Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the Onkaparinga area were the Kaurna Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1838, with the first township established in 1840 at Willunga. The Noarlunga township (now Old Noarlunga) was established in the same year, serving as a business centre for the region until the 1980s. Land was used mainly for grazing and farming, particularly wheat growing. Growth took place in the late 1800s, with subsequent towns such as Reynella and McLaren Vale developed around the wine industry. Land was also used for horticulture, orchards and quarrying, with the area remaining largely rural until significant development in the post-war years, spurred by the outward spread of Adelaide's growth. Rapid development took place between the 1950s and 1970s. Residential growth spread to the foothill areas of O'Halloran Hill, Happy Valley, Flagstaff Hill and Woodcroft in the 1980s and early 1990s. Growth has continued from the early 1990s, although at a slower rate, with the population rising from about 127,000 in 1991 to over 156,000 in 2011. Much of the growth in the 1990s was in the suburbs of Aberfoyle Park, Seaford, Seaford Rise and Woodcroft. Growth between 2001 and 2011 continued in the suburbs of Seaford and Seaford Rise, but was also significant in the suburb of Aldinga Beach.

Land use

The City of Onkaparinga is an urban and rural area, with some commercial and industrial areas. The City encompasses a total land area of about 518 square kilometres, including coastline, beaches, hills and hinterland. Most of the population live in established suburbs and residential estates, while others inhabit small coastal communities, farms and country towns. Rural land is used mainly for viticulture, horticulture, forestry, cropping and grazing. Tourism is also an important industry.

Transport

The City of Onkaparinga is served by the Southern Expressway and the Noarlunga railway line.

Major features

• Major features of the City include Onkaparinga River National Park,
• Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park,
• Moana Sands Conservation Park,
• Scott Creek Conservation Park,
• Kuitpo Forest,
• Aldinga Reef Aquatic Reserve,
• Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve,
• Onkaparinga River Recreation Park,
• Sturt Gorge Recreation Park,
• Tangari Regional Park,
• Happy Valley Reservoir,
• Mount Bold Reservoir,
• Clarendon Weir,
• Noarlunga Leisure Centre,
• Centro Colonnades (shopping centre),
• TAFE SA (Noarlunga Campus),
• The Onkaparinga River,
• various vineyards and wineries,
• several beaches and the Coast to Vines Rail Trail.

Included areas