The South Australia Portal

Shortcut: P:SA

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 and with a total land area of 984 377 km² (380 070 sq mi), it is the fourth largest of Australia's states and territories. It is bordered to the west by Western Australia, to the north by the Northern Territory and Queensland, to the east by Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and along the south by the Great Australian Bight and the Southern Ocean. With 1.5 million people, the state comprises less than 10 per cent of the Australian population and ranks fifth in population among the states and territories. The majority of its people reside in the capital city Adelaide, with most of the remainder settled in fertile areas along the south-eastern coast and River Murray.

The state's origins were unique in Australia as a freely-settled, planned British province. Official settlement began on 28 December 1836 when the state was proclaimed at The Old Gum Tree by Governor Hindmarsh. The guiding principle behind settlement was that of systematic colonisation, a theory espoused by Edward Gibbon Wakefield that was later employed by New Zealand. The aim was to establish the province as a centre of civilisation for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance. Although its history is marked by economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, the state is known as a state of festivals, and of fine wine.

  

Selected Article

The O-Bahn Busway is the world's longest, fastest and most heavily patronised guided busway. The O-Bahn (from Latin omnibus meaning "for all people" and German bahn meaning "train") design was originally conceived by Daimler-Benz to make use of former tram tunnels in the German city of Essen. While this plan did not come to fruition, the system was applied in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide to deliver services to its rapidly expanding north-eastern suburbs, replacing an earlier plan to create a tramline extension. The design is unique among public transport systems; typical busways make use of dedicated bus lanes or separate carriageways, while the O-Bahn runs on specially built tracks, combining elements of both bus and rail systems. The track is at a length of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) and contains one station and two interchanges; Klemzig Station in Payneham, Paradise Interchange in Campbelltown and Tea Tree Plaza Interchange in Tea Tree Gully.

  

Selected Picture

Credit: Fir0002

Sturt's Desert Pea is an Australian plant in the genus Swainsona. One of Australia's best-known wildflowers, it is known for its distinctive blood-red leaf-like flowers, each with a bulbous black centre, or "boss". It is native to the arid regions of central and north-western Australia, and its range extends into all mainland Australian states with the exception of Victoria. It is the floral emblem of South Australia.

  

WikiProjects

WikiProject Adelaide	WikiProject Australia

  

Did You Know...

• ...that Richard Layton Butler (pictured) and his father were 31st and 23rd Premiers of South Australia, respectively?
• ...that the Beaumont children disappeared without a trace from a beach near Adelaide, Australia in 1966?
• ...that the town of Booleroo Centre, located in the southern Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, is home to one of Australia's largest collections of tractors and steam engines?
• ...that the South Australian Register was the first newspaper to be produced and distributed in South Australia?

  Archive • Read more...

  

Categories

Main: South Australia

• Buildings and structures in South Australia
• Culture of South Australia
• Education in South Australia
• Emblems of South Australia
• Emergency services in South Australia
• Flora of South Australia
• Geography of South Australia
• Government of South Australia
• History of South Australia
• Images of South Australia
• South Australia lists
• Organisations based in South Australia
• People from South Australia
• Sport in South Australia
• Transport in South Australia
• Visitor attractions in South Australia

  

Related Portals

Queensland Northern Territory Western Australia South Australia New South Wales Victoria Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Visit Australia Portal

  

Major Topics

Geography: Adelaide Hills | Adelaide Plains | Barossa Valley | Clare Valley | Coonawarra | Eyre Peninsula | Fleurieu Peninsula | Flinders Ranges | Kangaroo Island | Limestone Coast | Mid North | Nullarbor Plain | Riverland | Yorke Peninsula

History: Kaurna Indigenous people | European settlement | History of Adelaide | Proclamation Day | Australian Overland Telegraph Line | Timeline of South Australian history

Towns and Cities: Adelaide | Coober Pedy | Mount Gambier | Murray Bridge | Port Augusta | Port Lincoln | Port Pirie | Victor Harbor | Whyalla

Economy and Politics: Premiers | Governors | Parliament | House of Assembly | Electoral districts | Legislative Council | State elections

Culture: Croweater | Pie floater | Wine | The Advertiser | Adelaide Festival Centre | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | WOMADelaide | Adelaide Fringe Festival | Elder Park | The Crows | The Power | The Reds | Redbacks | Hindmarsh Stadium | AAMI Stadium | Rundle Mall

People: Kaurna Indigenous people | Matthew Flinders | William Light | Charles Sturt | Edward Gibbon Wakefield | John Hindmarsh | George Gawler | Playford family | Don Dunstan

  

Things you can do

Here are some tasks you can do to help with WikiProject Adelaide:

• The current Australian Collaboration of the Fortnight article is Isaac Isaacs.

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• Places and landmarks: Southern Vales, Science Park, Sir Samuel Way Building, Cummins House Adelaide Central School of Arts
• Parks and rivers: Henley Square, Peace Park
• Events and people: Carnevale in Adelaide, Come Out Festival, SALA Festival, Ian Gilfillan, Edmund Wright
• Streets: East Terrace, Hutt Street
• History: The Chronicle (South Australia), Adelaide Observer, Adelaide Steamship Company, History Trust of South Australia, Electoral reform in South Australia
• Other: Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in South Australia, Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in Adelaide
• Assess: Category:Unknown-importance South Australia articles, Category:Unassessed South Australia articles, Category:Unknown-importance Adelaide articles, Category:Unassessed Adelaide articles
• Maintain: Portal:South Australia

  

Associated Wikimedia

South Australia on  Wikinews	South Australia on  Wikiquote	South Australia on  Wikibooks	South Australia on  Wikisource	South Australia on  Wiktionary	South Australia on  Wikiversity	South Australia on Wikimedia Commons
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