Marino, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MarinoAdelaide, South Australia |
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 Marino
Location in Greater Adelaide
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| Postcode(s) | 5049 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Marion | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Black | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Boothby | ||||||||||||||
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Marino is a cool coastal suburb in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. It's surrounded by a beautiful conservation park and rugged coastline. Many houses here have amazing sea views. You can also find lots of public spaces to explore. Marino even has its own working lighthouse!
Because Marino is on a hill, you get awesome views of the ocean, which is called Gulf St Vincent. You can also see the city beaches and even Adelaide's city centre. Getting around is easy with Brighton Road and two train stations on the main Seaford Line. There are also many walking and cycling trails to nearby beaches and a famous wine region.
Marino is about 13 kilometres southwest of Adelaide's city centre. It's also only 3 kilometres southwest of Westfield Marion, which is South Australia's biggest shopping centre. If you love wine, the McLaren Vale wine region is just 14 kilometres northwest.
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Marino Rocks Beach: Fun by the Sea
Marino is home to Marino Rocks beach. This beach sits below tall cliffs. It has a flat, rocky shore that leads out to a reef. This reef is great for exploring!
Many people enjoy fishing, kayaking, sailing, and snorkelling here. It's a perfect spot for outdoor activities. You'll also see lots of people exercising on the trails above the cliffs. They get to enjoy amazing views while they work out.
At the northern end of the beach, you can see a cool public artwork called Contemplation. Artist Marijana Tadic created it in 2006. It looks like a boat made of rocks.
The artwork faces the ocean. It marks where the rocky shore of Marino Rocks changes into the sandy beaches of nearby Seacliff.
Also, near the beach entrance, there's a mosaic artwork. Michael Tye, a South Australian artist, designed and built it in 2006. He worked with local artists and community members. Together, they created this beautiful mosaic along a nearby wall.
Getting Around: Trains and Trails
The main Seaford railway line goes right through Marino. This line takes you into Adelaide's city centre. Marino has two train stations: Marino and Marino Rocks.
The Marino Rocks station was recently improved. Community volunteers even help look after it as part of a special program. In 2020, the station got new seats, community artwork, and signs to local attractions. It also had lots of new plants added.
Marino has many great walking trails. One popular path is the Marino to Hallett Cove Boardwalk. It runs along the clifftops and offers amazing views.
You can also find several bikeways. The Marino Rocks Greenway goes all the way into Adelaide's city centre. The Coast to Vines rail trail starts here too. It takes you through the beautiful McLaren Vale wine region. There are also marked routes to cafes and bars in Seacliff, Brighton, and Glenelg.
Nature and Wildlife: Parks and the Lighthouse
Marino is home to the Marino Rocks Lighthouse. This lighthouse is inside the Marino Conservation Park. This park is now part of the new Glenthorne National Park–Ityamaiitpinna Yarta.
You can follow special walking trails that lead up to the lighthouse. These trails are a great way to explore the conservation park.
Community Life
Marino has a strong community spirit. There's an active residents association that helps the area. You can also find the Marino Community Garden. Several parks in Marino often host fun neighbourhood get-togethers.
A Look Back in Time: Marino's History
Marino has a rich history. In 1838, the area was surveyed. Land was then given out in 1839. One piece of land, called Marino, went to George Strickland Kingston. He built a house there, which is now one of the oldest buildings in South Australia. This area is mostly known as Kingston Park today.
In 1853, local government was formed in the area. It was called the District Council of Brighton. Later, in 1886, it was renamed the District Council of Marion.
There was a plan in 1875 to build a big harbour at Marino. People talked about it again in 1880 and even formed a group in 1901 to push for it. However, a different harbour was built near Port Adelaide in 1908. So, the plans for Marino's harbour were stopped.
In 1883, a horse-drawn tram service started. It ran along Brighton Road to Glenelg. The last tram ran in 1914.
The shore from Holdfast Bay to Marino was a popular spot for people from Adelaide. They would travel for hours to enjoy the beach and fresh sea air. Sundays were especially busy when the weather was nice. In the 1920s, an old railway carriage even became a holiday spot on the foreshore of Marino Rocks.
Marino was further divided into smaller blocks in 1912. Today, Marino has a mix of old and new houses. Many of them are on large blocks of land and have amazing views.
Industry: What Was Made Here?
Early on, people in Marino dug up materials like limestone, sand, and stone. These were used for building.
In 1840, a pier was built at Marino Rocks beach. This pier helped transport stone to building sites in Port Adelaide and Adelaide. You can still see parts of the pier at low tide today.
In 1882, a limestone quarry helped make the first cement in South Australia. This was done by Brighton Hydraulic Cement Works. Horses were very important for carrying materials up the steep hills to the quarries. The Brighton Cement works moved away in the 1950s.
Later, in 1979, a golf park called Marion Golf Park opened on land that used to be a quarry. This project showed how old industrial sites could be cleaned up and used for new things.
Today, a company called Boral still operates a small asphalt plant in Marino. It's located at the old Lindwood Quarry site.
Walking and Cycling Trails: Explore the Coast!
Marino is a great place for outdoor adventures.
Marino to Hallett Cove Boardwalk
This coastal boardwalk is 7.2 kilometres long. It starts at the Marino Esplanade and ends at the Hallett Cove Headland Reserve. It's part of the Adelaide Coast Park. This walk is special because of its rugged cliffs, small coves, and rocky coast. The cliffs at Hallett Cove show amazing geological formations. They even have proof of ice movements from 600 million years ago!
The coastline is also important in the Tjilbruke legend of the Kaurna people. Along the trail, you'll see 33 large art signs. They are shaped like dolphins, fish, crabs, and traditional Kaurna shields. A community artist worked with local schools and the Aboriginal community to create these signs.
Coast to Vines Rail Trail
The Coast to Vines rail trail is 34 kilometres long. It's mostly a sealed path for walking and cycling. It starts in Marino and goes south through Adelaide's suburbs. It follows an old railway line. The trail goes through the McLaren Vale wine region and ends in the country town of Willunga.
Other Bike Paths
You can also find bike paths on smaller roads. These paths let cyclists ride north from Marino to Glenelg. You can even go further to Semaphore and Outer Harbour.
