The area was first settled in 1838, with allotments sold to investors in the South Australia Company.

It was originally a separate town and was named after the Church of England's school of St Peter.

The nearby school, now commonly known as St Peter's College, was relocated to its current site in 1854 on 75 acres (30 ha) of land in what is now known as Hackney.

[2] St Peters Post Office opened on 1 November 1886.

[4] The East Adelaide Primitive Methodist Church was established in 1883.