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South Australia (Adelaide Region) |
| Semaphore and Henley Beach | |
| On
the coast just east of Port Adelaide, SEMAPHORE, with its
picturesque jetty and fine old buildings, was important as the site of
Adelaide’s signal station from 1856 until the mid-1930s, before becoming
a desirable holiday spot. Its current incarnation is as a popular lesbian
area with several lesbian-run cafés, a pub and a feminist bookshop.
These are all on Semaphore Road, a charming street running perpendicular to the beach, with awnings, stained glass on shop and café windows, and an old-fashioned cinema. On Sunday a steam train runs to Fort Glanville (Sept–May every third Sun 1–5pm; $5), at 359 Military Rd, the only complete example of the many forts built in Australia when fear of Russian invasion reached hysterical heights after the Crimean War in the mid-nineteenth century. To get to Semaphore by public transport, take a bus to Port Adelaide and then bus #333. |
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| About
8km south of Semaphore, GRANGE is a charming beachside suburb, with
a row of Victorian terraced houses facing the sands (bus #112 or #135 from
Grenfell Street, 30min; Grange line train, 20min) and a popular pier with
an upmarket kiosk. The next beach along is atmospheric HENLEY BEACH
(Mon–Sat bus #137, Sun #130, both from Currie Street; 20min; #286 or
#287 from North Terrace, 35min), where the focus is Henley Square opposite
the long wooden pier.
The square is lined with classic Federation-style buildings housing several popular restaurants and cafés. Henley on Sea, a waterfront café around the corner, featured as Moby Dick’s in the film Shine. South of here, on the way to Glenelg, West Beach (#278 bus from Currie Street; 25min) is a rather soulless spot with a caravan park. It does have a good, long, sandy beach though. |
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