Brighton, South Australia

Last updated

Brighton
Adelaide,  South Australia
Brighton Jetty.jpg
Brighton Jetty
Population3,834 (SAL 2021) [1]
Postcode(s) 5048
LGA(s) City of Holdfast Bay
State electorate(s) Gibson
Federal division(s) Boothby
Suburbs around Brighton:
Gulf St Vincent Hove Warradale
Gulf St Vincent Brighton Warradale
Dover Gardens
Gulf St Vincent South Brighton Dover Gardens

Brighton is a coastal suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, situated between Seacliff and Glenelg and aside Holdfast Bay. Some notable features of the area are the Brighton-Seacliff Yacht Club, the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, the Brighton Jetty, and a beach. The Windsor Theatre, constructed in 1925, is a long-standing institution.

Contents

History

The Kaurna people inhabited the area before British colonisation of South Australia. [2] Witu-wattingga has become the accepted Kaurna name for the area, although its origin is probably arose through confusion with Wita-wattingga, the certified Kaurna name for an area around present-day Seacliff Park, [3] [4] meaning "in the midst of peppermint gums". [5] (There is, however, a Kaurna language meaning for witu-watti, meaning "reeds in the middle", so could be applied to some small, intermittent swamps with reeds in the area, such as one near Young Street in Seacliff. [3] )

Brighton beach in 1930 Brighton Beach, South Australia.jpg
Brighton beach in 1930

Brighton Post Office opened on 27 August 1849. Brighton Jetty Post Office opened on 1 March 1950 and closed in 1979. [6]

Brighton municipal building (built 1937 as the town hall) Brighton municipal offices.JPG
Brighton municipal building (built 1937 as the town hall)

Brighton became the seat of a newly formed municipality, the Corporate Town of Brighton, in 1858.

The first Brighton Town Hall was built in 1869 and was just the fourth town hall built in the colony of South Australia. The architect and builder was George William Highet, who arrived in the colony in 1836 and served as a town clerk and inaugural councillor. He died in Brighton aged 80 years. The hall was constructed of stone from Ayliffe's quarry in the Adelaide Hills laid on concrete foundations. [7] It was used as the civic centre of the City of Brighton from 1869 until 1936 when it was then leased by the RSL.[ citation needed ]

The second town hall was opened in 1937, at 24 Jetty Road, and still fulfils a civic administration purpose, as one of two City of Holdfast Bay municipal offices.[ citation needed ]

Brighton was the home of Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer and academic Sir Douglas Mawson. He was buried at St Jude's Church cemetery in the suburb.[ citation needed ]

Social reformer Catherine Helen Spence, her brother J. B. Spence, [8] Pat Glennon and Paul Moran are buried at North Brighton Cemetery, at 301 Brighton Road.

Overview

Brighton has a large sandy beach which is patrolled by the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club on Weekends and Public Holidays between November and March. Brighton Beach is popular for Adelaide beach goers as it is relatively safe – currently rated as Least Hazardous by Surf Lifesaving.[ citation needed ]

Surfers near Brighton jetty on a stormy day Messy surfing Brighton.jpg
Surfers near Brighton jetty on a stormy day

A sand replenishment program has been in operation for many years resulting in the beach sand dunes gradually increasing through the program of replacing eroded sand and replanting of the dunes with plants and grasses.[ citation needed ]

In summer, a sandbar normally forms in the water which can produce waves on windy days. Brighton is well known by local surfers for producing messy but fun "stormy sessions".[ citation needed ]

The Esplanade is an area of prime real estate which has been transformed over the years from a street of old cottages to new modern town houses.[ citation needed ]

Brighton's Jetty Road runs perpendicular to the Esplanade and is home to many restaurants, cafes and the local hotel, known as "The Esplanade", or "Espy".[ citation needed ]

Brighton jetty

Brighton - Looking northeast from over the water BrightonSA.JPG
Brighton – Looking northeast from over the water
Brighton - Looking southeast from over the water BrightonSA-se.JPG
Brighton – Looking southeast from over the water

The original Brighton Jetty was built in 1886 and stood for over 100 years. [9] The jetty was badly damaged by winter storms in 1994 and was rebuilt using funds supplied by a mobile phone service provider,[ citation needed ] hence the telecommunications tower on the end of the jetty. [10]

In 1926 the women of Brighton installed a drinking fountain near the entrance of the jetty to commemorate the death of Kathleen Duncan Whyte, who was fatally attacked by a shark while swimming. [ citation needed ]

At the shore end of the jetty is a War Memorial arch. Here, traditional Dawn Services are held annually on Anzac Day to commemorate fallen service men and women. [11]

