Adelaide - some interesting facts and figures

[Jessica Berry]

ADELAIDE is known by many Australians as the city of churches, festivals and homicides — but new figures show each of these labels is actually unjustified.

 

Instead, we are more the city of wine and live music. And sex shops.

 

Fascinating figures released on a new website today show the South Australian capital is far from deserving its title as the City of Churches, but does have more adult entertainment shops per person than any other Australian city.

 

On both the actual number of churches in our city, and the number of churches per 100,000 people, Adelaide is not in first or second spot when compared to other major Australian cities.

 

The revelation failed to concern Adelaide Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood who wants to promote the city as a place to create, think and enjoy festivals.

 

“It’s in our best interest to rebadge Adelaide as a great city for young people,” he said. “They are the lifeline of every city.”

 

Australiasbestcity.com.au compares Australian capitals with a comprehensive collection of data.

 

It shows Adelaide comes in fifth with 529 Christian churches listed in the Yellow Pages online. Sydney has 1742 churches listed, the highest number, followed by Melbourne with 1230. Hobart beats the list per capita with 57.64 churches per 100,000 people, while Adelaide came in third with 43.18.

 

The website also found Adelaide is one of the most affordable places in the country.

 

Adelaide has more live music bars and clubs per capita and more wine regions and a higher wine quality than its counterparts.

 

Mr Yarwood said it was important to compare cities.

 

“We are in a global competition to attract the best and brightest to be an international brand,” he said.

 

“We are a fantastic global brand and we need to stop doubting that — and we should not be so resistant to change."

 

Musician Emily Retsas, 24, said she had been enjoying Adelaide’s young vibe for the past six years.

 

“There is a great culture of young people doing great things in the art and music scene,” she said.

 

Australiasbestcity.com.au, created by Adelaide-based research and data firm ipData, correlates its data from official government studies and reports, research from private and independent bodies, polls, directory listings and opinion polls.

 

FACT V FICTION

South Australia has the most shark attacks.

Myth: South Australia has had 48 recorded shark attacks up to 2012, according to Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Queensland and New South Wales lead the tally by far, with 250 and 243 attacks respectively.

 

Adelaide has the oldest population.

Fact: Yes, 15.48 per cent of the population is 65 or older, according to the 2011 ABS Census.

 

Canberra is Australia’s capital of adult entertainment shops.

Myth: Adelaide has the highest number of adult shops per capita with 5.22 per 100,000 people, according to listings in the Yellow Pages. Canberra is in 6th spot with 3.64 shops. Darwin has the second highest rate of adult shops with 4.98 while Hobart ranks lowest with 1.89.

 

Adelaide is the city of churches.

Myth: Yellow Pages listings show Adelaide third per capita, with 529 Christian churches - 43.18 per 100,000 people. Hobart is first with 57.64 per 100,000.

 

South Australia is the state of killings and murders.

Myth: South Australia might have some of the best known murders in Australian history but not the highest number of homicides per capita. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013 shows there were 3.92 murders per 100,000 people, making it the fourth highest. Darwin topped the list with 17.41 homicides per 100,000.

 

Adelaide is the capital of festivals.

Myth: That title goes to Canberra at 61.7 festivals per 100,000 people between August 2012 and August 2013. Well above Adelaide with 26.1 per 100,000.

[Guest Guest12727]

An interesting point..........Adelaide's title of the City of Churches didn't come from the number of churches per capita (a common myth) but the different denominations/religions that were represented.

[Diane]

An interesting point..........Adelaide's title of the City of Churches didn't come from the number of churches per capita (a common myth) but the different denominations/religions that were represented.

 

..and I thought from the fact that the first settlers were religioius groups fleeing persecution in their homelands, rather than convicts!

 

The sexshop thing doesn't surprise me at all - although I think I heard Canberra has more prostitutes (all those dodgy pollies!) - my favourite (purely from driving past it, you understand!) is the one near us that has a big sign outside advertising "rear entry available"