Seacliff, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seacliff Adelaide, South Australia
The beach at Seacliff
Seacliff Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5049
LGA(s)	City of Holdfast Bay
State electorate(s)	Black
Federal Division(s)	Boothby
Suburbs around Seacliff: Gulf St Vincent South Brighton South Brighton Gulf St Vincent Seacliff South Brighton Seacliff Park Gulf St Vincent Kingston Park Marino Seacliff Park
Footnotes	Adjoining suburbs

Seacliff is a suburb right on the coast in Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It's looked after by the City of Holdfast Bay council. Seacliff is next to other suburbs like South Brighton, Seacliff Park, Marino, and Kingston Park.

The Seacliff Post Office opened on July 1, 1915, and closed its doors in 1978.

Seacliff's Past

Important Old Places

Seacliff has many places that are "heritage listed." This means they are important because of their history or special features.

The Seacliff Hotel was built in 1927. It was first called the Hotel Australia and changed its name in 1935. This hotel became famous for hosting the English Test Cricketers when they played in Adelaide in 1935 and 1936.

The Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club started in 1919. Its clubrooms were built in 1927. Famous sailors like Sir James Hardy were part of this club. In 1966, it even hosted the 505 World Championships, which is a big sailing competition.

Early European Settlement

In 1836, Colonel William Light sailed on a ship called the Rapid. He was looking for a good place to settle. After checking out other spots, he found a bay he liked. He named it "Holdfast Bay" because his ship's anchor held strong during a storm.

When Governor John Hindmarsh arrived, they decided to settle there. This is how South Australia officially began. The place where they landed is now called Glenelg. It's just north of Seacliff and shares the same long beach. Soon, people started building and developing the coast, including the area that became Seacliff.

Changes to the Coastline

The coast between Seacliff and Outer Harbor has been changed a lot by people. Before Europeans arrived in the mid-1800s, there were huge sand dunes all along the coast. These dunes were up to 20 meters high and stretched far inland.

Over time, most of these natural sand dunes were removed for buildings and homes. This caused problems for the coastline and the animals living there. To fix this, people built breakwaters and groynes. These structures help stop sand from drifting away. They also pump new sand onto the beaches. This helps keep Seacliff Beach healthy and beautiful.

Indigenous History

The Kaurna People

The Kaurna people are the traditional owners of the land where Seacliff is. They are the original people of Adelaide and the surrounding plains.

Long ago, sand dunes near the shore were used by the Kaurna people for camps, dances, and ceremonies. These dunes were also important for food and shelter. They provided homes for birds, reptiles, and insects. The dunes also protected the land from storms and high tides. Most of these dunes are now gone due to new buildings.

The name Witu-wattingga is often used for the area from Seacliff to Brighton. It might have come from Wita-wattingga, which is a Kaurna name for an area near Seacliff Park. This name means "in the midst of peppermint gums." Another similar name, witu-watti, means "reeds in the middle." This could refer to small swampy areas that used to be in the region.

Protecting Nature

Caring for Sand Dunes

In 2019, the City of Holdfast Bay made a plan to improve the sand dunes along the coast, including Seacliff. This plan aims to fix problems caused by buildings, people walking on the dunes, and harmful weeds.

The plan includes:

• Dividing the areas into special zones for management.
• Removing damaging plants like weeds.
• Planting new native plants to bring back the natural dune environment.

These efforts also aim to help the endangered Hooded Plover bird that lives on Seacliff's shores. They plan to put up signs, use temporary fences, and create shelters for baby birds. They also want to bring back native plants that are important for the dunes.

Fun Things to Do

Seacliff is a great place for water activities. You can go swimming, surfing, snorkelling, boating, yachting, and fishing.

Surfing and Safety

Surfing is popular at Seacliff Beach. It's one of Adelaide's most popular beaches. The Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach to keep everyone safe. The club started in 1930 and moved to its current spot in 1950. In 2011, the clubhouse was completely rebuilt.

Fishing Spots

Fishing is also popular along Seacliff Beach. The Seacliff rock flats are a good spot because they are near the Glenelg breakwater. People have been fishing with nets here since the 1930s.

Snorkelling Adventures

You can go snorkelling at Seacliff and nearby beaches. The Seacliff Reef is about 4 kilometers from shore and is a very popular spot. When you snorkel here, you might see amazing fish like blue devils, boarfish, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, leatherjackets, bullseyes, wrasse, blue gropers, and even leafy seadragons!

Beautiful Views

Seacliff is also a lovely place for sight-seeing. The views of the beaches and cliffs are beautiful. You can also enjoy the views from the nearby suburbs.

Boating and Yachting

The Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club is based in Seacliff. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. It's a great place for boaters and yachters.

Swimming Safety

Seacliff's beach is generally safe for swimming because the waves are usually small and there's a shallow sandbar. However, strong currents can sometimes happen near the Patawalonga breakwater. Always be careful near the rocks, around the two jetties, and where the water suddenly gets deeper.

Who Lives in Seacliff

Population Numbers

In 2016, the population of Seacliff was 1,957 people. There were slightly more females than males. The average age of people in Seacliff was 44. There were 555 families living there.

A small number of people, about 0.5%, identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Homes in Seacliff

There were 921 private homes in Seacliff. On average, about 2.3 people lived in each house. The average household income was $1,610 per week. For those paying a mortgage, the average monthly payment was $1,950. Renters paid about $321 per week. Most homes had about 1.7 cars.

Most of the homes in Seacliff were lived in (89.5%), while a small number were empty (10.5%).

Ancestry and Languages

Many people in Seacliff have English ancestry (33.4%) or Australian ancestry (23.5%). Other common ancestries include Irish, Scottish, and German.

Most people in Seacliff speak only English at home (88.8%). Some also speak Italian, German, Swedish, Greek, or Portuguese.

How People Get to Work

Most people in Seacliff drive a car to work (62.8%). Others take the train (9.7%), ride as a car passenger (3.3%), or ride a bicycle (1.6%). About 4.3% of people work from home.

Types of Jobs

The most common jobs for people in Seacliff are professionals (like doctors or teachers), managers, and clerical and administrative workers. Many also work in sales, trades, community services, or as laborers.