South Australia is a sophisticated, modern and affordable place to live, work and study. The capital city of Adelaide has all the hallmarks of a major urban center with modern and classical architecture, a bustling retail hub and a multi-cultural population. New Yorker magazine once called Adelaide “the last well planned metropolis on earth” – and newcomers will soon realize this. New Yorker magazine once called Adelaide “the last well planned metropolis on earth” – and newcomers will soon realize this.
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. As at June 2013, Adelaide had an estimated resident population of 1.29 million. The demonym “Adelaidean” is used in reference to the city and its residents. Adelaide is north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, on the Adelaide Plains between the Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges which surround the city. Adelaide stretches 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills, and 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south.
Named in honor of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, queen consort to King William IV, the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for a freely settled British province in Australia. Colonel William Light, one of Adelaide’s founding fathers, designed the city and chose its location close to the River Torrens, in the area originally inhabited by the Kaurna people. Light’s design set out Adelaide in a grid layout, interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by parklands. Early Adelaide was shaped by religious freedom and a commitment to political progressivism and civil liberties, which led to the moniker “City of Churches”.
As South Australia’s seat of government and commercial center, Adelaide is the site of many governmental and financial institutions. Most of these are concentrated in the city center along the cultural boulevard of North Terrace, King William Street and in various districts of the metropolitan area. Today, Adelaide is noted for its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine, its long beachfronts, and its large defense and manufacturing sectors. It ranks highly in terms of livability, being listed in the Top 10 of The Economist’s World’s Most Livable Cities index in 2010, 2011 and 2012. It was also ranked the most livable city in Australia by the Property Council of Australia in 2011, 2012 and again in 2013.Because of its Mediterranean climate, Adelaide has hot dry summers and wet cold winters. Be aware of the harshness of the sun in summer and always wear a hat, sunscreen and cover up, particularly in the middle of the day. It doesn’t snow in Adelaide but it does get pretty cold and wet in winter. Umbrellas and waterproof jackets are essential when you are out and about in the winter months.
The city has wide streets and central squares ringed by 900 hectares of lush parklands. In every sense this layout sets the scene for modern-day life in Adelaide. Traffic is rarely congested, people are relaxed and friendly, the air is clean and the public transport system can take you to the city’s white, sandy beaches or the Adelaide Hills within half an hour.
As an international student in Adelaide you will have access to some of the very best of Australia’s educational institutions, including universities, TAFE colleges, and learn english ELICOS, which are supported by a well-established network of student services. There are also a wide range of recreational activities for students to get together and enjoy to take a break in Adelaide including city beaches, national wildlife reserves, arts and culture festivals, and the finest wineries in Australia.
Climate
Season | Months | Conditions | Temperature |
Summer | December-February | Mainly hot & dry | 25º C – 35º C |
Autumn | March-May | Mainly Dry | 20º C – 25º C |
Winter | June-August | Cool & wet | 10º C -15º C |
Spring | September-November | Little rain | 20º C – 25º C |
For more information about Adelaide Visit:
http://www.southaustralia.com/regions/adelaide-city.aspx