'''Adelaide''' is the capital city of the [[Australia]]n state of [[South Australia]]. It is a coastal city on the [[Indian Ocean]] and was named in honour of Queen [[Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen|Adelaide]], the consort of King [[William IV]]. It is situated near the middle of the curving eastern side of Gulf St. Vincent. The population is 1,072,585 (census 2001). In terms of population it is the fifth-largest of the Australian capital cities.
TheSouth firstAustralia settlerswas arrivedofficially insettled as a new British province on [[December 28]], [[1836]] (commemorated as a public holiday, Proclamation Day) and the site of the new city was surveyed and laid-out by Colonel [[William Light]], the first Surveyor-General of South Australia. TheLight chose, populationnot iswithout 1opposition,072 a site on rising ground close to the Torrens river,585(censuswhich 2001).became the chief early water supply for the fledgling colony. Adelaide was established as a free colony - people arrived of their own free will, not as convicts or prisoners. It is the host of the [[Tour Down Under]] [[bicycle]] race. Forethought in the design of Adelaide has paid off as the layout of the city centre has not required modification since its design. Usually in an older city, it would be necessary to accommodate larger roads and add parks, whereas Adelaide had them from the start.
