Gilberton, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Gilberton is a suburb of Adelaide
, South Australia
on the northern bank of the River Torrens
a short distance from Adelaide’s city centre. It is bounded by the river, Park terrace, Stephen Terrace and Northcote Terrace. The suburb is largely residential with some large and ornate Victorian
homes and approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) of the Torrens Linear Park
as its southern boundary. The large homes in the suburb's northern section give it a historic character that is protected by Government planning regulations.
The area of Gilberton was first purchased in 1839 by a Richard Blundell as "Section 475" of the survey of Adelaide. Blundell, who lived in England, was declared bankrupt later that year and the section subsequently sold by his creditors. Joseph Gilbert
of Pewsey Vale
England purchased the 134 acre (0.54227924 km²) section for £600.5s in 1846, naming it "Gilbert Town" and dividing into 43 lots for sale or lease in 1852. Early activities in the area included a brickworks
, farms and gardens and an abattoir
. By 1847 the southern part of the town was planned, the plan completed by 1871 and extensive housing completed by the 1890s.
The suburb is largely flat from the river north to Walkerville Terrace, then slopes upwards to its northern extent. Due to the elevation of, and subsequent views from, the northern section this land attracted wealthier purchasers. Some of their ornate Victorian homes, sited on large grounds, remain today. At a large bend in the River, the location of the today’s St Peters river park, gravel
extraction, sand washing and a rubbish dumping
have all been commercial activities. Sand washing was replaced by a dump in 1961, leading to complaints from the neighbouring suburb of St Peters about fumes from the burning rubbish. After the land was purchased by St Peters the bend was straightened and the dump reclaimed.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
on the northern bank of the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
a short distance from Adelaide’s city centre. It is bounded by the river, Park terrace, Stephen Terrace and Northcote Terrace. The suburb is largely residential with some large and ornate Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes and approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) of the Torrens Linear Park
Torrens Linear Park
The Torrens Linear Park was completed in 1997 as the first of its kind developed in Australia where it is the largest hills-to-coast park. It began as a flood mitigation scheme along the River Torrens running from the Adelaide Hills, through the city of Adelaide, to the sea...
as its southern boundary. The large homes in the suburb's northern section give it a historic character that is protected by Government planning regulations.
The area of Gilberton was first purchased in 1839 by a Richard Blundell as "Section 475" of the survey of Adelaide. Blundell, who lived in England, was declared bankrupt later that year and the section subsequently sold by his creditors. Joseph Gilbert
Joseph Gilbert (vigneron)
Joseph Gilbert was a pastoralist and vigneron in South Australia from 1839 until his death.Gilbert was born in Puckshipton, Wiltshire, England, in the Vale of Pewsey. The second of four sons, his father was Joseph Gilbert and his moth, Jane...
of Pewsey Vale
Pewsey Vale
Pewsey Vale vineyard was founded in 1847 by Englishman, Joseph Gilbert. It was the first vineyard established in South Australia’s Eden Valley and the first to plant Riesling vines in Australia...
England purchased the 134 acre (0.54227924 km²) section for £600.5s in 1846, naming it "Gilbert Town" and dividing into 43 lots for sale or lease in 1852. Early activities in the area included a brickworks
Brickworks
A brickworks also known as a brick factory, is a factory for the manufacturing of bricks, from clay or shale. Usually a brickworks is located on a clay bedrock often with a quarry for clay on site....
, farms and gardens and an abattoir
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
. By 1847 the southern part of the town was planned, the plan completed by 1871 and extensive housing completed by the 1890s.
The suburb is largely flat from the river north to Walkerville Terrace, then slopes upwards to its northern extent. Due to the elevation of, and subsequent views from, the northern section this land attracted wealthier purchasers. Some of their ornate Victorian homes, sited on large grounds, remain today. At a large bend in the River, the location of the today’s St Peters river park, gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
extraction, sand washing and a rubbish dumping
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
have all been commercial activities. Sand washing was replaced by a dump in 1961, leading to complaints from the neighbouring suburb of St Peters about fumes from the burning rubbish. After the land was purchased by St Peters the bend was straightened and the dump reclaimed.