| Morphett Vale Adelaide, South Australia |
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Wheatsheaf Road, facing east |
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| Population: | 23,052 (2006 Census) | ||||||||||||
| Established: | 1840 | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 5162 | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 12.76 km² (4.9 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | City of Onkaparinga | ||||||||||||
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Morphett Vale is a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Onkaparinga. It is the largest suburb in the state, with a population of more than 23,000 and an area of 12.76km², followed by Paralowie with nearly 10,000 fewer residents. There are approximately 1,000 businesses in Morphett Vale.
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Morphett Vale was the first major town south of Adelaide.[1] In October 1840, a town called Dublin was subdivided leading to the development of Morphett Vale. [2] By 1866, the town was said to have ‘a large number of neat residences, many of which have fine vineyards attached’.[3]
Morphett Vale was named after John Morphett. The town quickly boasted churches and chapels, a brewery, wind flour mill, court house and police station. [4]
Agriculture consisted of cereal, mixed farms and vineyards. 1852 saw the formation of the Morphett Vale District council which merged with Noarlunga in 1932.[5] During the second world war the district was a major producer of flax.[6]
Extensive land subdivision occurred during the 1960s, transforming the area from a rural region to a metropolitan suburb.
Some notable buildings and businesses include: Doctors House on the corner of Beach and Main South Roads, The Emu winery which was later demolished to make way for Wirreanda High School and a housing sub-division. The Heritage listed Old Courthouse is visible alongside early churches in William Street.
Currently does not have a railway service traveling through the town but did have the Willunga railway line that has since been replaced by a bicycle/pedestrian path. The old Station Master's Residence is now the The Southern Districts Workingman's Club and has been substantially remodelled to its current form. The last tenants of this building are still residents of Morphett Vale.
The Morphett Vale CFS station is located on the corner of Doctors Road and States Road at Hackham. It is an entirely volunteer based brigade with 40 firefighters, 5 Auxiliary members and 12 Cadets. The brigade is one of the busiest in the state, responding to between 300 and 400 emergencies each year. The suburbs primarily covered by the brigade are Morphett Vale, Hackham, Onkaparinga Hills, Reynella and Woodcroft. These suburbs include approximately 25,000 residents as well as industrial zones and large areas of rural land.
Three fire appliances are maintained by the brigade, two 2000 litre four wheel drive trucks supplied by the State Government and a smaller 400 litre quick attack vehicle that was purchased by the brigade.[1]
Morphett Vale boasts a number of schools within its boundaries including: