Alberton: A History Walk of Our Neighbourhood

Welcome! Did you know that the Alberton Railway Station building is one of the oldest surviving railway station buildings in Australia? Find a safe and comfortable place on the platform and let us tell you more!

Credits:

Image courtesy of Port Adelaide Historical Society https://portadelaide.org Music: Matt Carolan, Broken in Two HoliznaCC0, Waiting on a Train https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media-pt-2/waiting-on-a-train/

Pause for a moment on the corner of Prince Street and Sussex Street. It's time to meet your tour guides...

Credits:

Matt Carolan, Broken in Two

Who could forget the iconic steam roller of Saint Patrick's Square?

Credits:

Music: Matt Carolan, No Shirt No Shoes

You have two options from this echo: 1. The long way - Walk up Melbourne Place which will take you to the former Alberton Cemetery 2. The short way - head up Queen Street toward the Alberton Methodist Church (this will reduce your route by approximately 1.5km)

Credits:

Music: Matt Carolan, No Shirt No Shoes

Just in case you're lost!

Credits:

Music: Matt Carolan, No Shirt No Shoes

Tales of dragon ladies and little princes. Just look at the sweet faces in the cover image - surely none of these sweeties would bite another child?!

Credits:

Cover Image: Portside Messenger, 1984 Music: Matt Carolan, No Shirt No Shoes

There was once an indigenous corroboree ground near the corner of Coburg Road and Glebe Street.

Credits: Mickey O'Brien (2020) Wild, E., 2008. 'Township of Albert, Near the New Port'. Elly Wild. Music: Lobo Loco, Desert Nights A (ID 834) sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/Round_the_World/Desert_Nights_A_ID_834/

Playing with spiders at Wadlows Timber Mill.

Credits:

Music: HoliznaCC0, "Ragtime Getdown" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/ragtime-getdown/

Can you see the rooftop of the old Port Adelaide Primary School? Pause here while you listen to the antics of some of its former students.

Credits: Image courtesy of Port Adelaide Historical Society https://portadelaide.org Music: HoliznaCC0, "Ragtime Getdown" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/ragtime-getdown/

Meredith works in the local history collection at the Port Adelaide Library. She shares some of the history of the Alberton Cemetery in this extended echo. Credits: Special thanks to Meredith Blundell for sharing her deep knowledge of the cemetery with us.

Credits: Voice: Meredith Blundell, Port Adelaide Library Music: Matt Carolan, "My Friend"

Listen to Peter Brien as he describes the Port Road of his memories.

Credits:

Music: Matt Carolan, "No Shirt, No Shoes"

Alberton once had its very own Tree of Knowledge.

Credits:

Music: Matt Carolan, "No Shirt, No Shoes" Dee Yan-Key, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dee_Yan-Key/at-christmas-time/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen/

Stop here and admire this lovely old building that was first used as a church in 1858.

Credits: Music: Advent Chamber Orchestra, Handel - Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Op7 no1 mvt1, sourced from http://freemusicarchive.org (Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/)

Look straight ahead when you reach the corner of King Street and Wellington Street. Can you see St Georges Church in the distance?

Credits: Music: Advent Chamber Orchestra, Handel - Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Op7 no1 mvt1, sourced from http://freemusicarchive.org (Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/)

Listen to memories of the shops that used to line Port Road between Wellington Street and Sussex Street.

Credits: Image courtesy of Port Adelaide Historical Society https://portadelaide.org Music: HoliznaCC0, "Swingin' Richards" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/swingin-richards/

You have two options from this echo: 1. The recommended option - Cross the road and enjoy the hospitality of the Alberton Hotel while you listen to an extended echo with stories of characters that have visited the pub over the years. 2. The alternative (shorter) option - Turn left to walk toward the next echo on the corner of Sussex Street and King Street.

Credits:

Music: HoliznaCC0, "Swingin' Richards" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/swingin-richards/

Sit back and enjoy a drink and maybe something to eat as members of the Brien family share stories of the Hotel's history and characters that have visited there over the years.

Credits:

Music:

HoliznaCC0, Sailing Away https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media-pt-2/sailing-away/

9 Sussex Street was once the site of a supermarket run by the Nassaris family.

Credits:

Music: HoliznaCC0, "Swingin' Richards" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/swingin-richards/

Pause here and imagine the taste and smells of the delicious baked goods produced at the former site of the Gold Star Bakery.

Credits:

Image courtesy of former employee of Gold Star Bakery, John Good

Music: HoliznaCC0, "Swingin' Richards" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media/swingin-richards/

Can you imagine how different this block would have looked when it was occupied by the Alberton Drill Hall?

Credits:

Prince's Orchestra, "Children Toy March" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Antique_Phonograph_Music_Program_Various_Artists/Antique_Phonograph_Music_Program_04142015/Children_Toy_March_-_Princes_Orchestra/

Just one of the many stories we have heard of families that have lived in this special area.

Credits:

Credit to https://www.FesliyanStudios.com for the background music.

Is this the true home of the Port Adelaide Magpies?

Credits: Wild, E., 2008. 'Township of Albert, Near the New Port'. Elly Wild. Music: HoliznaCC0, "Waiting on a Train" sourced from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/orphaned-media-pt-2/waiting-on-a-train/ Elly Wild, Township of Albert: Near the New Port

Did you know Alberton once had a subway? Does anyone else remember Saturday matinees at the Ozone Theatre?

Credits:

Music: Jaudas' Society Orchestra, Pick a Chicken https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jaudas_Society_Orchestra/Edison_Blue_Amberol_2645/Pick_a_chicken/

We hope you enjoyed this little history walk of our neighbourhood, Alberton.

In the future, we hope to add more places and stories to the walk. If you are or know someone with a story to share, please get in touch with us at historyproject.alberton@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed this walk, why not share it with your friends? # #sahistoryfest # #welovealberton # #albertonhistory # #thisismyneighbourhood

Music: Matt Carolan, Broken in Two