Birkenhead, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Birkenhead Adelaide, South Australia
Tom 'Diver' Derrick Bridge from Birkenhead
Birkenhead Location in City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Postcode(s)	5015
LGA(s)	City of Port Adelaide Enfield
State electorate(s)	Port Adelaide
Federal Division(s)	Hindmarsh
Suburbs around Birkenhead: Largs Bay Peterhead Port Adelaide Exeter Birkenhead Port Adelaide Glanville New Port Port Adelaide

Birkenhead is a cool suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It's about 14 kilometers (that's about 8.7 miles) from the city center. You can find it on the Lefevre Peninsula, right next to places like Peterhead and Exeter. It's bordered by the Port River to the south and east, and the Outer Harbor railway line to the west.

This area was planned by Thomas Elder and John Hart a long time ago. The Birkenhead Post Office opened around 1884, showing it's been a community for a while! Birkenhead is mostly a place where people live. It also has some industrial areas along the river.

One of the most famous things here is the Birkenhead Bridge. This bridge used to open regularly to let boats pass through the Port River. There's also a newer bridge called the Tom 'Diver' Derrick Bridge, which opened in 2008. It helps traffic move more easily in the area. The Birkenhead Bridge and the old HMAS Encounter Naval Drill Hall are important historical sites in South Australia.

What's in Birkenhead?

Birkenhead has a primary school called Lefevre Peninsula Primary School. The local high school, Lefevre High School, is nearby in Semaphore South. There aren't many shops right in Birkenhead, but you can find plenty of places to shop south of the river in Port Adelaide.

Along the Port River, you'll find the Adelaide Brighton Cement company and a spot for the Shell Oil Company. In the past, this area had a naval yard, boatyards, and the Port Adelaide Sailing Club. Most of these have now closed or moved.

The old Port Adelaide Sailing Club building is now called Gallery Yampu. It's used by a group called the Port Adelaide Artists Forum for art shows and community events. It's also home to Dragon Boat SA, where people practice dragon boating!

How Birkenhead is Governed

Birkenhead is part of a few different government areas. For national elections, it's in the Hindmarsh area. For state elections, it's in the Port Adelaide district. Locally, it's looked after by the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. These groups help manage things like roads, parks, and local services.

Getting Around Birkenhead

It's easy to get around Birkenhead! Adelaide Metro buses run along Semaphore and Fletcher Roads. You can also catch a bus on Hargrave Street. If you prefer trains, the suburb is served by Peterhead railway station. This station is on the Outer Harbor railway line, which connects Birkenhead to other parts of Adelaide.

Famous People from Birkenhead

Some well-known people have lived in or were born in Birkenhead. This includes several players from the Port Adelaide Football Club. One of them was Bob Quinn, who won the Magarey Medal twice, which is a big award in Australian rules football! Another notable resident was John Turner (naval officer).