Corporation of the City of Henley and Grange (GA342)

In 1838 Captain Charles Sturt bought 160 hectares of land in the area then known as Reedbeds, which lay on the eastern boundary of what is now Henley and Grange Municipality. He named this property The Grange. The area remained sparsely populated due to its swampy geography until the economic boon of the late 1870's and early 1880's. Henley Beach was partly subdivided in the late 1870's and early 1880's. Henley Beach was partly subdivided in 1877 and Grange was subdivided in 1878. In 1882 a railway line was laid from Woodville to Grange, thereby encouraging land sales, and in 1883 a line from Hindmarsh to Henley Beach was laid. At this time the townships of Henley and Grange were popular seaside resorts. Henley jetty was built in 1878 and Grange jetty was built in 1882.

On April 8, 1915 ratepayers of Henley Beach and Grange Wards of Woodville District Council, and ratepayers of a portion of Sea View Ward and West Torrens District Council, petitioned for severance from those councils. The Corporation of the Town of Henley and Grange was proclaimed on 2 December, 1915. (1). Four wards were created: - Grange, Kirkcaldy, Henley and South Henley. In 1932 the number of wards was reduced to 3 - Henley, South Henley and Grange. In 1966 a new ward of West Beach was created. On June 11, 1970, the Town of Henley and Grange was proclaimed a city (2).

The City of Henley and Grange is composed largely of residential suburbs. Flood banks were constructed at Grange in 1923 and in 1936 the Torrens outlet was constructed to allow floodwater to flow out to sea. Various foreshore protection works have been undertaken over the years, with the major upgrading of West Beach in 1969, Henley Square in 1979 and Grange in 1981.

In 1997 the City of Henley and Grange amalgamated with the City of Hindmarsh Woodville to form the City of Charles Sturt.

(1) South Australian Government Gazette, 2nd December, 1915, No. 49, p. 1519
(2) ibid, 11 June, 1970, No. 27, p. 2060
The Civic Record, 1836 - 1986
Henley and Grange Historical Society, Sand and Swamp to Seaside City