What is Glenelg in Adelaide?
Glenelg is Adelaide's best-known beach suburb, about 11 kilometres southwest of the city centre. It can be reached by tram and is where South Australia's first colonists landed in 1836.
On 28 December 1836, Governor John Hindmarsh read the proclamation establishing the colony of South Australia near the Old Gum Tree at Glenelg North. The anniversary, Proclamation Day, is still marked each year with a ceremony at the tree.
The Glenelg tram line, opened in 1929, is the only surviving tram route from Adelaide's original network. Modern trams now run from the city along the line, ending at Moseley Square beside the beach.
Beach and jetty
Jetty Road is lined with shops, cafes and restaurants leading down to the sand. The jetty stretches into Holdfast Bay and is a popular place for fishing and sunset walks.
The Bay Discovery Centre, in the old town hall, tells the story of the area's history. Dolphin-watching cruises and swim-with-dolphin tours operate from the marina at Holdfast Shores.
Glenelg is busy in summer, especially on warm evenings and during New Year's Eve celebrations, when crowds gather on the foreshore for fireworks.
Did You Know?
A replica of HMS Buffalo, the ship that carried Governor Hindmarsh, once stood at the Glenelg marina.