Hallett Cove, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hallett CoveAdelaide, South Australia |
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 Hallett Cove
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5158 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 10.1 km2 (3.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 21 km (13 mi) from Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Marion | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Black | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kingston | ||||||||||||||
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Hallett Cove is a coastal suburb located in South Australia. It's part of the City of Marion, about 21 kilometres (13 miles) south of the Adelaide city centre. More than 12,000 people call Hallett Cove home. It sits next to suburbs like Marino to the north and Lonsdale to the south.
The name Kareildung was once wrongly thought to be an Indigenous name for Hallett Cove. However, the Kaurna name Murrkangga was created later. This name means "crying place" and specifically refers to the Amphitheatre area within the Hallett Cove Conservation Park.
The conservation park is very important for its geological and archaeological sites. It also holds special cultural meaning for the Kaurna people. One significant spot is on the Tjilbruke Dreaming Track, a sacred pathway. You can find Aboriginal artefacts here, some used by the Kaurna people about 2,000 years ago. Even older tools, up to 40,000 years old, were left by the Kartan people.
Hallett Cove itself is a small, rocky beach. It was named after John Hallett, who found it in 1837 while looking for lost animals. The Field River flows into the sea at the southern end of the beach. The tall cliffs to the north are part of the conservation park.
The Hallett Cove Shopping Centre is the biggest place to shop in the suburb. It has underground parking, a food court, a Big W store, and supermarkets like Woolworths and Foodland.
Contents
History of Hallett Cove
Aboriginal people have lived in the Hallett Cove area for a very long time. It's one of the earliest known places of human settlement in Australia.
Ancient People and Tools
Archaeologists have found over 1,700 large stone tools near the coast. These tools, found at a campsite north of Black Cliff, show that the Kartan people from Kangaroo Island lived here about 40,000 years ago. This makes it a very old site!
More recently, the Kaurna people used two campsites here about 2,000 years ago. A special place for them is a freshwater spring. It is said to have been created by the tears of Tjilbruke, a very important creator being in their stories.
Naming the Area
The small, rocky beach was named Hallett Cove after John Hallett. He discovered it in 1837 while searching for some missing farm animals.
Geology: A Glimpse into the Ice Age
Hallett Cove is famous for its amazing geological features.
Glacial Scratches and Rocks
One of the most important features is the glacial striations on the clifftop. These are scratches left on the rocks by ancient glaciers. Professor Ralph Tate discovered them in 1877. Similar scratches were found earlier at Selwyn's Rock in Inman Valley.
These scratches, along with large glacial erratics (big rocks moved by glaciers) on the beach, are proof of a huge ice age. This ice age happened during the Permian period, when southern Australia was part of a supercontinent called Gondwana. It's like a giant natural history book!
Schools in Hallett Cove
Hallett Cove has three schools for students.
- Hallett Cove School opened in 1987. It is located in the middle of the suburb.
- Hallett Cove East Primary School is in the Karrara estate, on the northern side.
- Hallett Cove South School is the oldest school in the area. It is located near Hallett Cove School.
Transport Around Hallett Cove
Getting around Hallett Cove is easy with its train and bus services.
Train Travel
Hallett Cove railway station is on top of the cliffs near the beach. It serves the wider Hallett Cove area. Years ago, the train line went inland from here to Reynella and then to Willunga. However, that part of the line closed in 1969.
A new railway line was built south along the coast to Noarlunga. Hallett Cove Beach is the first station on this new line. Both Hallett Cove and Hallett Cove Beach stations were updated in 2011.
Walking and Cycling Paths
The Coast to Vines rail trail is a path for bikes and walkers. It follows the route of the old train line that used to go inland.
Bus Services
Bus routes run through Hallett Cove. These buses are part of the Adelaide Metro network. They usually end their journey at the Hallett Cove Shopping Centre or Hallett Cove Beach Station.
