Belair, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belair Adelaide, South Australia
Part of the view north from Windy Point
Postcode(s)	5052
Area	14.58 km2 (5.6 sq mi)
Location	10 km (6 mi) S of Adelaide
LGA(s)	City of Mitcham
State electorate(s)	Waite
Federal Division(s)	Boothby
Suburbs around Belair: Lynton Torrens Park Mitcham Brown Hill Creek Crafers West Panorama Belair Upper Sturt Eden Hills Blackwood Glenalta Hawthorndene Upper Sturt

Belair is a suburb in South Australia, located in the hills just south-east of Adelaide. It's known for its beautiful views and natural surroundings, sitting at the base of the Mount Lofty Ranges.

What's in a Name?

Before European settlers arrived, the Kaurna people called this area "piraldi". An early European name for the area was Sleep's Hill. This name came from Samuel Sleep, a shepherd who arrived in South Australia in the 1830s.

The name "Belair" has a couple of possible origins. One idea is that Gustav Ludewigs, who divided the land into smaller blocks, named it after Bel Air, Martinique. This was his wife Maria's birthplace. Another idea is that it was named in 1849 after Eugene Bellairs. He was a government surveyor who lived in the area.

Belair's Natural Beauty

Belair was first settled to provide timber for the growing city of Adelaide. Today, parts of Belair offer amazing views of Adelaide, the flat plains, and the coast.

The Belair National Park is a major attraction here. It's a great place to explore nature. Windy Point, once called Observation Point, gives you a 230-degree view. It's one of the best spots to see the city, plains, and coastline all at once.

Who Lives in Belair?

In 2021, Belair had a population of 4,896 people. This was an increase from 4,411 people in 2016. Only a small number of residents, about half a percent, identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Belair is also an older suburb. The average age of people living here is 47 years old. This is older than the national average age of 38. Most people (89.6%) speak only English at home. Also, 75.0% of residents were born in Australia.

The most common backgrounds reported by residents include:

• English (47.3%)
• Australian (35.9%)
• Scottish (13.0%)
• Irish (10.7%)
• German (8.5%)

Beliefs and Religions

Many people in Belair do not identify with a specific religion. In 2021, 59.2% of residents said they had "No Religious Affiliation". The most common religious groups were Anglican (11.1%), Catholic (9.5%), and the Uniting Church (5.9%). You can find churches like Holy Innocents Anglican Church Belair and Belair Uniting Church on Sheoak Road.

Getting Around Belair

Passenger train arriving at Belair train station

The Adelaide-Wolseley railway line runs through Belair. The Pinera and Belair train stations are part of the Belair railway line. These services are run by Adelaide Metro.

The suburb also has regular bus routes. These include routes 195, 196, and 197.

Learning in Belair

Belair has good options for schooling. The Belair Jean Bonython Kindergarten is nearby in Glenalta. It's a preschool for children aged 3 to 5.

Belair Primary School is located within the suburb. It first opened in 1957. The school now teaches students from Reception (the first year of primary school) up to Year 6. Since 2013, it has followed the IB Primary Years Programme. It is also part of the Eco School Network, which focuses on environmental education.

There are no public high schools directly in Belair. However, students in the area can attend Blackwood High School in Eden Hills. Belair does have a private school called St John's Grammar School. This school teaches students from preschool all the way through to Year 12.