Somerton Park, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Somerton Park Adelaide, South Australia
House in Somerton Park
Somerton Park Location in South Australia
Postcode(s)	5044
Location	12 km (7 mi) from Adelaide
LGA(s)	City of Holdfast Bay
State electorate(s)	Gibson Morphett
Federal Division(s)	Boothby
Suburbs around Somerton Park: Glenelg South Morphettville Gulf St Vincent Somerton Park Warradale North Brighton Warradale

Somerton Park is a lovely seaside suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. It's mostly a place where people live. You can find Somerton Park Beach here, along with Sacred Heart College and the North Brighton Cemetery.

History of Somerton Park

The Somerton Park Post Office opened a long time ago, on 1 July 1947. It helped people send letters and packages for many years before it closed in 1988.

Seaforth Home: A Place for Children

In 1921, a special building called the Seaforth Convalescent Home opened. It was a two-storey house with a big garden, not far from the beach. The South Australian Government ran it.

This home was a place for children to stay for a short time. They might have been getting better after being sick or leaving the hospital. It was also a holiday home for some children who were working in other places.

As time went on, teachers started working at the home. By the 1930s, about 30 to 50 children, mostly girls, lived there. The number of children grew even more in the mid-1940s, reaching over 60. More sleeping areas and staff rooms were built to help. In 1946, the home was renamed Seaforth Home.

From 1946 to 1976, Seaforth Home continued to help children. It could look after up to 100 boys and girls. Boys stayed until they were about six years old, and girls could stay until they were 18. Some children with disabilities also lived there. Many children needed a safe place to stay.

The home became very full in the 1950s. To make more space, younger boys who were ready for primary school moved to another place called the Glandore Industrial School. A famous singer-songwriter named Ruby Hunter even spent some time at the home.

By 1973, there were only about 30 children living at Seaforth Home. Many of them had disabilities. The large home was then divided into smaller, more family-like units. The home closed in 1975. After that, five separate small houses were built on the same land to continue helping children in a different way.

Notable People and Mysteries

Somerton Park has been home to some interesting people and is linked to a few historical mysteries.

Famous Residents

• Phil Walsh (1960–2015) was a well-known coach for the Adelaide Football Club. He lived in Somerton Park.
• The Beaumont children (born 1956, 1958, 1961) lived at 109 Harding Street in Somerton Park. They are known for a historical disappearance that happened at the nearby Glenelg beach in 1966.

The Somerton Man Mystery

An unidentified man, who became known as the Somerton Man, was found in this area in the 1940s. His identity and how he came to be there remain a mystery to this day.

Images for kids

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  A house in Somerton Park