Aldgate, South Australia

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Aldgate South Australia

Population:	3,308 (2001 census)
Established:	1882
Postcode:	5154
Elevation:	304 m
Location:	21 km from Adelaide
LGA:	Adelaide Hills Council
Region:	Adelaide Hills
State District:	Heysen
Federal Division:	Mayo

Aldgate pump and original pub in the main street

Aldgate is a South Australian town located 21 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, in the Adelaide Hills.

[edit] History

The town of Aldgate was supposedly named in 1882 after the local hotel the Aldgate Pump, which was established in 1867 by Richard D Hawkins, who had additionally opened the Crafers Inn. The hotel was named after the pump he had installed outside, and Aldgate in London, England, which is an Old English derivation of old gate.

As the pump became popular to water the horses and bullock teams which passed through the area on their way south to the Echunga goldfields, a small settlement established by 1870 and many small businesses were set-up, with many buildings which remain to this day.

The Hills Land and Investment Company subdivided land in the area for settlement in 1882. For a few months in 1883 it was the end of the railway line from Adelaide. In November of that year, the extension of the railway was put through to Nairne.

Aldgate is the site of Stangate House and Garden, a property given in 1975 to the National Trust of Australia. The house was built in 1940 and is known for its gardens.

[edit] Today

In the last decade, Aldgate's drainage system has suffered substantial problems and has been the result of drastic flooding through the main street. One of the worst cases of this occurred at around 8:00 AM 8 November 2005, which left most of the businesses in the main street flooded with significantly damaged. A recent ongoing project around Aldgate has been upgrading the drainage system.

Aldgate's fire service is Aldgate Country Fire Service which is to have a new station built on the current site.

Aldgate is in the Adelaide Hills Council local government area, the federal Division of Mayo and the state electoral district of Heysen.