Torrensville, South Australia

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox Australian place| type = suburb | name = Torrensville | city = Adelaide | state = sa | image = St George Adelaide Location.png | caption = Torrensville is one of the three adjacent suburbs in West Torrens, that are densely populated by Greek-Australians | est = | lga = City of West Torrens | postcode = 5031 | pop =  | area = | stategov = West Torrens | fedgov = Adelaide | near-nw = <br /><br />Flinders Park | near-n = Allenby Gardens, Welland, West Hindmarsh | near-ne = <br /><br />Hindmarsh | near-w = Underdale, Brooklyn Park | near-e = Thebarton, Mile End | near-sw = Brooklyn Park | near-s = Cowandilla | near-se = Mile End, Hilton | dist1 = 2 | location1= Adelaide | alternative_location_map = Australia SA inner Adelaide | pushpin_map_caption = Location in greater metropolitan Adelaide | coordinates = {{Coord|34|55|S|138|33|E|region:AU-SA_type:city}} }}

'''Torrensville''' is a western suburb {{cvt|3|km}} west of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It was named after Irish-born economist and chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, Robert Torrens.

Torrensville is in the City of West Torrens local government area, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of West Torrens and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Hindmarsh. The area has a high proportion of Greek-Australians.

Revitalisation of the Adelaide's inner suburbs in the 2000s has made Henley Beach Road a vibrant shopping area with many cafes and restaurants.

==History== According to the ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', the suburb was named after Robert Torrens senior, who was chairman of the South Australian Colonisation Commission, which was responsible for setting up and running the colony in its early years.<ref name=adb>{{cite AuDB |title=Torrens, Robert (1780–1864) |volume=2 |year=1967 |id2= torrens-robert-2740/text3873|access-date=10 November 2019}}</ref>

''New Thebarton'' Post Office opened on 1 November 1879 and was renamed ''Torrensville'' in 1909.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=SA&country= | access-date = 26 May 2011}}</ref> Torrensville was part of the then largely rural District of West Torrens until 1883, when the residents of the more urban suburbs of Thebarton, Mile End and Torrensville successfully petitioned to become the Corporation of the Town of Thebarton.<ref>Payne, P. (1996): ''Thebarton, Old and New.'' Thebarton City Council. {{ISBN|0 646 30157 8}}</ref> In 1997 the Town of Thebarton re-amalgamated with the City of West Torrens.<ref>[https://www.westtorrens.sa.gov.au/CWT/content/Council/Local_history/Story_of_West_Torrens City of WestTorrens > Local history > Story of West Torrens]. Retrieved 11 November 2019.</ref>

The Star Theatre, at 107 Henley Beach Road,<ref name=plaza/> was one of the earliest picture theatres in Dan Clifford's cinema chain,<ref name=obitmail>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54899153 |title=Career more colorful than any film he showed |newspaper=The Mail (Adelaide) |volume=31 |issue=1,594 |location=South Australia |date=12 December 1942 |access-date=12 December 2022 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> opening in March 1916. It was renamed the Plaza Theatre in 1937,<ref name=plaza/> but still operated under Clifford's Star banner,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74387427 |title=Star Programmes |newspaper=The Advertiser (Adelaide) |location=South Australia |date=13 June 1938 |access-date=15 December 2022 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and continued to operate as a cinema until at least 1957.<ref name=plaza>{{cite web | title=Plaza Theatre in Adelaide, AU | website=Cinema Treasures | first= Ken | last=Roe| url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35455 | access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref> {{as of|2022}} it is operating as the Mile End Office Furniture store.<ref>{{cite web | title=107 Henley Beach Road, street view | website=Google Maps | url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.9237791,138.5674905,3a,75y,183.79h,106.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saFV5EfbGJFdeuW_Jg_dWvQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 | access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>

==Demographics== According to the 2016 Australian census, the most common ancestries for Torrensville residents were English (18.8%), Australian (15.9%), Greek (11.8%) and Italian (9.7%) - although 62.4% of respondents were born in Australia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC41450 | title=2016 Torrensville, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics }}</ref> The significant Greek Australian and Italian Australians populations being a result of mass migration in the middle of the 20th century.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The 2021 Australian Census identified that 14.8% of residents in Torrensville were of Greek ancestry compared to South Australia 2.7% and Australia 1.7% <ref>{{Cite web |date=9 July 2022 |title=Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data Torrensville |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL41466 |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>

Australian Bureau of Statistics data from May 2021 identified Adelaide's western suburbs as having the lowest unemployment in South Australia.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 June 2021|title=Adelaide's West Leads Employment Surge|work=InDaily|url=http://indaily.co/335989}}</ref>

Both the State and Federal MPs, representing the electoral districts that include Torrensville, are notable Greek Australians: Tom Koutsantonis and Steve Georganas of the Australian Labor Party. Their success in winning office could potentially be attributed to the population of Greek Australians in their electoral districts including Torrensville and neighbouring suburbs of Thebarton and Mile End.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