Events and attractions

Brighton is the home of the Brighton Jetty Classic, an Open Water Swim made up of the 1500 metre Brighton Jetty Classic Swim and the 400 metre Jetty Swim, aimed at first time open water swimmers. The Brighton Jetty Classic had its first year in 2006 when approximately 800 swimmers successfully completed the event. It is an annual event, being hosted on the first Sunday in February. The 2010 event had over 1200 swimmers, making it the largest open water swim in South Australia. The course is around the Brighton Jetty, which makes the Jetty a fantastic viewing platform for spectators.[ citation needed ]

Brighton Oval is the largest sporting complex in the City of Holdfast Bay. It features a skatepark as well as football, lacrosse, cricket and rugby union clubs. [12]

Windsor Theatre

The Windsor Theatre is located at 1 Commercial Road. [13] [14] Opened in 1925, the picture theatre was owned by the Freemasons (South Australian Lodge of Friendship). Unusually, the proscenium was situated in the centre of the building and was shared by two auditoriums. [15] By 1949, the lease had been acquired by Ozone Theatres Ltd. [16]

The Windsor continues to operate as of December 2022, charging A$10 per session. [13] It often shows double features, and its screenings include both mainstream films and indie / arthouse films. [14] It is one of very few cinemas from the era of silent films still standing and operating as a cinema in Adelaide. [17]

Cement works

Although called Adelaide Brighton Cement, the cement works are actually located in the nearby suburb of Marino.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenelg, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Glenelg is a beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.

O'Halloran Hill is a suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia, situated on the hills south of the O'Halloran Hill Escarpment, which rises from the Adelaide Plains and located 18 km from the city centre via the Main South Road. The suburb is split between the Cities of Marion and Onkaparinga, and it neighbours Happy Valley, Hallett Cove, Trott Park and Darlington. It includes a large area of farmland and commercial vineyards known as the Glenthorne Estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marino, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Marino is a coastal suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia that's surrounded by a conservation park and rugged coastline. Marino's elevated position provides panoramic views of the ocean – Gulf St Vincent, the metropolitan beaches and Adelaide CBD. Marino has access to the North or South via Brighton Road, has two railway stations on the main Seaford Line and a host of walking and cycle trails to the neighbouring beaches and wine region.

Seacliff Park is a suburb of Adelaide partly in the City of Marion and the City of Holdfast Bay. The suburb is adjacent to South Brighton in the north, Seaview Downs to the east, Hallett Cove to the south, and Marino and Seacliff on its western side. The suburb is divided diagonally by Ocean Road, with the northern part of the suburb mainly residential, and the southern park partly occupied by a golf course and a quarry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Noarlunga, South Australia</span> Coastal suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Port Noarlunga is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia. It is a small sea-side suburb, population 2,918, about 30 kilometres to the south of the Adelaide city centre and was originally created as a sea port. This area is now popular as a holiday destination or for permanent residents wishing to commute to Adelaide or work locally. There is a jetty that connects to a 1.6 kilometres long natural reef that is exposed at low tide. The beach is large and very long and has reasonable surfing in the South Port area whose name is taken from its location - "South of the Port".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semaphore, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Semaphore is a northwestern suburb of Adelaide in the Australian state of South Australia. It is located on the Gulf St Vincent coastline of the Lefevre Peninsula about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the Adelaide city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Largs Bay, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Largs Bay is a suburb in the Australian state of South Australia located on the Lefevre Peninsula in the west of Adelaide about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of the Adelaide city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Holdfast Bay</span> Local government area in South Australia

The City of Holdfast Bay is a local government area in the south-western coastal suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tjilbruke</span> Creation being in Kaurna (an Aboriginal Australian group) mythology

Tjilbruke is an important creation ancestor for the Kaurna of the Adelaide plains in the Australian state of South Australia. Tjilbruke was a Kaurna man, who appeared in Kaurna Dreaming dating back about 11,000 years. The Tjilbruke Dreaming Track or Tjilbruke Dreaming Trail is a major Dreaming trail, which connects sites from within metropolitan Adelaide southwards as far as Cape Jervis, some of which are Aboriginal sacred sites of great significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christies Beach, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Christies Beach is a seaside suburb in the southern Adelaide metropolitan area, within the City of Onkaparinga. The area is scenic and hence popular with photographers as Witton Bluff provides a natural vantage point over the entire suburb and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seacliff, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Seacliff is a coastal suburb located in the capital city of South Australia; Adelaide. Overseen by the council, City of Holdfast Bay, this suburb is adjacent to South Brighton, Seacliff Park, Marino and Kingston Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holdfast Bay</span> Body of water

The Holdfast Bay is a small bay in Gulf St Vincent, next to Adelaide, South Australia. Along its shores lie the local government area of the City of Holdfast Bay and the suburbs of Glenelg and Glenelg North

