Hilton, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hilton Adelaide, South Australia
Residential street in Hilton
Established	c. 1849
Postcode(s)	5033
Location	2.8 km (2 mi) W of Adelaide city centre
LGA(s)	City of West Torrens
State electorate(s)	Ashford (2011)
Federal Division(s)	Adelaide
Suburbs around Hilton: Cowandilla Mile End Mile End Cowandilla Hilton Mile End, Mile End South Cowandilla Richmond Mile End South

Hilton is a suburb located in the western part of Adelaide, South Australia. It's part of the City of West Torrens, and it's where the main council offices are located.

History of Hilton

Before British settlers arrived in 1836, the land where Hilton now stands was home to the Kaurna people.

In 1839, Matthew Davenport Hill received this land. About ten years later, around 1849, his lawyer, George Milner Stephen, planned out the "Village of Hilton."

The West Torrens Council Chambers, built in 1935, are an important historical building. They are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.

Hilton's Location

Hilton is a suburb shaped like a rectangle. It is divided by a main road called Sir Donald Bradman Drive.

People of Hilton

According to the 2021 Australian census, there were 908 people living in Hilton.

• About 59.7% of these people were born in Australia.
• Most people (58.5%) spoke only English at home.
• When asked about religion, 38.4% said "No Religion."
• The next most common religion was Catholic, at 15.2%.

Local News and Media

The local newspaper for Hilton used to be the Weekly Times Messenger. People in Hilton can also read other newspapers like The Advertiser and The Australian.

Places to Visit in Hilton

Hilton has several important buildings and places for residents and visitors.

Civic Centre and Library

The West Torrens Civic Centre is where the local council offices are. It's located at the corner of Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Brooker Terrace. Right next door, you'll find the Hamra Centre Library, a great place to read and learn.

Hilton Plaza Shopping Centre

For shopping, Hilton Plaza is a popular spot. It's located at the corner of Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Bagot Avenue.

Hilton RSL

The Hilton RSL has been serving the community since 1930. They hold a large annual ANZAC Day dawn service, which is a special event to remember soldiers.

Hilton RSL ANZAC Day dawn service

Star Theatres: A Place for Shows

The Star Theatres One and Two are located at 145 Sir Donald Bradman Drive. This building has three spaces for performances: two theatres and a studio.

Early Days of the Building

The very first building on this site was a simple tin shed built in 1923. It was a place for soldiers returning from war. In 1928, a stronger stone and brick building replaced the shed. In the early 1930s, this building was used for dances, roller skating, and even "electric light cricket".

From Cinema to Live Theatre

In 1937, the building was changed into a cinema called the Lyric Theatre. It opened on April 7, 1937. Later, in 1948, it became the Windsor Theatre. By 1949, another company, Ozone Theatres Ltd, took over.

In 1956, the theatre got bigger with a larger screen. However, movies were only shown on Saturdays, and the hall was used for other events during the week. Its name changed to Star Theatres, but fewer people came to watch movies as drive-in theatres became popular. The cinema eventually closed in 1961. In its final years as a cinema, it showed Greek films.

In 1962, the building was leased to John Edmund and Donald Grey. They started putting on live theatre shows, using a special stage setup called "theatre in the round." They named it Theatre 62. In 1970, the local council took over managing the venue.

Expanding the Theatres

In 1981, the council bought the old Baptist church next door and connected the two buildings. This created "Theatre 62 and The Chapel." A youth arts group called Carclew Youth Theatre used to be based there. In 1985, the council improved the building, and a company called Mighty Good Entertainment helped manage it.

In 2002, the venue changed its name to Star Theatres One and Two. Theatre One is the bigger space, holding up to 336 people. Theatre Two, located in the old chapel, is a smaller, more cozy theatre that seats 72 people.

Mighty Good Productions

In 2023, Mighty Good Productions celebrated 30 years of managing the theatre. During this time, they have created at least 75 original shows. The theatres also host many different performances by other groups, including annual shows for schools, dance, drama, and singing schools. They are also a popular venue for the Adelaide Fringe festival in March. The Mighty Good Talent School has been teaching for over 40 years.

Getting Around Hilton

Road Transport

You can easily get to and from Hilton using Sir Donald Bradman Drive. This road connects the suburb to the Adelaide City Centre.

Public Transport

Hilton is served by public transport buses run by Adelaide Metro. As of 2022, some of the bus routes that go through Hilton include 163, 720, and the Adelaide Airport routes J1 and J2. There are also school bus services, 652 and 653.

Old Railway Line

Before 1929, the Holdfast Bay railway line used to run through Hilton.