Gepps Cross, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gepps Cross Adelaide, South Australia
Gepps Cross Intersection with the historic Gepp's Cross Inn (currently Coopers Alehouse).
Gepps Cross Location in City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Postcode(s)	5094
LGA(s)	City of Port Adelaide Enfield
State electorate(s)	Port Adelaide
Federal Division(s)	Makin
Suburbs around Gepps Cross: Cavan Pooraka Walkley Heights Dry Creek Gepps Cross Northfield Kilburn Blair Athol, Enfield Clearview

Gepps Cross is a busy suburb in the north of Adelaide, South Australia. It's known as a major road intersection. This area used to be open land with a large meat processing factory and animal yards. Today, it still feels open, even with many warehouses, sports facilities, and training centers.

Gepps Cross is famous for its five-way intersection. Here, Grand Junction Road (east-west), Main North Road (south-north-east), and Port Wakefield Road (north) all meet. This intersection is controlled by traffic lights. All five roads have at least three lanes in each direction. These roads are important routes connecting Adelaide to other parts of Australia. They lead to Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales. Port Adelaide is to the west, and major freight areas are nearby. Gepps Cross was also a temporary home for people who arrived from England in 1952 before they moved to new homes across Australia.

What's in a Name?

Gepps Cross got its name from Isaac Gepp. He arrived in South Australia in July 1840 with his family. In 1848, he opened an inn called the Gepp's Cross Inn. This inn was located at the busy intersection of Main North Road and Grand Junction Road.

People started using "Gepp's Cross" as a place name very quickly. By April 1849, just a year after the inn opened, people were already calling the area "Gepp's Cross." For example, in a court case, a doctor mentioned a mill at Gepp's Cross. A butcher also advertised that he would deliver to customers in Gepp's Cross. Over time, the name Gepps Cross became mainly linked to the land north of the intersection, where the suburb is today.

A Look Back: History of Gepps Cross

The Gepp's Cross Inn Story

In March 1848, Isaac Gepp opened his inn, the Gepp's Cross Inn. It was on the corner of Grand Junction Road and Main North Road. Isaac Gepp had arrived in South Australia in 1840. Before opening this inn, he worked as a water carrier. In 1845, he became the owner of another inn called the Windmill Inn.

Isaac Gepp wanted to open a new inn. He first called it the Miller's Friend. This name might have been linked to a nearby flour mill. Later, in March 1847, he changed the inn's name to the Miner's Arms. Finally, on March 13, 1848, Isaac Gepp officially named his inn the 'Gepp's Cross' Inn.

A blacksmith named Charles Mathews owned land across the road. In December 1848, he tried to open his own hotel called the 'Blacksmiths Arms Hotel'. However, Isaac Gepp objected. He argued that having two hotels directly opposite each other would cause problems with horse-drawn carts blocking the road. The court agreed, and Charles Mathews' request was turned down.

In 1850, Isaac Gepp transferred his inn's license to Charles Mathews. Mathews then changed the inn's name to the Victoria Cross. But people still called the area Gepp's Cross. So, in 1852, Mathews changed the name back to Gepp's Cross. Charles Mathews bought the inn and land from Isaac Gepp in 1854. However, Mathews faced money problems. By 1858, he was in financial trouble. He sold some of his land to the local council.

In 1859, Mathews moved his licensed business across the road. But business was still bad. In April 1861, Charles Mathews went bankrupt. Isaac Gepp took back the inn and land. For a short time in 1861, there was no licensed inn at Gepp's Cross. But soon, the Gepp's Cross Hotel license was given to Patrick Connaughty. The inn has been open continuously for over 150 years.

Things to Do and See

Shopping and Entertainment

Gepps Cross has many shopping centers. You can find stores selling home furnishings and other retail items. These shops are all close together near the intersection of Main North Road and Matthews Road.

Mainline Drive-In Theatre

The Mainline Drive-In is a special outdoor movie theater. It opened on October 7, 1955. It was Australia's first drive-in where you could watch from your car or sit in a special viewing area. It could hold 500 cars. When it first opened, some people in parliament worried about its effect on young people.

The drive-in was run by Wallis Cinemas. In November 2021, they announced it would close in February 2022. This was due to changes in the movie industry, the start of daylight saving (which made it harder to start movies early), film piracy, and the COVID-19 epidemic. Even though the drive-in closed, the Gepps Cross Treasure Market still happens there every Sunday morning.

Getting Around

Gepps Cross is a key transport hub. Grand Junction Road runs along its southern edge, carrying freight traffic. Main North Road and Port Wakefield Road also cut through the suburb. These roads are important for travel in and out of Adelaide. In the past, there were railway lines here. The Northfield railway line used to cross Port Wakefield Road until 1995. Another part of the line crossing Main North Road closed in 1987.

Sports and Recreation

Gepps Cross is home to several sports clubs and facilities:

• Adelaide Raiders: This is a local soccer team that plays in the South Australian National Premier Leagues.
• North Adelaide Lacrosse Club: This is the oldest lacrosse club in South Australia and the second oldest in Australia.
• ServiceFM Stadium: This is a soccer facility used by many National Premier League teams. It's also used by Roma Mitchell Secondary College for various activities.
• State Sports Park: This park includes the State Hockey Centre, also known as The Pines.
• Adelaide Super-Drome: This is a cycling velodrome. It's also the main venue for the South Australian Futsal League (SAFL).
• Gepps Cross Futsal Club: This club is named after the suburb and plays in the South Australian Futsal League.