Mile End, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mile End Adelaide, South Australia
Henley Beach Road, looking east into the city
Established	1860
Postcode(s)	5031
Area	1.81 km2 (0.7 sq mi)
Location	2 km (1 mi) W of Adelaide
LGA(s)	City of West Torrens
State electorate(s)	West Torrens
Federal Division(s)	Adelaide
Suburbs around Mile End: Torrensville Thebarton Park Lands Torrensville Mile End Park Lands Cowandilla Hilton, Mile End South, Keswick Terminal Park Lands

Mile End is a suburb located just west of Adelaide city centre in South Australia. It's about 2 kilometers from the heart of Adelaide. Most of Mile End is made up of homes, but you can also find shops and businesses along main roads like Henley Beach Road and South Road. In 2011, about 4,413 people lived here.

Exploring the History of Mile End

A railway worker at his cottage in Mile End, around 1920.

Historic cottages built in 1901-1902 on Rose Street.

The old Thomas Hardy & Sons Wine Cellars, built in 1893. Today, it is part of Temple Christian College.

The former Star Theatre on Henley Beach Road, one of Adelaide's first cinemas.

Mile End was founded in 1860 by the South Australian Company. It got its name because it was about one mile from the center of Adelaide. The name also comes from a place called Mile End in East London, England, which has a similar meaning.

Long ago, from 1859 to 1869, a famous horse racing track called "Thebarton Racecourse" was in Mile End. Today, you can still see its history in the street names. Streets like Falcon Street, Ebor Street, and Cowra Street are named after famous racehorses that once ran there.

The Mile End railway station, built in 1898, is also located one mile from the main Adelaide railway station.

Historic Homes in Mile End

In the early 1900s, a kind person named Thomas Elder left money to help build good homes for working families. This led to the creation of Adelaide Workmen's Homes Inc. They hired architects to design special low-cost rental houses on Rose Street in Mile End.

These homes, built in 1901-1902, were made of red brick with stone fronts. They were designed to be comfortable and healthy places to live. These unique cottages are now recognized as important historical buildings in South Australia.

Mile End's Railway Past

In 1912, the Mile End Goods Yard opened. This was a big area where freight trains could load and unload goods. It helped the main Adelaide railway station focus more on passenger trains.

For many years, the Mile End Goods Yard was a very important part of the railway system. You can still see some of the original cottages where railway workers lived. However, by the 1980s, fewer goods were transported by train. Because of this, the goods yard became less busy. The local Mile End Goods railway station closed in 1994.

Mile End was also home to a railway museum until 1988. That year, a new and bigger museum, the National Railway Museum, opened in Port Adelaide.

Historic Places to See

Mile End has several places that are officially recognized for their historical importance. These include:

• A special boundary marker on Bagot Avenue.
• The St James' Anglican Church School at 1A Falcon Avenue.
• The old Thomas Hardy & Sons Wine Cellars at 2-4 Henley Beach Road.
• The Savings Bank of South Australia Building at 94 Henley Beach Road.
• The Adelaide Workmen's Homes on Rose Street.
• The Adelaide Electric Supply Co Ltd Complex at 32-56 Sir Donald Bradman Drive.

Who Lives in Mile End?

Older homes in Mile End show a glimpse of Australia's past.

In 2006, about 3,918 people lived in Mile End. Many residents were born in Australia, and some came from other countries like Greece. Most people living here are Australian citizens.

Mile End has many educated residents, with a good number holding degrees or other qualifications. People in Mile End often work in healthcare, retail (shops), and education.

Understanding Local Government

In Australia, people vote for representatives at both federal (national) and state (regional) levels.

Federal Representation

Mile End is part of a federal voting area called the division of Adelaide. Since 2019, Steve Georganas from the Labor Party has been the Member of Parliament for this area. He was re-elected in the 2022 election.

State Representation

For state government, Mile End is in the electoral district of West Torrens. Tom Koutsantonis, also from the Labor Party, has represented this area since 2002.

Getting Around Mile End

Mile End railway station.

Many people in Mile End use cars to get around. The suburb is well-connected to important roads like South Road, Sir Donald Bradman Drive, and Henley Beach Road. You can usually drive to Adelaide's city centre in about 5 minutes.

Because Mile End is close to many workplaces, some people choose to walk or ride bikes to work. Public transport is also available. Many residents take the bus, which connects Mile End to the city, Adelaide Airport, Glenelg, and other western suburbs.

The Mile End railway station serves the Seaford, Tonsley, and Belair train lines.

Interesting Places and People

Mile End is home to the national headquarters of the Australian Rail Track Corporation. This company manages railway tracks across Australia.

The famous Australian filmmaker and conservationist, Rodney Fox, has his Shark Museum in Mile End. Rodney Fox is known for surviving a shark attack and becoming an expert on great white sharks. His museum is on Henley Beach Road, near the Thebarton Theatre.

Famous People from Mile End

Some notable people who have lived in Mile End include:

• Claude Alfred Haigh (1904-1980), a confectioner and horse breeder.
• Barbara Hanrahan (1939–1991), an artist, printmaker, and writer.
• Kenneth Thomas Hardy (1900-1970), a wine merchant.
• Allan McLean (1914-1989), a cricketer, Australian Rules footballer, and sports administrator.