Mitcham, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MitchamAdelaide, South Australia |
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 Mitcham
Location in South Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 5062 |
| LGA(s) | City of Mitcham |
| State electorate(s) | Waite |
| Federal Division(s) | Boothby |
Mitcham, once known as Mitcham Village, is a suburb located south of Adelaide in South Australia. It's part of the City of Mitcham, which is a local government area.
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A Look Back at Mitcham's History
Mitcham started as a separate village, not part of Adelaide. It was called "Mitcham Village." This village helped support a sheep station (a large farm for sheep) at Brown Hill Creek. This sheep farm belonged to the South Australia Company.
Before British people settled in this area, the land was home to the Kaurna people. They are an Aboriginal group who lived here for thousands of years. About 150 Kaurna people used to camp at a place called "Wirraparinga." Today, this area is known as Mitcham Reserve. It was also known as "Brown Hill Creek reserve" for many years. This reserve was once the village green, a common open space for everyone to use.
In August 1909, a special home for girls moved to Upper Mitcham. This was the Church of England's Orphan Home for Girls. It was first started in 1860 by Julia Farr and Mrs W. S. Douglas in Carrington Street in Adelaide city centre.
How Mitcham is Governed
Mitcham is an important place for local government. It is where the main offices for the Mitcham Council are located. The Council helps run the local area, making decisions about things like parks, roads, and community services.
Mitcham is part of two larger voting areas. For national elections, it's in the federal voting area called Boothby. For state elections, it's in the state voting area called Waite. These areas have often voted for the Liberal Party in the past. However, both are currently represented by the Australian Labor Party.
People Who Lived in Mitcham
Many interesting people have lived in Mitcham over the years. Here are a few:
- Theodore Ambrose (1880–1947) was a medical practitioner (a doctor).
- Major Rupert Downes (1885–1945) was a surgeon (a doctor who performs operations) and a soldier.
- Hedley Herbert Finlayson (1895–1991) was a conservationist (someone who protects nature) and a mammalogist (someone who studies mammals).
- John Harvey Finlayson (1843–1915) was a newspaper editor.
- Laura Margaret Hope (1868–1952) was also a medical practitioner.
- Doris Egerton Jones (1889–1973) was a writer.
- Ellen Thornber (1851–1947) was a schoolmistress (a female teacher or head of a school).
- Joseph Garnett Wood (1900–1959) was a botanist (someone who studies plants).
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