Adelaide is the capital, largest city, economic center, and chief port of the state of South Australia. It lies on a plain on Australia's southern coast and extends inland from the Gulf of St. Vincent, an inlet off the Indian Ocean. The city was named for Queen Adelaide, whose husband, William IV, ruled Britain from 1830 to 1837.

The River Torrens flows through Adelaide. The city's central business district is on both banks of the river, 6 miles (10 kilometers) inland from the Gulf of St. Vincent. A belt of beautiful parkland surrounds the central business district. Adelaide's residential, commercial, and industrial areas spread north and south along the plain. The Mount Lofty Ranges rise east of the city.

Adelaide was first settled by Europeans in 1836. Colonel William Light, the first surveyor general of South Australia, completed a city plan for Adelaide in 1837. The city quickly became an important center for nearby agricultural and mining activities. Many new industries were established in Adelaide after World War II ended in 1945. The city's population has grown immensely since then and now accounts for over 70 percent of South Australia's population.

THE ADELAIDE FESTIVAL
Adelaide Festival is an international arts festival held every two years in Adelaide, Australia. It attracts well-known performers from overseas, encourages local talent, and stimulates creative and performing arts in Australia. The festival is organized and presented by a small permanent staff, who work with an honorary board of governors. Voluntary advisory committees also help. State and federal governments provide subsidies. The Adelaide City Council, local businesses, and private citizens also donate funds. In 1958, a group of Adelaide citizens conceived the idea of a festival to bring more attention to the city. The first festival was held in March 1960.

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