First published 11 Nov 2026, 5:00am
Curtis Rd, Smithfield Plains subdivision in November 1974. Picture: Facebook, Elizabeth That Was.
A 50-year-old photo of a once semirural road that has become a major thoroughfare in Adelaide’s fast-growing northern suburbs has left hundreds of people pining for a bygone era.
The picture shows Curtis Rd – which now separates Andrews Farm, Smithfield Plains, Smithfield, MacDonald Park and Penfield Gardens from Angle Vale, Munno Para and Munno Para West – in November 1974.
Considered an emerging outer-suburban growth area at the time, some homes and Stobie poles can be seen in the image but otherwise it looks like a country road.
It was posted to the Facebook group Elizabeth That Was, a community that shares memories of the northern area over the decades to preserve its history and remember what it once was.
The image, described as the northern end of the Smithfield Plains subdivision, attracted hundreds of comments from people who remembered the area before it became densely populated.
Curtis Rd in Adelaide’s northern suburbs as of November 2026. Picture: Google Maps.
“She doesn’t look like this anymore,” the caption read.
The blast from the past prompted people to share fond memories of living in the first homes to be built in the area.
“I lived on Barrat St (next street over) all my childhood and remember it like that before shops, schools and further housing development … those were the days!,” one person said.
“Now (I) live in Andrews Farm, just around the corner. Curtis Rd now is a nightmare.”
“I bought a block on the northern side of Curtis Rd just after Stebonheath Rd then built a house. If a car went past we used to look to see who it was,” said another.
Several recalled riding their bikes in the area when there was nothing more than paddocks, while others suggested they used the road as a racing track.
Many lamented an era that was long gone following rapid housing development in the area, which had turned the once quiet “goat track” into a congested arterial road.
“When I was a kid, I (would) think this was just empty and boring. Now I long for empty and boring,” one person said.
“If you took this picture now, any day of the week, there is like a 98 per cent chance there would be some sort of car accident in the picture,” replied another.
Several people also pointed out that the road hadn’t changed much over the years despite the area becoming much more densely populated.
“Over 50 years later and it’s still only one lane in each direction,” one said.
For years Playford residents have been calling for Curtis Rd to be duplicated to keep up with the growing population and ease traffic congestion.
Curtis Rd in Adelaide’s northern suburbs as of November 2026. Picture: Google Maps.
Last month Sarah Game MLC tabled a community petition with more than 10,000 signatures in state parliament on behalf of MacDonald Park resident Bronnie Coulter, according ABC News reports.
It described the traffic volume as “no longer safe” and suggested improvements be made, including dual lanes made on Curtis Rd.
The region’s population has boomed since the 1970s, with more homes expected to be built over the next few years.
Shops, medical facilities, fast food outlets and schools have also been built over time, putting further pressure on Curtis Rd.
Earlier this year the state government promised a further $15m to upgrade part of Curtis Rd, which is used by more than 21,000 vehicles each day and set to rise.
A new four-way intersection at Curtis Rd and Andrews Rd – rated as the “second riskiest intersection” in Adelaide by the RAA – is the latest upgrade announced as part of a near-$300m pledge to fix what was widely regarded as one of the state’s worst roads.
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