Traditional Owners

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

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1836, with land used largely for grazing and farming. There were also mining, quarrying and brick-making industries. Several small villages were established in the late 1830s and early 1840s. Some growth took place from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, spurred by the opening of the tramway and railway lines from Adelaide, and the construction of many mansions and holiday homes along the coast. Land became used more for viticulture, horticulture, orchards and quarrying. Rapid residential development took place from the post-war years, accompanied by industrial growth, spurred by the outward spread of Adelaide’s growth. The population of the SALHN area increased gradually from the early 1990s, rising from about 293,000 in 1991 to nearly 335,000 in 2011, with recent growth predominantly in the southern-most areas.

Land use

The SALHN area is an urban and rural area, with some commercial and industrial areas. Most of the population live in established suburbs and residential estates in the northern areas (closest to Adelaide), 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. The SALHN area encompasses a total land area of about 660 square kilometres.

Transport

The SALHN area is served by the South Eastern Freeway (Princes Highway), the Anzac Highway, the Southern Expressway, the Belair, Noarlunga and Adelaide-Melbourne railway lines, and the Glenelg-Adelaide tramway.

Major features

• Major features of the area include Belair National Park,
• Onkaparinga River National Park,
• Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park,
• Hallett Cove Conservation Park,
• Marino Conservation Park,
• Moana Sands Conservation Park,
• Scott Creek Conservation Park,
• Aldinga Reef Aquatic Reserve,
• Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve,
• Kuitpo Forest,
• Waite Arboretum,
• O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park,
• Onkaparinga River Recreation Park,
• Sturt Gorge Recreation Park,
• Tangari Regional Park,
• Warriparinga Wetlands,
• Happy Valley Reservoir,
• Mount Bold Reservoir,
• Clarendon Weir,
• Living Kaurna Cultural Centre,
• Marion Cultural Centre,
• Glenelg Art Gallery,
• Noarlunga Leisure Centre,
• SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre,
• Marion Swimming Centre,
• Morphettville Racecourse,
• Marion Golf Park,
• Bayside Village Shopping Centre,
• Colonnades Shopping Centre,
• Westfield Marion Shopping Centre,
• The Jetty Road commercial area (Glenelg),
• Marina Pier (Holdfast Shores Marina),
• Flinders University,
• The University of Adelaide (The Waite Campus),
• TAFE SA (Noarlunga and Urrbrae Campuses),
• Glenelg Community Hospital,
• Griffith Rehabilitation Hospital,
• Repatriation General Hospital,
• Warradale Army Barracks,
• HMS Buffalo,
• various vineyards and wineries,
• Marion Coastal Walk,
• The Mike Turtur Bikeway,
• The Coast to Vines Rail Trail,
• numerous beaches and the Onkaparinga River.

Included areas