SAFarming
Salisbury
A private village at a river bridge, on the road and railway north.
1848Village of Salisbury offered for sale
WHAT STARTED IT
Salisbury grew at a government bridge over the Little Para on the road north to Gawler, about ten miles from Adelaide. John Harvey bought land there in 1847 and sold allotments to storekeepers, dairymen and farmers serving the wheat and hay country around it.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
The first train from Adelaide reached Salisbury on 29 December 1856, and the line was opened through to Gawler Town in October 1857. Churches, a literary institute and a government school followed, and orchards spread along the Little Para.
TURNING POINTS
1848Allotments in the new town go on sale, promoted for the government bridge on the road to Gawler.
1856The railway from Adelaide is formally opened as far as Salisbury on 29 December.
1857The line is opened through to Gawler Town in October.
1861Salisbury’s government school opens.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A northern suburb of about 8,800 people in 2021 and the civic centre of the City of Salisbury. Its centre still sits beside the railway and the river crossing that made the town.