[3] Prior to British colonisation of South Australia, Unley was home to the Aboriginal nation known as the Kaurna, or Adelaide Plains tribe.

Settlement by colonists began in the mid-19th century, with arrivals predominantly from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and to a small extent German speaking lands.

The land was cleared of native forest to farm sheep and cattle and to plant vineyards and orchards.

Since then, it has developed into a commercial hub, just south of Adelaide's city centre.

[7] The Ikaros Hall, formerly a Masonic Temple erected in 1927, is situated in Arthur Street, and home of the Pan-Ikarian Brotherhood of Australia, a Greek Australian diaspora community organisation founded by migrants from the island of Ikaria.