Mile End, South Australia

Mile End Adelaide, South Australia
Henley Beach Road, looking east into the city
Population:	3,918 2006 Census [1]
Established:	1860
Postcode:	5031 [2]
Area:	1.81 km² (0.7 sq mi)
Location:	2 km (1 mi) W of Adelaide
LGA:	City of West Torrens
State District:	West Torrens
Federal Division:	Adelaide, Hindmarsh
Suburbs around Mile End: Thebarton Thebarton North Adelaide Torrensville Mile End Adelaide city centre Hilton Mile End South Keswick

Mile End is an inner western suburb of Adelaide, located in the City of West Torrens, around 2 kilometres from the Adelaide city centre. It has a census area population of 3,918 people (2006). Much of the suburb is residential, but there are small commercial areas along Henley Beach Road and South Road.

History

Mile End was originally established in 1860 as The Town of Mile End by the South Australian Company. It was so named because the township was approximately one mile from the centre of Adelaide. It was also named after Mile End in east London, England, whose name has a similar meaning.^[3] Mile End railway station, built in 1898, is also one mile from the Adelaide railway station.

Railway yards

The Mile End Goods Yard and engine sheds opened in 1912, and the Gaol Loop was built to allow freight trains to access them, bypassing Adelaide Railway Station. This, along with the relocation of livestock markets and abattoirs to Pooraka (still countryside at the time), allowed the Adelaide station yards to concentrate on passenger and parcels traffic.
(See also Adelaide Railway Station#Early 20th century.)

The Mile End Goods Yard remained an important railway complex until the 1980s. Some original railway workers' cottages still exist in Mile End. However, during the 1980s, rail transport declined considerably in Australia and the importance of the Mile End Goods Yard declined with it. The Mile End Goods railway station, a station on the commuter line, was closed and demolished in 1994. Prior to its closure it serviced only a few trains in the morning and afternoon, at shift start and end time.

The Mile End Railway Museum was also located here until 1988, when the new Port Dock Railway Museum (National Railway Museum) opened in Port Adelaide as part of the bicentennial celebrations.

Residents

According to the 2006 Census, the population of the Mile End census area was 3,918 people. Approximately 50.1% of the population were female, 62.5% were Australian born, 6.3% were born in Greece, over 81.3% of residents were Australian citizens and only 1.7% were native born indigenous people. Mile End has an educated population with over 40.8% of the population holding a degree, diploma or vocational qualification. This level of education attainment is reflected in the suburb's employment patterns: the most popular industries for employment were Health Care (11.9%), Retail Trades (11.6%) and Education (9.6%), while the unemployment rate was approx. 5.6%. The median weekly household income was A$918 or more per week, compared with $924 in Adelaide overall. 21.9% of the population identified themselves as Catholic, while a slightly higher 24.5% identified with no religion at all.^[4]

See also Greek Australians

Transport

Mile End Railway Station

Cars are the preferred mode of transport in the suburb. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 61.8% of residents are drivers or passengers of cars for their commute to work. Mile End is connected to the major Adelaide thoroughfares of South Road, Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Henley Beach Road. Adelaide's city centre can typically be reached by car in 5 minutes.

Because of the area's short distance from major business districts, a larger proportion (5.6%) walk to work, while a slightly smaller number (2.7%) use a bike. Good connections to Adelaide's public transport network mean that 13.5% take the bus to work, while a smaller 0.5% of people use the train. Bus routes connect Mile End to the Adelaide city centre as well as Adelaide Airport, Glenelg and various locations in the western suburbs. Mile End railway station is located on the Noarlunga, Tonsley and Belair commuter railway lines, however services outside of peak hour only run hourly and there are no weekend, public holiday or night services.

See also Transport in Adelaide

Politics

Federal

2007 Federal Election - Hindmarsh [5]   Labor 56.52%   Liberal 25.34%   Greens 12.74%   Democrats 2.10%   Family First 1.80%

2007 Federal Election - Adelaide [6]   Labor 48.26%   Liberal 38.43%   Greens 9.75%   Family First 2.03%   Democrats 1.53%

Mile End is split between two federal electorates. To the east of South Road the suburb is a part of the division of Adelaide, and has been represented by Labor Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis since 2004. As there are no polling booths in Mile End for the division of Adelaide, results here are taken from the city booths. Adelaide has a mix of working class and conservative voters, making the seat one of the most marginal in the country.

To the west of South Road the suburb is a part of the division of Hindmarsh, held by Labor MP Steve Georganas since 2004.

State

2006 State Election - West Torrens [7]   Labor 56.6%   Liberal 26.8%   Greens 8.3%   Family First 5.0%   Democrats 3.3%

Mile End is also a part of the state electoral district of West Torrens, held by Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis since 2002.

Because West Torrens extends throughout the western suburbs of Adelaide, voters are mainly low to middle income earners of working class backgrounds. Due to this the electorate is considered a safe Labor seat, held by a margin of 18.3% since the 2006 election.

Notable organisations

Mile End is home to the national headquarters of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

References

1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mile End (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC42046&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2008-06-23. 
2. ^ Australia Post - Postcode: Mile End, SA (23 June 2008)
3. ^ City of West Torrens Suburb History
4. ^ City of West Torrens Community Profile. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.
5. ^ Mile End Polling Booth, Division of Hindmarsh, House of Representatives Division First Preferences, 2007 Federal Election. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.
6. ^ Adelaide Polling Booth, Division of Adelaide, House of Representatives Division First Preferences, 2007 Federal Election. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.
7. ^ SA 2006 election results and outcomes (PDF), (a) P.14 (d) P.13, State Electoral Office, South Australia, 2006. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.

Coordinates: 34°55′31″S 138°33′39″E / 34.92528°S 138.56083°E / -34.92528; 138.56083