Schmap Adelaide Historical Background

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Adelaide - Historical Background
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"The reasons that led me to fix Adelaide where it is I do not expect to be generally understood or calmly judged of at present!".

So said Colonel William Light on his planning of Adelaide. He faced enormous problems, not the least of which was the constant criticism of his choice of site. In the dry environment, his prime motivation was the steady water supply and fertile land provided by the River Torrens. Numerous sites had been investigated, including Kangaroo Island, where whalers had developed a settlement some time before.

There is a sense of difference about Adelaide. She was planned--she didn't just "happen". Light started with a distinctive grid pattern, which covered one square mile exactly, then surrounded it with a belt of parkland, which, over 150 years later, lends an air of tranquillity to the now bustling city. "South" Adelaide was to be the centre for business, and North Adelaide the residential area. Light named the new city after Queen Adelaide, wife of the British king at the time, William IV.

A Planned City

Adelaide's founding was based on an ambitious social plan, conceived in an English prison by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who was serving a sentence for abducting a teenage English heiress! His theories were supported by influential and visionary businessmen, many of whom later settled in the colony.

Critical of the convict system of colonisation, he suggested that crown land in the colonies be sold and the proceeds used to set up a fund to assist free labourers and their families to emigrate. Once those labourers had worked for a few years, they would then be in a position to buy their own land. The new settlement was to be the "Athens of the south"--a free settlement, offering civil and religious liberty. As a free settlement, it was unaided by convict labour or funding from Britain. After coming ashore at Glenelg, the first settlers endured tough times, living in makeshift shelters and with few comforts, but so too did the local indigenous population.

The First Inhabitants

Prior to 1836, the area was populated, for many thousands of years, by the Kaurna people. It was known as Tandanya, meaning red kangaroo. While the philosophy behind the new colony sought to protect such groups, the reality was less than the ideal. Within 50 years, the Kaurna population had fled to the nearby hills.

Religious freedom attracted free-thinking dissenters and non-conformists. Within two years, German speaking Lutherans from Silesia sought freedom from religious persecution in the new colony. They settled in Klemzig, Hahndorf, and their churches dominate the landscape of the Barossa Valley.

The Young Colony

The young colony experienced the extremes of boom and bust. Booms came with a good harvest, resulting in a building frenzy, and the discovery of copper, which led to a mining boom. While saving the colony from "bust", gold mining interstate drained Adelaide of her able-bodied workers and caused hardship until a way was devised to bring the gold and associated earnings home.

In the following years, a variety of groups settled. Irish men and women came to work and escape the potato famines of their homeland; Cornish miners arrived; and many Polish settlers went to the Clare Valley, where, today, Polish Hill is not only a respected wine label but a locale commemorating their contribution. Afghans came to work camel trains in the outback and helped on the construction of the railway line. The famous Ghan train honours their contribution.

Rapid Expansion

The aftermath of the World Wars saw rapid expansion in the population of South Australia. Following World War Two, immigrants arrived from Malta, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece, West Germany and Spain, bringing with them the many cultural delights South Australians now like to call their own. In recent times, it is Asia, rather than Europe that is the source of new migrants, adding to the cultural diversity of the state.

Despite the multicultural nature dating from early times and Adelaide being less "under the thumb" of the Church of England than other British settlements, the city carried an air of puritanism and was frequently disparaged as "wowserish" (an Australian term meaning the infliction of rigid or narrow morality).

How then, did it come to be a place renowned worldwide for its wine production, its significant contribution to the arts and its progressive legislation? This is the nature of Adelaide, the delightful sense of difference, still evident 150 years after foundation.

A Progressive City

In the early days, Adelaide led the way in allowing women to stand for parliament and to vote. The city was quick to legalise trade unions and instituted the secret ballot. In more recent times, she has set the pace for Australia with legislation on a range of social issues.

The first exported wine was sent to Queen Victoria from the Adelaide Hills, made from grapes planted just a year after the first settlement. The Barossa and Clare Valleys, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and the Adelaide Plains were all early to establish vineyards and wineries.

Early settlers bemoaned the lack of cultural pursuits. In time though, a strong arts presence developed. The Queen's Theatre, still standing in Adelaide, represents the only remnants of such an early theatre. Adelaide University, the Art Gallery, Institute Building and State Library on North Terrace made important contributions to the state. North Terrace is now Adelaide's "cultural boulevard", with these buildings conveniently placed within metres of each other.

The birth of the famous Adelaide Festival in 1960 and the parallel Fringe Festival left no doubt that Adelaide was indeed the "Athens of the south". Held in even numbered years, the festival soon set a standard for all Australian arts festivals. The construction in the 1970s of Festival Centre saw a permanent home for the deserving event.

It is difficult to gauge just what it is that made Adelaide the city she is today--but the answer lies somewhere between the visions of a passionate English prisoner, a far-sighted and artistic military man, and those who pursued their dream of a new life beyond familiar horizons.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts

International Arts Extravaganza

105 Hindley Street
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8216 4444
http://www.adelaidefestival.or...

A smorgasbord of artistic endeavors is offered in venues across Adelaide courtesy of this biennial event. Aiming to break new ground, Australian and international artists turn out in force for ten days. They present theatre, music, dance, visual art, aboriginal culture and much more. Quite a few of the shows and exhibitions are free. This festival is held at the same time as Fringe, and the two spectacles - as well as the warm weather - draw masses of people into the town center.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts photo by wcities

