Lockleys, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lockleys Adelaide, South Australia
Residential home in Lockleys
Lockleys Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5032
LGA(s)	City of West Torrens
State electorate(s)	West Torrens, Colton
Federal Division(s)	Hindmarsh
Suburbs around Lockleys: Fulham Gardens Kidman Park Flinders Park Fulham Lockleys Underdale West Beach Adelaide Airport Brooklyn Park

Lockleys is a cool suburb located in the western part of Adelaide, a major city in South Australia. It's part of the City of West Torrens area. This suburb is known for its friendly community and a mix of older and newer homes. It's a great place to live, with easy access to the city and the coast.

A classic weatherboard house in Lockleys.

History of Lockleys

Before European settlers arrived, the Kaurna people were the original inhabitants of the Lockleys area. They lived here for thousands of years.

River Torrens and Early Days

The River Torrens flows through Lockleys. In the past, this area often flooded. The river used to flow into a wetland area called "The Reedbeds." To stop the flooding, a channel called the Torrens Channel (also known as Breakout Creek) was dug in the 1930s. This channel helped drain the wetlands and directed the river's water straight to Gulf St Vincent.

Because of the river, the soil in Lockleys was very rich. This made it a perfect place for market gardens and greenhouses before houses were built. The name "Lockleys" comes from a property that was once used for amateur horse racing.

The Hank Family: Sporting Legends

The Lockleys area was eventually divided into blocks for housing. However, the Hank family had an 11-acre market garden on Torrens Avenue after World War I. The three Hank brothers – Ray, Bill, and Bob – all went to Lockleys Primary School. They all became famous footballers for the West Torrens Football Club.

Bob Hank was especially legendary. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He won the Magarey Medal twice (in 1946 and 1947), which is a huge award in Australian Rules Football. He also won a record nine "best and fairest" awards for his club. There's even a pavilion at Adelaide Oval named after him, and a grandstand at Thebarton Oval is named after all the Hank brothers. Bob Hank was also a talented cricketer and famously bowled out the legendary Don Bradman in a cricket match!

John Martin's Warehouse

A large warehouse for the old John Martin & Co. department store was located on Pierson Street in Lockleys. This warehouse was also where the amazing floats for the annual Adelaide Christmas Pageant were stored!

Later, this warehouse was turned into a data and call centre. In 2021, plans were announced to change the area. The goal is to build new homes on the site, turning the old warehouse land into a modern residential area.

The Windsor Theatre

The Windsor Theatre on Henley Beach Road has a fascinating history. It started as an RSL hall in 1925, built with money raised by the community. It was called the Lockleys Memorial Hall.

Soon after, it began showing movies and became a popular movie theatre. It was later named the Odeon Star and then the Windsor Theatre. In the 1950s, the cinema was upgraded. It had a "Nostalgia Walk" with hundreds of old movie posters. It could seat 500 people and was the first cinema in Adelaide to sell popcorn!

The Windsor Theatre closed in 2012. In 2018, the City of West Torrens bought it. Sadly, despite many people wanting to save it because of its history, the theatre was demolished in 2021. During the demolition, a hidden basement with a kitchen was found.

Today, Lockleys has many large, modern homes, showing how the suburb has changed over time.

Sports in Lockleys

The Lockleys Oval, home of the Demons.

Lockleys is a hub for sports! It's home to the Lockleys Football Club, known as the Demons. Their clubhouse on Rutland Avenue is a modern, two-story building that has even won an award for its design. The club plays in the South Australian Amateur Football League.

Many talented players have come from the Lockleys Demons. AFLW star Ebony Marinoff played for the club. Former AFL player Jimmy Toumpas and Port Power draftee Thomas Scully also played here.

The Lockleys Football Club shares its facilities with the West Torrens Baseball Club. The South Australian Badminton Association is also located in Lockleys, right next to the football and baseball clubs. The Kooyonga Golf Club is also in Lockleys. Interestingly, "Kooyonga" was the name of the suburb before it became Lockleys!

Education in Lockleys

Lockleys North Primary School
Address
55 Malurus Avenue Lockleys , South Australia Australia
Coordinates	34°55′12″S 138°32′17″E / 34.920°S 138.538°E / -34.920; 138.538 (Lockleys North Primary School)
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Aim high
Established	1960
Principal	Tyson Grinham
Enrolment	462 (2012)
Colour(s)	Blue      White
Website	www.lnps.sa.edu.au

Lockleys is home to two schools: Lockleys North Primary School and St Francis School. Even though it sounds like it, Lockleys Primary School is actually in the nearby suburb of Brooklyn Park.

Lockleys North Primary School

Lockleys North Primary School is a public school for students from Reception (R) to Year 6. It's located on Malurus Avenue. Students at this school come from many different backgrounds, making it a diverse and interesting place to learn.

School History

The school was built in 1960 as the western suburbs of Adelaide grew. In 2010, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special open day for former students and staff.

School Facilities

In 2010, two new school buildings opened. One was called "Tirkandi," which is the library. The other was "Torrens," which has classrooms for older students. The school grounds also have a soccer pitch and a gymnasium. These facilities are used by both the school and local sports clubs.

Special Programs

Lockleys North Primary School offers special programs in several subjects. These include science, physical education, music, German, and Greek. This helps students explore different interests and learn new skills.

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  Auditorium

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  Sports fields

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  Quadrangle

St Francis School

St Francis School is a private Catholic school for students from Reception (R) to Year 6. It is located on Henley Beach Road.