West Lakes Shore, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Lakes ShoreAdelaide, South Australia |
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West Lakes Shore extends from the ocean to the manmade tidal lake (pictured)
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 West Lakes Shore
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 30 September 1976 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5020 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Charles Sturt | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Western Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| County | Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lee | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hindmarsh | ||||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | Locations Adjoining suburbs |
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West Lakes Shore is a suburb located in the western part of Adelaide, South Australia. It's part of the City of Charles Sturt council area. This area was created in the 1970s through a partnership between the government and a private company. It's famous for its large, man-made tidal lake.
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History of West Lakes Shore
West Lakes Shore was built on land that used to be swampy and marshy. This land was reclaimed, meaning it was drained and made suitable for building. In 1969, the South Australian Government and a company called Delfin (now Lendlease Communities) agreed to develop this large area together.
Since then, West Lakes Shore has grown into a busy community. It has about 8,800 people. Residents enjoy many sports, shopping, schools, and fun activities. The area is known across Australia for its excellent planning and design. The West Lakes Shore Post Office opened on May 21, 1997. It took over from the nearby Semaphore Park office.
The Man-Made Tidal Lake
A very important part of West Lakes Shore is its large freshwater lake. West Lakes Shore has land right next to the lake. This lakefront stretches from Tennyson in the south to Semaphore Park in the north.
The lake started filling with water in November 1974. This was just in time for the opening of the big shopping centre nearby, which is now called Westfield West Lakes. It's a good idea to avoid swimming or long contact with the lake water for 2-3 days after it rains. This is because rain can wash pollution into the lake.
A.M. Ramsay Regatta Course
The lake was designed to include an international-standard rowing course. The long, straight, and wide southern part of the lake was set aside for a 2-kilometre rowing course. Today, this course is known as the A.M. Ramsay Regatta Course.
This course is fully equipped for racing. It has a special rope system, a starting platform, and lanes marked with buoys. It's perfect for rowing, canoeing, and dragon boat racing. The rowing course also hosts the yearly Head of the River race. This race first started on the Torrens Lake in 1922.
The main office for Rowing South Australia is located in West Lakes Shore. Its building, along with several private boat sheds, is at the northern end of the rowing course.
Who Lives in West Lakes Shore?
In 2021, the total number of people living in West Lakes Shore was 3,236. About 47.6% of the people were male, and 52.4% were female.
Children aged 0 to 14 years made up 16.3% of everyone living there. People aged 55 years and older made up a larger group, at 41.4%. The average age of people in West Lakes Shore was 48 years. This is older than the average age for all Australians, which is 38 years.
Most residents (75.5%) were born in Australia. Other people came from different countries. For example, 6.1% were born in England. Smaller numbers came from Italy (1.3%), Scotland (1.1%), Greece (0.9%), and China (0.9%). About 0.7% of the population were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Important Places and Landmarks
West Lakes Shore has many important places. These landmarks help make the suburb special.
Here are some of the main landmarks you can find:
- West Lakes Shore R-7 School
- SA Rowing and Aquatic Centre
- The lake itself, known as West Lakes
- West Lakes Shore Beach
- West Lakes Uniting Church
- Bartley Terrace Shopping Centre
- Local parks like Neighbourhood Reserve, Jubilee Reserve (also called Hawkesbury Reserve), and Heysen Reserve
- Bartley Tavern
- West Lakes Shore Oval, which is used by several sports clubs:
- West Lakes Sports Club Inc
- SMOSH West Lakes Football Club Inc
- Henley & Grange Baseball Club Inc
- Port Adelaide Softball Club Inc
Schools and Fun Activities
West Lakes Shore R-7 School is located on Edwin Street. It teaches children from their first year (Reception) up to Year 7.
The West Lakes Sports Club Inc is on the east side of Bartley Terrace. It started in 2002. This club is home to several sports teams. These include the Henley & Grange Baseball Club, SMOSH West Lakes Senior and Junior Football Club, and Port Adelaide Softball Club. It also hosts a Current Affairs Group and the West Lakes Social Club. The club is open to the public for events and dining.
Club West Lakes was built in 1986. It was once called The Lakes Sports and Community Club. This club has over 800 members. It is home to the West Lakes Bowling Club, Tennis Club, and Croquet Club.
RowingSA and the West Lakes Aquatic Centre are located right on the lakefront, next to Military Road. Every year in March, the Aquatic Centre hosts the big Head of the River Carnival.
Because West Lakes Shore has access to the lake and mostly flat land, many sports groups hold triathlons here. Triathlons involve swimming, biking, and running. These events usually happen in the autumn months.
