Christies Beach, South Australia
Encyclopedia
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.
Christies Beach boasts a unique commercial strip running the entire length of Beach Road and is identified as a primary coastal node in the Adelaide Metropolitan area (Planning SA, 2007). Christies Beach also features one of the few remaining main road classified Esplanades in Metropolitan Adelaide, providing direct access to the beach on Gulf St Vincent.
Christies Beach has its own postcode of 5165, and is adjacent to the suburbs of Christie Downs
and Noarlunga Centre
to the east, Port Noarlunga to the south, and O'Sullivan Beach
to the north.
The first European development along the Christies Beach coastline was constructed in the 1830s. A whaling station
was constructed along the coast, influenced by the rising price of whale bone overseas, the abundant Southern Right Whale
population during the summer breeding season and the vantage point of Gulf St Vincent from Witton Bluff. By the 1840’s the seasonal whale population dwindled down to unprofitable levels with the whales changing their migration route, and the whalers left the area to pursue other activities (Colwell, 1972) (Towler, 1986).
An area of surveyed land covering Glenelg
to Witton Bluff (Christies Beach) known as District B, was made available for settlement in 1838. Many farmers took plots of land along the Anderson Creek (now known as Christies Creek). In 1895 Lambert Christie and his wife Rosa established a farm that covered the area where Christies Beach is now situated. The entire area remained a land of farming communities until 1923. This is when Rosa Christie created the first subdivision in the area, it was named Christie Beach. With this subdivision and other such residential allocations in the area road and rail transportation was improved. The improvement in transportation south of Adelaide gave Christies Beach an increase in tourists and holiday makers who were looking for a coastal experience. Many tourists decided to build cottages and holiday shacks on Witton Bluff and down onto the beach itself (City of Onkaparinga, 2005).
With the influx of visitors and new residents to the area the Christies Beach Progressive Association was formed to provide good foreshore amenities, such as beach access, toilets, showers, etc. Foreshore developments led to the creation of new shops and services on the Esplanade and nearby Gulfview and Beach Roads. By the late 1950s demand for residence in the area skyrocketed, this propelled commercial and industrial developments in the Lonsdale district with the opening of Port Stanvac Oil Refinery
and Chrysler (later Mitsubishi
) engine plant and also in Noarlunga with the relocation of the train line and the construction of Colonnades Shopping Centre
(Colwell, 1972) (City of Onkaparinga, 2005).
Christie Beach Post Office opened on 3 April 1945 and was renamed Christies Beach around 1961. Christies Beach North office opened on 5 June 1962.
City of Onkaparinga
The City of Onkaparinga is a local government area located on the southern fringe of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the Onkaparinga River, whose name comes from Ngangkiparinga, a Kaurna word meaning "The Women's River"...
. The area is scenic and hence popular with photographers as Witton Bluff provides a natural vantage point over the entire suburb and beyond.
Christies Beach boasts a unique commercial strip running the entire length of Beach Road and is identified as a primary coastal node in the Adelaide Metropolitan area (Planning SA, 2007). Christies Beach also features one of the few remaining main road classified Esplanades in Metropolitan Adelaide, providing direct access to the beach on Gulf St Vincent.
Christies Beach has its own postcode of 5165, and is adjacent to the suburbs of Christie Downs
Christie Downs, South Australia
Christie Downs is a suburb in southern Metropolitan Adelaide within the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia. It has a unique postcode of 5164, and is adjacent to the suburbs of Christies Beach to the west, Noarlunga Centre to the south, Morphett Vale to the east and Lonsdale to the north.The area...
and Noarlunga Centre
Noarlunga Centre, South Australia
Noarlunga Centre is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is purely commercial, being dominated by the Centro Colonnades shopping centre. Thus there are no private residents. The suburb is bordered by Beach Road to the north, Dyson Road...
to the east, Port Noarlunga to the south, and O'Sullivan Beach
O'Sullivan Beach, South Australia
O'Sullivans Beach is a seaside suburb in the southern Adelaide metropolitan area, within the City of Onkaparinga. O'Sullivans Beach has a unique postcode of 5166, and is adjacent to the suburbs of Christies Beach and Noarlunga Centre to the south east, Christies Beach to the south, and Port...
to the north.
Development
The very first development to occur along the coast of Christies Beach can be traced back to pre-colonization times, almost 40,000 years ago. The indigenous Kaurna people used the coastal area of Christies Beach (at the time known as Mullawirratingga) as a place for seasonal residence. They constructed structures known as a ‘Wodli’, which are small shelters made of branches and leafs. These structures were semi-permanent, only lasting the length of the summer period, after which they were then disassembled (City of Onkaparinga, 2005).The first European development along the Christies Beach coastline was constructed in the 1830s. A whaling station
Whaling in Australia
Whaling in Australia took place from colonisation in 1788. In 1979 Australia terminated whaling and committed to whale protection. The main varieties hunted were Humpback, Blue, Right and Sperm Whales.-History:...
was constructed along the coast, influenced by the rising price of whale bone overseas, the abundant Southern Right Whale
Southern Right Whale
The southern right whale is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus Eubalaena. Like other right whales, the southern right whale is readily distinguished from others by the callosities on its head, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching...
population during the summer breeding season and the vantage point of Gulf St Vincent from Witton Bluff. By the 1840’s the seasonal whale population dwindled down to unprofitable levels with the whales changing their migration route, and the whalers left the area to pursue other activities (Colwell, 1972) (Towler, 1986).
An area of surveyed land covering Glenelg
Glenelg, South Australia
Glenelg is a popular 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 popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
to Witton Bluff (Christies Beach) known as District B, was made available for settlement in 1838. Many farmers took plots of land along the Anderson Creek (now known as Christies Creek). In 1895 Lambert Christie and his wife Rosa established a farm that covered the area where Christies Beach is now situated. The entire area remained a land of farming communities until 1923. This is when Rosa Christie created the first subdivision in the area, it was named Christie Beach. With this subdivision and other such residential allocations in the area road and rail transportation was improved. The improvement in transportation south of Adelaide gave Christies Beach an increase in tourists and holiday makers who were looking for a coastal experience. Many tourists decided to build cottages and holiday shacks on Witton Bluff and down onto the beach itself (City of Onkaparinga, 2005).
Port Stanvac Refinery
It was announced in 1958 and began refining crude oil in 1963.It had a capacity of 3.3 million tons per annum.The refinery is owned by Exxon Mobil and has been inoperational since 2003....
and Chrysler (later Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
) engine plant and also in Noarlunga with the relocation of the train line and the construction of Colonnades Shopping Centre
Centro Colonnades
Centro Colonnades is one of the largest shopping centres in Adelaide, South Australia. The shopping centre is located in the City of Onkaparinga, in the suburb of Noarlunga Centre...
(Colwell, 1972) (City of Onkaparinga, 2005).
Christie Beach Post Office opened on 3 April 1945 and was renamed Christies Beach around 1961. Christies Beach North office opened on 5 June 1962.