Magill, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magill Adelaide, South Australia
UniSA Magill Campus
Magill Location in South Australia
Established	1838
Postcode(s)	5072
LGA(s)	City of Burnside City of Campbelltown
Suburbs around Magill: Hectorville Hectorville, Rostrevor Rostrevor Tranmere Magill Woodforde Kensington Gardens Rosslyn Park Auldana

Magill is a suburb located in Adelaide, Australia. It's about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) east of Adelaide's city center. This area is special because it sits across two local council areas: the City of Burnside and the City of Campbelltown. Magill also includes an area that used to be called Koongarra Park.

History of Magill

First People of Magill

Before European settlement, the land where Magill now stands was home to the Kaurna people. They are the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains. The Kaurna people lived here for thousands of years. They cared for the land and its resources.

In 1836, before Magill was built, the area was a beautiful woodland. It had tall gum trees spread out over native grasses. There were also many small shrubs. Around 700 Kaurna people are thought to have lived in this area at that time.

How Magill Began

The suburb of Magill started in 1838. It was first called the Makgill Estate. This large piece of land, about 524 acres (2.1 square kilometers), was bought by two Scottish men. Their names were Robert Cock and William Ferguson. They met on a ship called HMS Buffalo while sailing to the new colony of South Australia.

They arrived in South Australia on December 28, 1836. Soon after, they bought the land for their estate. They named it after Cock's trustee, David M. Makgill. Ferguson built the estate's main house in 1838. He was in charge of farming the land.

Early Development

Farming was expensive, and Cock and Ferguson soon needed more money. So, Magill became the first village in the foothills to be divided into smaller plots. The area around the original Magill village had many large estates. These estates were known for their vineyards and orchards.

Even the smaller plots sold later were big enough for planting fruit trees. The name "Makgill" was changed to "Magill" in the late 1940s. The reason for this change is not known.

Life in Early Magill

Magill has several buildings that are very old. They date back to the early days of the colony. The main business area grew around where Magill, St Bernards, and Penfold Roads meet. Magill was seen as an important center for vineyards and orchards.

People traveling from the hills to Adelaide often used Magill Road. The village offered many services. These included a blacksmith, tearooms, a mill for animal feed, hotels, a butcher, and a post office. It became a busy and popular place to live. Within ten years, many people settled there. These included carters, farm workers, stonemasons, plasterers, and carpenters. Most houses were built from stone. This stone came from nearby quarries.

About Magill

Location and Landscape

Magill is unique because it is split between two local councils. The northern part is in the City of Campbelltown. The southern part is in the City of Burnside. The suburb is located near the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Part of a creek called Third Creek also runs through the area.

Important Places

Magill is home to some famous places. One is a Penfolds Winery, known for making wine. Another is the University of South Australia Magill Campus. There is also the historic Murray Park Estate. The Murray family home was set on 22 acres of land. The South Australian government later bought this land. It became the main part of the Wattle Park Teachers’ College in 1957. Eventually, it became a campus of the University of South Australia.

Magill Training Centre

The Magill Training Centre was once located on Glen Stuart Road. It was a government school built in 1867. This school provided care and training for young people. It closed in 2012, and the land was then sold for building new homes.

Schools in Magill

Magill has three main places for education:

• Magill Primary School, located on Magill Road.
• Norwood International High School, found on The Parade.
• UniSA Magill Campus, which is on St Bernards Road.