Photo: wcities

Adelaide Festival Centre

Adelaide's artistic heart King William Street
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8216 8600
http://www.afct.org.au A major landmark in central Adelaide, the Festival Center is South Australia's premier theater complex and home of the Adelaide Festival of Arts.Set on the banks of picturesque Torrens Lake, this splendid arts centre comprises a full proscenium arch theater, an intimate playhouse, a versatile studio theater, an open-space performance venue, a bistro, a late-night bar and gallery space. The complex lies in close proximity to Adelaide Casino, Parliament House and the central railway station--and is just a stone's throw away from the city's major shopping precinct, Rundle Mall.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Adelaide Fringe

Offbeat Arts Feast 31 Ebenezer Place
Level 1
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8100 2000
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au Attracting massive crowds and top international performers, the three-week biennial Fringe is one of the most lively arts feasts you are ever likely to see. The program is enormous and fits most pockets and tastes. Featuring stand-up comedy, cabaret, music, dance, street-acts and more, the focus is always on cutting-edge, independent art. Local cafes, bars and clubs are filled to the brim with revelers. Exhausted by the bedlam, the city experiences a lull for a couple weeks after it is all over. Admission varies with each event. Many shows are free. See website for biennial details and event timelines.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Adelaide Hills Visitor Information Centre

Inside information from the locals 41 Main Street
Adelaide, SA 5245
Australia
+61 8 8388 1185 Found in the German settlement town of Hahndorf, this centre is right in the middle of the area's colonial history, scenic beauty and wineries. The site of the first German settlers in Australia and exported Australian wine gives this area a unique resonance. The staff can help with lists of local accommodation and wineries, and give information on places to visit. Ask about walking trails in the area's national parks and conservation parks. Do not miss Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Cleland Wildlife Park or the Warrawong Sanctuary for endangered Australian wildlife.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Adelaide Hills Visitor Information Centre photo by wcities
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Adelaide Parklands

A park with vision North, South, East, West Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8203 7203 (Adelaide City Council) Planned by Light's Vision Statue in his vision for Adelaide, the parklands encircling the city centre remain the envy of many large cities around the world. Adelaide's diverse parklands lend the city its style. Made up of separate parks, gardens and sports grounds there is plenty for everyone; walking trails, cycle tracks, picnic areas and spots to watch the world go by. Alternatively you can play golf, football or attend the races. Many events and festivals, from Writers Week to the Adelaide International Horse Trials, are held in the parklands throughout the year.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Art Gallery Of South Australia

A must visit art house North Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8207 7000 Established in 1881 this historic and attractive building on leafy North Terrace holds one of the most extensive art collections in Australia. Rare and valuable pieces on a worldwide scale abound--fine paintings by the masters, contemporary art and design, and sculpture. There are both regular and permanent exhibitions. Enjoy a coffee or light snack in the stylish cafe or peruse books of distinction highlighting all variety of artwork in the on-site book shop. Guided Tours are available. Admission: No charge for general gallery admission; exhibitions attract entry fees (call for details).

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Barossa Wine & Visitor Centre

Wine, history and locale 66-68 Murray Street
Adelaide, SA 5352
Australia
+61 8 8563 0600
http://www.barossa-region.org A legacy of the region's German refugees, distinctive and attractive Lutheran churches and cottage townships dot the delightful Barossa Valley. Another legacy, 50-odd wineries, gives the visitor a sensual focus, as well as an historical one. This well-equipped information center will happily introduce you to all the area's attractions, and provide information on wineries and wine making. Masses of leaflets cover eateries and restaurants, rental cottages and bed and breakfast places. Learn of Tanunda's own history, and enjoy scenic hills covered with walking trails. Alternatively, book one of the many local tours on offer, such as a trip in a hot-air balloon.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Glenelg

Take a tram to the beach Jetty Road
Glenelg
Adelaide, SA 5045
Australia
Glenelg is South Australia's most popular beachside destination. It boasts a wide variety of shops, restaurants and accommodation plus access to the city via Adelaide's only tram. Glenelg was also the first mainland settlement in South Australia and the historic buildings can be explored on a self-guided walk. A replica of the first settlers' historic ship, HMS Buffalo—now a restaurant—is moored nearby. The beach south leads to Brighton, whilst the white sands in front of Moseley Square are great for volleyball. Alternatively, the kids will love Magic Mountain waterslide and amusement arcade.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Light's Vision Statue

Sentinel over the city Montefiore Hill
North Adelaide
Adelaide, SA 5006
Australia
+1 300 655 276 (South Australian Tourism Commission) Back in 1836, surveyor general Colonel William Light designed a layout for the embryonic township of Adelaide. His vision was of a capital city for the freely settled colony of South Australia. Today, a bronze statue of Light still stands on Montefiore Hill and peers down over the ever-changing cityscape of Adelaide. In his journal of 1839, Light wrote "I leave it to posterity to decide whether I am entitled to praise or to blame." Now, it is clear the good colonel rests peacefully in his grave.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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State Library of South Australia

Reading and reference with elegance North Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000
Australia
+61 8 8207 7250
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au Elegant heritage buildings house the state's premier information retrieval facility. Whether thumbing the pages of a manuscript, pawing over archives or surfing the net, the State Library can accommodate every need. Particular highlights include the Mortlock Library of South Australiana, which is located in the beautifully restored Jervois Wing and contains a wealth of information about the state. The Institute Building plays host to the Bradman Collection, a wonderful assortment of cricket items belonging to the greatest batsman of them all. General tours of the library take place on Tuesdays at 11a.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Adelaide - Historical Background"
Adelaide
Adelaide - Neighborhood Guide
Adelaide - Where to Stay
Adelaide - Dining & Drinking
Adelaide - Art & Entertainment
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Wellington (3222 miles)
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