==Heritage listings and places of interest== ===Brickworks===  The Brickworks Marketplace, a shopping centre, is on the site of the former brickworks of J. Hallett and Son.<ref name=kilnheritage/><ref name=wenoteskiln>{{cite web | title=The Hoffman Kiln at Torrensville | website=Weekend Notes| date=21 November 2019 | url=https://www.weekendnotes.com/hoffman-kiln-t-torrensville/ | access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref> It occupies a large block on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, with the Torrens River (Karrawirri Parri) at its northern boundary.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ashwin Parade · Torrensville SA 5031, Australia | website=Google Maps | url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ashwin+Parade,+Torrensville+SA+5031/@-34.9128666,138.5623007,378m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ab0cf5f4b6834a3:0xbcacf60cf1596055!8m2!3d-34.9145428!4d138.5599474 | access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref>

The Hoffman Brick Kiln, Hallett Brickworks (Lot 32 Ashwin Parade) was heritage-listed on the South Australian Heritage Register in 1983.<ref name=kilnheritage>{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=9075 | title=Former Hoffman Brick Kiln, Brickworks Marketplace (former Hallett Brickworks) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> The Brickworks kiln was constructed in 1912<ref name=keam2017/> or 1913<ref name=crowds/><ref name=early>{{cite journal| title=Early bricks and brickwork in South Australia| author=City of Adelaide |author2=Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs| journal=Heritage Conservation Practice Notes. Technical Note | date= April 1998 |quote=September 2008: Published online with revised contact details: Department for Environment and Heritage 2008|issn =1035-5138| url=https://www.academia.edu/20464570}}</ref> in the Hoffman style,<ref name=crowds>{{cite web | last=Sutton | first=Malcolm | title=Crowds return for SANFL as the Brickworks kiln is flagged as new grand finalists tower | website=ABC News|publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=6 August 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-06/crowds-return-for-sanfl-as-the-brickworks-kiln-is-flagged-/100354618 | access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref> and is the last remaining such kiln in Adelaide.<ref name=wenoteskiln/> A major renovation of the kiln, costing $1.5 million, was effected by the West Torrens Council between 2016 and 2017.<ref name=keam2017/> The chimney is {{cvt|42|m}} high.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hoffman Kiln Brickworks Chimney Project|url=https://www.wacokwikform.com.au/projects/hoffman-kiln-brickworks-chimney-remedial.aspx|access-date=20 October 2021|website=Waco International}}</ref> [[File:Brickworks Chimney October 2021.jpg|left|thumb|The kiln chimney with the Woodville West Torrens Eagles blue, green and gold colours aloft as 2021 SANFL premiers, above the Glenelg Tigers' black and gold colours as runners-up.|369x369px]]

The old brickworks site was converted into a lively market in the late 20th century, with a leisure complex including rides for children, and a multitude of stalls selling goods from fruit and vegetables, to crafted items, jewellery and clothing.<ref name=crowds/> This was demolished and a shopping centre built in its place; Brickworks Marketplace, whose largest tenant is Woolworths (Australia), opened on 25 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web | title=The New Brickworks Marketplace | website=WeekendNotes | date=26 June 2015 | url=https://www.weekendnotes.com/brickworks-marketplace/ | access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=keam2017>{{cite web | last1=Keam | first1=Patrick | last2=McLauchlan | first2=Cathryn | title=Look at Adelaide's favourite old chimney now | website=adelaidenow | date=2 June 2017 | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/15m-has-been-spent-restoring-the-iconic-stack-at-the-brickworks-site-now-its-hope-new-business-will-move-in/news-story/7d308db6cda029ecf372ec270e41b9f9 | access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref>[[File:Thebarton Oval Gates.jpg|thumb|Gate and Ticket Office to Thebarton Oval in Torrensville.|294x294px]]From 2021 the South Australian tradition which commenced in 1954 of placing the SANFL premiership team colours on top of the chimney at the West End Brewery (first in Hindley Street<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131211341 |title=Port have it in black and white |newspaper=The News (Adelaide) |volume=63 |issue=9,718 |location=South Australia |date=4 October 1954 |access-date=4 October 2021 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name="1982pic">{{cite web | title=West End Brewery, Hindley Street | website=State Library of South Australia |format= Photo + text| url=https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+42321 | access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref> and after 1980 at the Thebarton site<ref name="replicapaint">{{cite web | last=Sutton | first=Malcolm | title=The Eagles' back-to-back triumph given 'replica' honours on alternative SANFL chimney | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=5 October 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/the-eagles-sanfl-premiers-unveiled-on-replica-chimney/100515404 | access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref>), was moved to the Brickworks kiln chimney. The Woodville West Torrens Eagles were the 2021 SANFL Premiers,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Millbank|first=Zac|date=5 Oct 2021|title=Eagles Begin a New West End Tradition|url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/eagles-begin-a-new-west-end-tradition/|access-date=5 Oct 2021|website=SANFL}}</ref> and after temporary placement on a replica chimney on the day of the ceremony,<ref name="replicapaint" /> the colours were unveiled on it on the actual chimney on 19 October 2021. As of 2023, Glenelg Football Club colours sit on top of the chimney after defeating Sturt Football Club in the 2023 SANFL Grand Final.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 October 2021|title=Eagles colours reign at SANFL premiership chimney|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1009792566534773|access-date=20 October 2021|website= Facebook |publisher =Channel 7 }}</ref>

