Morphett Vale

Morphett Vale is a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Onkaparinga.

Morphett Vale is a southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Onkaparinga. It is the largest suburb in the state, with a population of more than 23,000 and an area of 12.76 km², followed by Paralowie with nearly 10,000 fewer residents. There are approximately 1,000 businesses in Morphett Vale.

The suburb is bordered by (clockwise from north) Sheriffs/Pimpala Road, Panalatinga Road, Doctors/Beach Road, and the Southern Expressway.

Morphett Vale was the first major town south of Adelaide.[1] In October 1840, a town called Dublin was subdivided leading to the development of Morphett Vale. [2] By 1866, the town was said to have ‘a large number of neat residences, many of which have fine vineyards attached’.[3]Morphett Vale was named after John Morphett. The town quickly boasted churches and chapels, a brewery, wind flour mill, court house and police station. [4]Agriculture consisted of cereal, mixed farms and vineyards. 1852 saw the formation of the Morphett Vale District council which merged with Noarlunga in 1932.[5] During the second world war the district was a major producer of flax.[6]Extensive land subdivision occurred during the 1960s, transforming the area from a rural region to a metropolitan suburb.

Some notable buildings and businesses include: Doctors House on the corner of Beach and Main South Roads (In the suburb of Hackham, one of the boundary suburbs), The Emu winery which was later demolished to make way for Wirreanda High School and a housing sub-division. The Heritage listed Old Courthouse is visible alongside early churches in William Street.

The Willunga railway line ran through the town until 1969, but has since been replaced by a bicycle/pedestrian path. The old Station Master's Residence is now the Southern Districts Workingman's Club and has been substantially remodelled to its current form. The last tenants of this building (Dopheide) are still residents of the Local Onkaparinga Council area.