SAFarming
Unley
Farm sections south of the city that grew into a city of villages.
1840Unley and Unley Park subdivided
WHAT STARTED IT
Unley began on country sections south of the Adelaide Park Lands granted to the London agent Thomas Whistler, who cut one into one-acre village lots near Brownhill Creek. The surrounding land was farmed for the city, with orchards, vineyards and dairies.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
Unley and Unley Park were subdivided in 1840, followed by Goodwood, Fullarton, Parkside and Black Forest, each with its own shops and churches. In 1871 the villages left the District Council of Mitcham to form the Corporate Town of Unley, and from the 1880s houses filled the paddocks between them.
TURNING POINTS
1839Thomas Whistler is issued land orders for three country sections that become Unley and Unley Park.
1840Unley and Unley Park are subdivided into village allotments.
1850A post office opens at the village of Unley.
1871The villages separate from Mitcham as the Corporate Town of Unley.
1880The foundation stone of the Unley Town Hall and Institute is laid.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
An inner-southern suburb and seat of the City of Unley, with Unley Road as its main street. Its villa streets grew up along the tramline from the city.