The site for Adelaide was chosen in December 1836 by the colony’s far-sighted Surveyor-General, Colonel William Light, who created its remarkable design of a square surrounded by parkland. The site was well-drained, had fertile soil and straddled the Torrens River, which guaranteed a ready water supply. It was named after Queen Adelaide, wife of the British King William IV.
At the time of European settlement, the area was occupied by the Kaurna people, a peaceful group numbering around 300. Little is known of them except they were skilled at working with skins a
nd fibres, and that even before the arrival of white settlers in South Australia, the Kaurna people had suffered epidemics of smallpox and other diseases that had swept down the Murray from NSW.
Once known as the City of Churches, these days the churches are outnumbered by pubs and nightclubs, and there is no denying that the city has a superb setting – the centre surrounded by green parkland with the metropolitan area bounded by
the hills of the Mt Lofty Ranges and the waters of the Gulf St Vincent.
For the visiting yachtsperson, there is a little bit of everything: Supplies, entertainment, fine climate and friendly folk. All it lacks is an easy, free place to park your vessel. Being a river port, the open roadstead in the Gulf of St Vincent can be both unsafe and uncomfortable. But, if you don’t want to pay, there is one option that I’ll get to later.
Botanical Gardens downtown
Attractions
South Australia is blessed to have two magnificent gulfs chocker-block with interesting places to visit and some of the best fishing in the nation. Therefore, there are many boats in South Australia, most centred in Adelaide. Weekend and mid-week racing are regular events, and chandlery items are not too hard to find. Other attractions that we found appealing were the many eateries that provide reasonably priced lunches and dinners, the botanical gardens with guide service, and the museum, both free and located downtown. Also downtown is the Farmers Market, a place of bustling activity and wide range of the freshest fruits and veggies, plus a huge eating hall where every type of food is hawked from stalls around a noisy room. If historical buildings take your fancy then a walk around the centre of town will delight.
Port Adelaide Lighthouse
Nearer where the boats berth, at Port Adelaide, are many other buildings dating back to Adelaide’s earliest days, a walk around there will amaze. Also, while there, a visit to the Maritime Museum should not be missed for memorabilia and displays from Adelaide’s migrant passages. Nor should you pass up the opportunity of climbing the 75 steps up the Port Adelaide Lighthouse, free with Museum entry, for a grand view over the busy port to the Mount Lofty Ranges. From the wharf just below, for the absurd price of $6, a monster ferry will take you on a two hour Sunday tour of the port, where they promise dolphins will jump in front of their bows. Also important for the visiting yachty is the Torrens Island Sunday Market starting at 6am and running until 1PM. Expect the cheapest prices in the last hour.
Tour boat Port Adelaide
Adelaide’s downtown is many miles from where you can park your boat. But most of your needs will be found in Port Adelaide: Woolies, Coles, numerous op shops, the Port Anchor Pub with its $10 hot lunches, Birkenhead Pub for excellent evening meals, and the always-needed Whitworths, as well as Mitre Ten. But to reach the city you will need to learn the bus schedules, and fathom which one goes where because there are many with varied destinations. Adelaide and Port Adelaide are also linked by rail.
Where to park your boat
RSAYS and CYCSA - Barker Inlet to left
The RSAYS, Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, is accessed from the river; it is spacious, has a wonderful clubhouse with drinks and meals available, a slip, and a bus-stop right outside the gate.
Visitor’s berths are available overnight or by the week. Contact Lisa Hastings on (08) 8341 8600 Rental for a 12m berth is $85.00 per week – a 15m berth is $107.00 per week.
The squadron’s marina berths range from 10mts to 30mts with power and water. They also have chain moorings, hard stands for trailable vessels, dry stands for sport boats housed on jinkers. And the Squadron offers slipping up to 18 tonne for mono and multihull vessels at very competitive prices. Work may be carried out by the owner.
CYCSA and north-haven marina
The CYCSA, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia is accessed from the Gulf near the river entrance.
Lat 34°47.72S ~ Long 138°28.79E
LADY GOWRIE DR, NORTH HAVEN, ADELAIDE SA
PH 08 8248 4222
12m twin – $400 per month
12m single – $455 per month
15m single – $550 per month
The cost is usually pro-rated depending on length of stay, however overnight berths are charged at a minimum of $20 per night.
Inside the river and nearer Port Adelaide is the new Marina Adelaide.
Lat 34°48.9S ~ Long 138°30.6E
1-25 George Robertson Drive, Largs North SA 5016
Phone 08 8169 0000 info@marinaadelaide.com.au
175 fully serviced berths & deep-water access (up to min depth of 3.5 m)
Refuelling facility - Pump out facilities
Shore power – 15amp & 3-phase power up to 100amp
Secure site monitored 24 hours by CCTV cameras
Luxurious washrooms & showers
Free anchoring
Barker Inlet at Garden Island
Now, for those looking to save money we can recommend anchoring in the Barker Inlet. An oasis located within earshot of what’s called the Connector Road at Wingfield. Up to forty thousand vehicles use that road but it doesn’t seem to worry the avocets, which trawl the bottom for a good feed. Up until 1995, this was a cesspool, but now the trash screens have begun a cleaning process – trapping plastic sheeting, cartons…you name it, in runoff from a suburban catchment area that extends all the way to Collinswood and North Adelaide. Surrounded by mangroves, of course there are mosquitoes, so good insect nets are a must. But it is free, and very well protected, with a gooey mud bottom. Unfortunately, there is no nearby transport, so it’s either use your thumb, your bike, or your feet.
Sheltered anchorage in min. 3 m with shore access: 34° 48.124S ~ 138° 32.395E
Overnight sheltered anchorage in min. 3m but no shore access: 34° 45.150S ~ 138° 31.185E
Garden Island Yacht Club
Just around the corner from this last anchorage, and within sight of the Torrens Island Power Station at the end of the Barker Inlet, is The Garden Island Yacht Club. It’s an extremely friendly homegrown yacht club, and if you don’t mind being miles away from facilities, you could give them a ring and see if they can accommodate you for a short stay.
Phone: (08) 8341 2754
General E-mail: secretary@giyc.net
Postal Address: PO Box 1531
Port Adelaide
SA 5015
If you stop in, please say hello to our good friend, Bob Carter, Commodore, Garden Island Yacht Club and the other members who helped make our stay so memorable.
Next >> Gulf St Vincent
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