===Other places=== * Thebarton Oval, once used as an Australian Rules Football ground by West Torrens Football Club ** Ashley Street: Gate and Ticket Office, Thebarton Oval was heritage-listed in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=9074 | title=Gate/Ticket Office, Thebarton Soldiers Memorial Recreation Ground | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> ** The Hotel Royal in Torrensville was built in 1879 and is heritage listed. The West Torrens Council has controversially approved a $4 million upgrade to the hotel in 2022 that has raised concerns from the Art Deco and Modernism, Adelaide Chapter. The concerns are based on the hotel losing its Art Deco elements and characteristics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Villani|first=Celeste|date=23 January 2022|title=1879 art deco hotel to get $4m makeover|work=The Advertiser}}</ref> thumb|Thebarton Theatre exterior|320x320px * Thebarton Theatre, a historic and popular entertainment venue, at 112 Henley Beach Road, heritage-listed in 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=9073 | title=Thebarton Theatre | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> * World Series Cricket icon David Hookes grew up on Clifford Street Torrensville and played cricket in Torrensville.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shiel |first=Alan |title=Hookesy |publisher=ABC Books |year=1993 |location=Sydney |pages=9}}</ref> There is a monument to him on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, Torrensville.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=David Hookes |url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/sport/display/99630-david-hookes |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=Monument Australia}}</ref> * 4-8 Hayward Avenue: Torrensville Uniting Church<ref>{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=9124 | title=Former Torrensville Uniting Church | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> * 92 South Road: World War Two Civil Defence Sub-Control Station<ref>{{cite web | url=http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=9066 | title=Australian Society of Magicians' Offices (former World War Two Civil Defence Sub-Control Station) | publisher=Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources | work=South Australian Heritage Register | access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> Acclaimed restaurants '''Parwana Afgan Kitchen''' which has attracted celebrities such as Nigella Lawson<ref>{{Cite news |last=Galletly |first=Jessica |date=10 May 2022 |title=Nigella Lawson eats at Torrensville restaurant Parwana Afgan Kitchen |work=The Advertiser |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/nigella-lawson-eats-at-torrensville-restaurant-parwana-afghan-kitchen/news-story/863aa15d48ef8b792fa2b42f441823fd?gaa_at=la&gaa_n=AYc4ysvebRi_kBCu39YCikKRP7Qo8sx4ezYMpWbU3G8r_biz_puwGLQIXSAuxozknSM%3D&gaa_ts=6279e668&gaa_sig=cvNnEV6u5sAU0xmfLHB4bEU8aDTwrwojeR8mR3cHwDxwwNDB7y1IemCemXkfMYCW2SgwKtydA-AYU5qgKflOtA%3D%3D |access-date=10 May 2022}}</ref> and the '''British Raj Restaurant''' which has been the Indian restaurant of choice for visiting international cricket teams. (The Indian Cricket team has visited the restaurant for many years<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Kylie |date=21 November 2014 |title=Local restaurants vie for honour of feeding the Indian cricket team |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/sa-weekend/local-restaurants-vie-for-honour-of-feeding-the-indian-cricket-team/news-story/c0d971686c4c42631173c32e4ecba31e |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=Adelaide Now}}</ref> ) are both in Torrensville. The Indian Cricket teams most recent visit in November 2022 attracted a sea of fans at the restaurant, all gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the cricketers and in particular cricket superstar Virat Kohli.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2022 |title=Virat fever grips South Australia as chants of 'Kohli... Kohli' outside restaurant in Adelaide go viral |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/virat-fever-grips-south-australia-as-chants-of-kohli-kohli-outside-restaurant-in-adelaide-go-viral-watch-article-95391304 |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=Times Now News}}</ref> Virat Kohli has scored more runs as a touring player at Adelaide Oval than any other cricketer in history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Savaga |first=Nic |date=10 November 2022 |title='Outrageous': Virat Kohli shatters Adelaide Oval record in T20 World Cup semi-final |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/outrageous-virat-kohli-shatters-adelaide-oval-record-in-t20-world-cup-semifinal/news-story/94f87aaedc062f4b008b6af3a2f00761 |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=News.com}}</ref> In November 2024 the Pakistan Cricket Team also visited and ate at the restaurant<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Raj Restaurant |url=https://www.facebook.com/britishrajrestaurant/ |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=British Raj Restaurant Facebook}}</ref>

The New Indian Express printed in its newspaper that the British Raj in Torrensville is famous in this part of the word for its Indian cuisine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2022 |title=Before meeting England, Team India enjoys dinner at 'British Raj' on Tuesday |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/t20worldcup/2022/nov/09/before-meeting-england-team-india-enjoys-dinner-at-british-raj-on-tuesday-2516596.html |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

[[File:David Hookes Monument.jpg|thumb|David Hookes monument in Torrensville near Thebarton Oval ]]

==Education==

* Thebarton Senior College * Torrensville Primary School

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Suburbs of Adelaide