership chimney". Facebook. Channel 7. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  27. "Gate/Ticket Office, Thebarton Soldiers Memorial Recreation Ground". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  28. Villani, Celeste (23 January 2022). "1879 art deco hotel to get $4m makeover". The Advertiser.
  29. "Thebarton Theatre". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  30. Shiel, Alan (1993). Hookesy. Sydney: ABC Books. p. 9.
  31. "David Hookes". Monument Australia. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  32. "Former Torrensville Uniting Church". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  33. "Australian Society of Magicians' Offices (former World War Two Civil Defence Sub-Control Station)". South Australian Heritage Register. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  34. Galletly, Jessica (10 May 2022). "Nigella Lawson eats at Torrensville restaurant Parwana Afgan Kitchen". The Advertiser. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  35. Fleming, Kylie (21 November 2014). "Local restaurants vie for honour of feeding the Indian cricket team". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  36. "Virat fever grips South Australia as chants of 'Kohli... Kohli' outside restaurant in Adelaide go viral". Times Now News. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  37. Savaga, Nic (10 November 2022). "'Outrageous': Virat Kohli shatters Adelaide Oval record in T20 World Cup semi-final". News.com. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  38. "Before meeting England, Team India enjoys dinner at 'British Raj' on Tuesday". The New Indian Express. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

34°55′S 138°33′E

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