Kent Town, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kent TownAdelaide, South Australia |
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| Postcode(s) | 5067 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Norwood Payneham St Peters | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Dunstan | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Sturt | ||||||||||||||
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Kent Town is a small area, or suburb, located very close to the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It's part of the local government area called the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters.
Contents
A Look at Kent Town's History
Kent Town got its name from a doctor named Benjamin Archer Kent. He moved to South Australia in 1840 with his family.
Dr. Kent tried to start a flour mill and a farm. These businesses didn't work out financially. So, he went back to being a doctor to support his family. He later sold his land for a good price and moved back to England.
Interestingly, the famous Kent Town Brewery was later built on the spot where Dr. Kent's house once stood.
Important Buildings and Businesses
The Wesley Uniting Church was started in 1864. It was founded by important people like George P. Harris and John Colton. This church has been a significant place for people in South Australia for over 150 years.
Kent Town was also home to two different Kent Town Brewery sites. The second brewery building later became a malthouse for SA Brewing. Today, this old building has been turned into apartments.
In the late 1800s, a tram network served Kent Town. Trams are like buses that run on tracks. They started as horse-drawn trams and later became electric. All the trams were removed by the 1950s.
Dr Kent's Paddock: A Special Area
There's a large piece of land in Kent Town known as "Dr Kent's Paddock." A big part of this land is now used by Prince Alfred College.
Some of this land is also home to the "Dr Kent's Paddock Housing Complex." This complex has 114 homes. It was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It even includes a former warehouse that was turned into homes.
Experts say this housing complex is one of the best examples of medium-density housing built in South Australia. This means it has many homes in a smaller area, but they are well-designed. The complex is still owned by the state government's housing authority, Housing SA.
In 2023, this housing complex was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected. The gardens there even have an old pepper tree.
Other Historic Places
As of November 2023, there are 20 other places in Kent Town that are listed for their historical importance. These are found along Rundle Street.
Who Lives in Kent Town?
In 2021, about 1,443 people lived in Kent Town. Most residents are male (56.7%). The average age of people living there is 36.
There are about 303 families in Kent Town. On average, families have about 1.5 children. Many adults (around 43%) have gone to university or college.
Most people (58.3%) living in Kent Town were born in Australia. The next largest group (5.6%) were born in England.
Community Life
Schools in Kent Town
Prince Alfred College is a well-known independent school for boys. It is located on Dequetteville Terrace, which is on the western edge of Kent Town.
Fun Things to Do
Kent Town becomes very lively during the Adelaide Fringe festival. This is the world's second-largest annual arts festival. During the festival, the local bars and restaurants in Kent Town get many visitors. The Kent Town Hotel is a popular spot.
Getting Around Kent Town
Main Roads
Several important roads pass through or border Kent Town:
- Dequetteville Terrace forms the western border.
- Fullarton Road runs north to south.
- Rundle Street cuts through the middle of Kent Town.
Public Transport
You can get around Kent Town using buses. These buses are run by Adelaide Metro. They travel along streets like Flinders Street, Dequetteville Terrace, The Parade West, and Rundle Street.
