Marryatville is a small suburb about 4–5 kilometres (2.5–3.1 mi) east of Adelaide's central business district, in the local council area of City of Norwood Payneham St Peters. Comprising low- to medium-density housing, two large schools, a church and several shops, it also has two creeks running through it. The first European settler on the land was George Brunskill in 1839, with part of the land purchased and laid out as a village in 1848 by James Philcox.

The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters is a metropolitan local government area of South Australia. It covers the inner eastern suburbs of Adelaide. It is divided into five wards: Torrens, Payneham, West Norwood/Kent Town, Kensington, and Maylands/Trinity. The council is based at the historic Norwood Town Hall. Comprising the council is a mayor and 13 elected members, who are supported by a chief executive, as well as four general managers and approximately 175 field and inside staff.