Peterhead was laid out in August 1875 by William Diverall, the land broker of Port Adelaide on section 1099, Hundred of Port Adelaide. The name is from Scotland, Diverall's original homeland. Peterhead Post Office opened around 1886.[4]
Facilities
The suburb is not served by a primary school, the nearest is Le Fevre Primary School in Birkenhead, and the local high school is Le Fevre High School, in nearby Semaphore South. There is a small museum on Fletcher Road, and a scout hall on Wills Street.
An On The Run service station and convenience store serves the suburb on Victoria Road, opposite Adelaide Brighton Cement.
The eastern side of the suburb, by the Port riverside is the location of the Adelaide Brighton Cement company, and a berth for the Shell oil company.