Thorngate, an inner northern
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
of
Adelaide
Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
, falls within the
City of Prospect. The suburb is mostly residential within a small area and has well established streets providing connectivity to greater metropolitan Adelaide.
Located just 3.3 kilometres from Adelaide's CBD, Thorngate is considered one of South Australia's most desirable suburbs. With an average property price of $1,954,000, its appeal comes from its close location to the city, low-density housing, and well-preserved heritage homes.
The scarcity of available properties, combined with consistently high demand, has driven strong property values, reinforcing Thorngate's reputation as one of Adelaide's most prestigious and sought-after residential areas.
History
John Batty Thorngate (1795–1867) was a prominent landowner and philanthropist from
Gosport, England. In 1840, he acquired 134 acres in South Australia under the
Wakefield scheme, which included areas now known as Thorngate, Fitzroy, Medindie Gardens, and Ovingham.
With his brother William and friend Emanuel Churcher, Thorngate initiated mid-19th century charitable initiatives, including almshouses for vulnerable women in Gosport. The South Australian land was later subdivided and sold in 1910, supporting settlement and infrastructure in Adelaide's northern suburbs.
The suburb of Thorngate was named in his honour, reflecting his significant contributions as a landowner and his enduring philanthropic impact. Their legacy endures through the Thorngate Churcher Trust, which manages sheltered housing and care facilities for older people in Gosport.
Geography
Thorngate is bounded to the north by Carter Street, to the south by Fitzroy Terrace, to the west by Prospect Road and to the east by
Main North Road
Main North Road is the major north–south arterial route through the suburbs north of the Adelaide City Centre in the city of Adelaide, South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, ...
.
These thoroughfares provide Thorngate with clear demarcation lines and excellent connectivity.
The suburbs internal street network is minimal, including only Churcher Street and Thorngate Street.
This layout combined with its modest size contributes to Thorngate's quiet, residential character. The limited number of streets also ensures that traffic remains low.
Demographics
Based on the 2021 Census, Thorngate had 180 residents, with 63.3% born in Australia, compared to South Australia's 71.5%. Notable communities included India (10.6%), Greece (3.3%), England (2.2%), and Iran (2.2%).
Thorngate's age distribution was 19.3% aged 0-14 years, 61.4% aged 15-64 years, and 19.3% aged 65 and over,
closely mirroring South Australia's averages.
Thorngate's ancestry differs from state trends, with English (31.7%), Australian (22.2%), Greek (14.4%), Italian (12.8%), and Indian (12.2%) as the most common.
Statewide, English and Australian ancestries are more dominant, with smaller proportions of Greek and Indian backgrounds.
Thorngate residents have higher educational attainment compared to the state.
Bachelor Degrees or higher are held by 42.5% of residents, compared to 22.7% statewide.
Advanced Diplomas or Diplomas are held by 12.4% in Thorngate versus 8.6% statewide, highlighting the suburb’s highly educated population.
Politics
Thorngate is represented by the South Australian House of Assembly in the
District of Adelaide at the state level. At the federal level, it is represented by the House of Representatives in the
Division of Adelaide.
Transportation
Roads
Thorngate is serviced by
Main North Road
Main North Road is the major north–south arterial route through the suburbs north of the Adelaide City Centre in the city of Adelaide, South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, ...
and
Prospect Road, which link the suburb to both
Adelaide city centre
Adelaide city centre () is the inner city locality of Adelaide, Greater Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is known by locals simply as "the City" or "Town" to distinguish it from Greater Adelaide and from the City of Adelaide l ...
and the northern suburbs.
[
]
Public transport
Buses
The suburb is serviced by the following bus routes:
See also
*List of Adelaide suburbs
A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, bu ...
References
External links
*
{{City of Prospect suburbs
Suburbs of Adelaide