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Adelaide, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide is Australia’s fifth largest city and lies on the southern coast of Australia. The capital of South Australia, it is bordered by Gulf St Vincent and the Mt Lofty Ranges, which lie in the Adelaide Hills, known for their lush, green scenery and wineries. Adelaide is known as the ‘city of churches’, but rumour has it that, for every church built, a pub was also constructed to accommodate the less religious.

The city has been well planned, with the central business district streets set in a grid and a ring of parklands surrounding the city centre. The population of just over 1 million enjoys a Mediterranean climate of mild but wet winters and hot and dry summers. With the change of seasons from winter to summer comes a more outdoor lifestyle for Adelaide residents, with plenty of al fresco dining and white sandy beaches. Approximately one quarter of Adelaide residents were born overseas, and the population is aging faster than the rest of Australia—just under a quarter of residents are aged 55 or over. It also has the lowest rate in the country of children under 15 (18.7 per cent). Wealthy and educated residents are concentrated in the coastal and south east suburbs.

Adelaide’s economy is largely based on manufacturing and defence. Almost half of all Australian cars are produced here, with car companies such as General Motors Holden and Mitsubishi having their plants in Adelaide, along with other manufacturing companies in medical equipment and electronic component production. Seventy per cent of the nation’s defence companies are also located in Adelaide, contributing over $1 billion to South Australia’s gross state product.

Adelaide has a world class university and a reliable public transport network, both around town and to regional areas, although the outdated train system is currently being updated and public transport in the city’s newer housing developments is still improving.

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