In February 2025 I spent a couple of weekends in Adelaide, which was a complete culture shock after a year in Timor-Leste. Going from one of the poorest countries, to one of the richest countries in the world took some adjustment, though it was certainly easier doing it in this direction, than the other. Adelaide is the fifth largest city in Australia, home to 77% of the population of Australia. I had previously visited in 2016, though only spent an afternoon before heading north toward Alice Springs. It was pleasure to return and see more of this often overlooked city.
Walking around Adelaide Botanic Gardens on a sunny but relatively cool day was bliss. Occupying 51 hectares, it opened in 1857 and is one of many beautiful green spaces in the city.
The attractive Palm House opened 1877.
The gardens were hosting Chihuly’s Garden Cycle exhibition, with colourful sculptures from the famous American glass artist.
Neighbouring the gardens is the campus of the University of Adelaide, the third oldest in Australia, established in 1874. In 2025 it was in the process of merging with the University of South Australia.
North Terrace is home to many public buildings, with newer, and much larger, buildings across the road. Adelaide is a late comer to high-rise buildings compared with Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, but is starting to catch up.
The Art Gallery of South Australia was established 1881, and is has second largest Australian state art collection after Victoria.
The South Australian Museum was founded in 1856. It is home to the largest aboriginal cultural collection in the world, with about 30,000 objects, along with varied collections in a number of other fields.
As usual my favourite collection was of objects from the Pacific, with many masks from Papua New Guinea familiar from my visit to the New Britain Mask Festival in 2018.
The State Library of South Australia is best known for the ornate Mortlock Wing, opened in 1884, but also has a modern extension.
Across the road is the National War Memorial, opened in 1931.
Returning across the road is the Migration Museum, opened in 1986, the oldest of its kind in Australia, which tells the stories of the many waves of migration to Australia.
To end with the Torrens Rivers, the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains, which is largely responsible for the location of the city. Nearby are thousands of fruit bats in the trees.
