The Lefevre Peninsula lies approximately 15 kilometres northwest of the centre of the city of Adelaide, South Australia. It is a narrow sand spit of about 30 square kilometres running north from its connection to the mainland.
It was named by Governor John Hindmarsh on 3 June 1837 after Sir John George Shaw-Lefevre, who was one of South Australia’s Colonisation Commissioners.
The western, Gulf St Vincent, coast of the peninsula consists of a continuous stretch of fine, white sand beaches. The eastern side is defined and separated from the mainland by the Barker Inlet and Port River. Torrens Island lies nearby to the east. To the east of the base of the peninsula is the suburb of Port Adelaide. Much of the peninsula has been developed, with residential areas extending inland from the western beaches, and heavy industries concentrated along the Port River waterfront on its eastern shore. It extends from the suburbs of Semaphore South and Ethelton in the south to North Haven, Outer Harbor and Pelican Point in the north.
European settlement commenced in the early 1840s. Before it was developed, much of the coastline was covered with mangroves. The land was extensively covered with bush, with such plants as wattle, sheoak and other native species. The peninsula now has a wind swept feel due to the clearance of these plants.
The peninsula has strong maritime associations due to its proximity to Port Adelaide, the Port River and Outer Harbor. Collins class submarines were built at the suburb of Osborne. Cement production also occurs on the peninsula at Birkenhead. In 1999, the Pelican Point Power Station was established at the northeastern tip of the peninsula adjacent to the Port River.
The suburbs on the Lefevre Peninsula include: Birkenhead (5015) – Ethelton (5015) – Exeter (5019) – Glanville (5015) – Largs Bay (5016) – Largs North (5016) – New Port (5015) -North Haven (5018) – Osborne(5017) – Outer Harbor (5018) – Peterhead (5016) – Semaphore (5019) – Semaphore South (5019) and Taperoo (5017).
Lefevre Peninsula also contains several sailing clubs and golf clubs and the popular Semaphore Road foreshore. The Outer Harbor Railway Line runs through the peninsula from Ethelton to Outer Harbor.
The peninsula is in the local council area of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, the South Australian state electoral district of Port Adelaide and federal Division of Port Adelaide.