Smithfield, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Smithfield Adelaide, South Australia
Smithfield Location in City of Playford
Established	1854
Postcode(s)	5114
Location	30 km (19 mi) NE of Adelaide city centre
LGA(s)	City of Playford
State electorate(s)	Taylor
Federal Division(s)	Spence
Suburbs around Smithfield: Smithfield Plains Munno Para Blakeview Davoren Park Smithfield Blakeview Davoren Park Elizabeth North Elizabeth Downs

Smithfield is a friendly suburb located just north of Adelaide, in South Australia. It's part of the City of Playford area. This town has a rich history, from its early settlement to its role in World War II.

Exploring Smithfield's Location

Smithfield is easy to find on the map. Its eastern edge is along the Main North Road. You can find service stations, the old Smithfield Hotel, and other shops there. Anderson Walk forms the southern border of the original town. This old part of Smithfield was planned like a checkerboard, with Augusta Square right in the middle.

West of the older homes, there's an area with factories and businesses. This "industrial zone" is next to the railway line. The Smithfield railway station is also located here. South of Smith Creek, you'll find the Munno Para Shopping City. There are more homes south and west of the train station. You can also find an Army Reserve building nearby. This is where the 3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles) and 49 ACU Army Cadets are based.

Smithfield's Past: A Look Back

How Smithfield Began

Smithfield started around 1850. A Scottish immigrant named John Smith bought land where the main road north crossed a freshwater stream. This stream is now called Smith Creek. In 1850, John Smith built a home on his land. He even turned part of it into a hotel. This was a smart idea because many travelers used the main road.

By 1853, John Smith had a plan for a town. His land was divided into smaller blocks for building. In 1855, he gave land to build a Presbyterian church. By 1860, the new town was growing fast. It had a telegraph station, a train station, and a community building. There was also a store and other services. The local post office, first called Gawler Plains, changed its name to Smithfield in 1855.

The Smithfield Speedway

Did you know Smithfield once had a speedway? A 1-mile (1.6 km) track was built here in 1926. It was made by the Motorcycle Club of South Australia. Some people think it might have been in what is now Elizabeth Downs. This speedway was special because it was the first in the world promoted by a motorcycle club.

The first race was planned for October 13, 1926. But bad weather made them move it to October 16. The very first race happened before the grandstands were even built! The new track also created a lot of dust. The track was on the east side of Gawler Road, a bit south of Smithfield. It was in a large field of 80 acres (32 hectares). The speedway only ran for a few years, closing around 1930.

Smithfield During World War II

During World War II, the government built important facilities in Smithfield. These included factories and storage areas for military supplies. Some of these buildings were later taken down.

The Migrant Hostel

After World War II, a special place called a migrant hostel was set up in Smithfield. It was built on land that the military no longer needed. This hostel was run by the Australian government from 1949 to 1971. It was located between the railway line and Coventry Road.

• For single people: They stayed in a shared dormitory.
• For families: They had a section of a larger building. This usually had two or three bedrooms and a living room.
• Shared facilities: Everyone used a big dining hall for cooking and eating. There were also shared bathrooms.

The hostel could house 100 people in early 1949. Later, it could hold up to 300 people at a time. Newcomers did not have to pay to live there until they found a job. After that, families paid a small fee based on their income. They could stay for up to a year while they looked for a permanent home. The hostel first welcomed people who had been displaced from Europe. By 1951, British migrants also came to live there. The Girl Guides even had activities at the hostel.

Getting Around Smithfield

Train Travel

The Smithfield railway station is on the Gawler railway line. The original station building opened in June 1857. This old building was taken down in 1987. Now, there are shelters that are part of the bus interchange.

Trains to and from Adelaide run very often from Smithfield station. During busy times on weekdays, trains come every 15 minutes. At other times and on weekends, they run every 30 minutes. In the morning and evening, some trains run "express." This means they make fewer stops, only at Smithfield, Elizabeth, Parafield, Salisbury, and Mawson. Many people use these express trains. They might park their car or switch from a bus at Smithfield.

Bus Services

Local buses also run from the Smithfield Interchange. Their schedules are set up to connect with the trains. This makes it easy to travel around. The buses use the Adelaide Metro ticketing system.

Famous People from Smithfield

• Hon. Thomas Hogarth MP (1815-1893): He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1866 to 1885.
• Thomas Charles Richmond Baker (1897-1918): Born in Smithfield, he was an Australian soldier and pilot. He was a flying ace in World War I.
• Maxwell Edgar (Max) Fatchen (1920-2012): A well-known Australian children's writer, poet, and journalist. He lived in Jane Street, Smithfield, for 60 years starting in 1952.

See also

In Spanish: Smithfield (Australia Meridional) para niños