Grange Jetty and Beach
Grange Jetty
In 2024 the Grange Jetty will be 145 years old.
The jetty is a little over 300 metres long and was built of Jarrah wood by the Grange Proprietors (the legal entity responsible for developing the area which was then a privately owned suburb). Construction was started in 1877 and completed in late 1879 under the auspices of the District Council of Woodville. The cost of construction was £3,400 (pounds).
In the 1950s about 5 or 6 metres from the start of the jetty there was a little kiosk. It was only open in summer. Ice creams, drinks and lollies (sweets, candy) were served through the open windows. The kiosk was made of wood and painted white. The window was about 30cm by about 15cm.
Grange Beach
Grange Beach is a long stretch of soft sand usually with calm, clear shallow waters. It’s always been popular with locals and visitors to go for a swim, sail in, just splash around in and for kids to build sandcastles. People have always fished off the jetty, enjoyed the jetty’s shade when hot and eaten fish and chips on the sand. But it isn’t always like this! Storms are relatively common occurrences along the Adelaide coastline in the winter. The Grange beach had considerable damage after a very severe storm on the 18th of May 1953 in which winds reached speeds of over 100 km/hr. Shacks were wrecked, all manner of objects were scattered over the beach and the jetty lost planks and decking.
There has also always been a rivalry on which has the better beach - Grange or Henley!
At a meeting of the Grange and Kirkcaldy Progress Association in 1935, there was much discussion on how to make the Grange beach more attractive during the summer months. It was suggested that band concerts, usually confined to Henley, could be held at Grange in alternate weeks. Another proposal was that Grange be given a more active role in the annual Henley and Grange Carnival. One day during the January Carnival could be set apart for celebrations at Grange.
Grange Hotel
Grange Hotel (1m 26s)
The Grange Hotel was built for the Grange Railway & Investment Co in 1881 by the same group who built the Jetty and financed the Grange railway line. It was licensed in December that year as the Grange Family Hotel. It was an imposing two-storied building with balconies facing south and west and offered 'superior accommodation to families and others'. One of the ‘others’ was Mounted Police Constable Wright who boarded at the hotel in the summer of 1885 to be on hand to quell 'the disgraceful conduct of larrikins at Henley Beach and Grange during the hot weather'.
In the past 70 years significant structural alterations have been undertaken and, following an extensive renovation in 2004, the hotel was proud to accept the award for the Best Bistro in Australia. Today, bars, restaurant, a gaming room and function spaces complete a complex designed to offer the best in hotel hospitality.
