Dry Creek, South Australia

Dry Creek is a mostly industrial suburb north of Adelaide, containing significant wetlands and a substantial area devoted to salt crystallization pans, managed by Cheetham Salt Limited.

It is named for Dry Creek, a stream and drain which flows out to Gulf St Vincent through the Barker Inlet on the north-east border of the suburb.

It was the site of the soapworks of W. H. Burford & Son from 1923 (adjacent to the Dry Creek railway station) and a pioneering "garden suburb" for its employees, designed by W. J. Earle (who also laid out Cadbury's model town at Claremont, Tasmania). The name Burford Gardens has vanished, but its streets remain: Flame Ave, Gum Ave, Wattle Ave, Grevillea Ave and Bushwood Ave.

Wetlands
The Dry Creek wetlands are composed of many separate sections running from the eastern edge of the suburb to the sea outlet of Dry Creek. They form part of the storm water management system for the City of Salisbury and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and are connected to numerous drains that run across the Adelaide Plains including the eponymous Dry Creek, as well as being the outflow point for storm water pipes. Some of the wetlands have been extensively landscaped but have only limited public access.

The wetlands form a fauna and flora haven with one of the southern most mangrove habitats in the world, extensive reed and samphire beds and a large bird and fish population. The discharge via North Arm creek into the Barker Inlet of Gulf St Vincent. The wetlands are part of the Gulf St Vincent Important Bird Area.

Transport


Dry Creek has a train station which is located on the Gawler Central railway line.