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sellicks Beach, South Australia</span> Suburb of City of Onkaparinga, South Australia

Sellicks Beach, formerly spelt Sellick's Beach, is a suburb in the Australian state of South Australia located within Adelaide metropolitan area about 47 kilometres (29 mi) from the Adelaide city centre. It is an outer southern suburb of Adelaide and is located in the local government area of the City of Onkaparinga at the southern boundary of the metropolitan area. It is known as Witawali or Witawodli by the Traditional Owners, the Kaurna people, and is of significance as being the site of a freshwater spring said to be created by the tears of Tjilbruke, the creator being.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid Bay, South Australia</span> Coastal town in South Australia

Rapid Bay is a locality that includes a small seaside town and bay on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. It lies within the District Council of Yankalilla and its township is approximately 100 km south of the state capital, Adelaide. A pair of jetties are popular attractions for recreational fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The bay particularly known as a site for observing leafy seadragons in the wild. Its postcode is 5204.

Brighton Jetty Classic is an open water swim held in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia each year on the first Sunday in February. There are two races, the 1500 metre Brighton Jetty Classic, and the 400 metre Jetty Fun Swim. The race attracts fields of up to 1200 swimmers and is the largest open water swim by numbers in South Australia. In 2007 the fast lap was also introduced. This is an invited sprint race around the Brighton Jetty for the Fastest Qualifying Swimmers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moana, South Australia</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Moana is an outer coastal suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is approximately 36.4 km from the Adelaide city centre. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga local government area, and neighbours the suburbs Seaford, Maslin Beach, Seaford Rise and Port Noarlunga It is divided into two by Pedlar Creek and the associated sand dune reserve. The beach is often referred to as Moana Beach.

Kingston Park is a small beachside suburb, 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of the Adelaide city centre. Kingston Park is within the City of Holdfast Bay and flanked by the neighbouring suburbs of Marino to the south and Seacliff to the north and east.

Hove is a coastal suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is situated north of Brighton, west of Warradale, and south of North Brighton. Running along the west of the suburb is the Esplanade, a street with numerous townhouses with views of the Gulf St Vincent. The suburb is bisected by its major thoroughfare, Brighton Road. Property prices are generally higher on the coastal side of Brighton Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patawalonga River</span> River in Australia

The Patawalonga River is a river located in the western suburbs of the Adelaide metropolitan area, in the Australian state of South Australia. It drains an area of flat, swampy lands formerly known as the Cowandilla Plains or The Reedbeds, which in the mid-20th century were drained by engineering works, enabling the establishment of Adelaide Airport and the development of residential housing.

Palace Cinemas is the fifth largest major cinema chain in Australia, with various locations in CBD and inner suburban areas of most capital cities. Palace Cinemas currently comprises 24 cinemas with 180 screens and more than 550 staff. Its head office is based in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra, close to its Cinema Como flagship. In 2015, the chain saved The Astor Theatre which remains the southern hemisphere's oldest continuously running single screen theatre.

References

  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Brighton (SA) (Suburb and Locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Map(s) of Kaurna Country". Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi. The University of Adelaide . Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 Schultz, Chester (13 February 2013). "Place Name Summary (PNS) 2/22: Witu-Wattingga (1. Brighton. 2. Somerton Park)" (PDF). Adelaide Research & Scholarship. The Southern Kaurna Place Names Project. University of Adelaide . Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. "Tjilbruke Story". Port Adelaide Enfield. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. Schultz, Chester (12 January 2012). "Place Name Summary (PNS) 2/21: Wita-wattingga (Seacliff Park)" (PDF). Adelaide Research & Scholarship. The Southern Kaurna Place Names Project. University of Adelaide . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  7. Conservation Management Plan for Former Brighton Town Hall, Flightpath Architects, 2009.
  8. "Death of Miss Spence". The Evening Journal (Adelaide) . South Australia. 4 April 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 March 2020 via Trove.
  9. City of Holdfast Bay (2007). Brighton A Walk Through History (PDF). City of Holdfast Bay. p. 12.
  10. "Brighton Jetty Handrail System and Mobile Phone Tower - Projects - Hallweld Gratings". www.hallweldgratings.com.au. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  11. "Brighton Jetty". southaustralia.com. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  12. "Brighton Oval". City of Holdfast Bay.
  13. 1 2 "Home". Windsor Theatre. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Windsor Cinemas Brighton". eBroadcast.
  15. Roe, Ken. "Windsor Theatre in Adelaide, AU". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. "Hugh Waterman and sons extend the Ozone cinema chain from Adelaide's Semaphore in 1911 to eastern states". AdelaideAZ. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  17. "Windsor Theatres". Weekend Note. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2022.

Coordinates: 35°01′08″S138°31′12″E / 35.019°S 138.520°E / -35.019; 138.520