Discovering Adelaide’s History
Lisa Lock, owner & host Ms. Evelyn’s at Mile End
Oh Adelaide! Or Radelaide, as she’s affectionately known by those who love her. A treasure trove of beautiful heritage architecture and cultural experiences… and whole, stunning suburbs that – power lines and hybrid cars aside – look much as they did in days gone by. If you’re a lover of Historic Stays, you’re going to absolutely love this city! Here are my top activities to do in Adelaide and surrounds.
Go Back to the Beginning
When you visit Adelaide, you walk upon the traditional lands of the Kaurna people. Delve into First Nations’ heritage and culture at the beautiful Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, the oldest Aboriginal-owned-and-run cultural centre in Australia. Showcasing spectacular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, this is an absolute bucket-list item.
Tandanya derives its name from the traditional Kaurna name for the area, meaning ‘red kangaroo place’. Housed in the old Adelaide Electric Supply Company Power Station in the heart of the city, the building is a heritage-listed structure built in 1901 - making it young when compared to the history now celebrated within its walls.
A visit to the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) should also be high on your list. Did you know AGSA was the first state gallery in Australia to acquire and exhibit work by an Indigenous artist? Today the gallery is home to a significant collection of First Nations art, and is host to the annual Tarnanthi festival @tarnanthi which celebrates contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
In the mid-1800’s, the State Treasury buildings were constructed in the heart of the city and beneath them, a maze of tunnels. Rumours abound as to their use, some of them fact and others much more likely to be fiction. Today, the buildings above house the Adina Treasury hotel, and the Treasury Tunnels are an intriguing place to explore, with tours running regularly. The tunnels are even used from time to time as a spectacular backdrop to exhibitions, photo shoots and dinner parties – what a colourful life they’ve had!
Catch a show at Thebarton Theatre
The much-loved ‘Thebby Theatre,’ as it’s affectionately known, has been an icon of Adelaide culture since its completion in the late 1920s. Completely state-of-the-art for its time, the Thebarton Theatre @thebartontheatre is now at the heart of Adelaide’s thriving live music scene. Sit yourself high up in the dress circle for the best view of this historic gem, with its famed balconies and spectacular rosette ceiling, before diving into something thoroughly modern onstage… see Em Rusciano, Xavier Rudd and Kate Miller-Heidke later this year, to name a few.
Take a Guided Walk through Mid-Century Architecture
Okay, I know that you’re here because you love the beautiful old, old homes, but hear me out! Adelaide is home to some incredible mid-century architecture, both public buildings and private homes, and we’re lucky enough to be treated to regular walking tours and events which show it off.
Join Stuart Symons of Modernist Adelaide @modernistadelaide and walk your way through a different side of Adelaide - or at the very least, check out the incredible collection of historic short films on the Modernist Adelaide website for a glimpse of days gone by.
The Migration Museum @migration_museum is a place so tightly packed with stories it’s hard to know where to start; but without fail, each one fills me with gratitude for my own quite lovely life. The museum is a celebration of multicultural Australia; a peek into the past at the way waves of immigration have shaped our nation, with stories and artefacts from families who crossed oceans in search of something more.
This corner of the city of Adelaide had its origins in a different time. Built in the mid-1800s, the buildings which now form the Migration Museum were once known as the Destitute Asylum, where men, women and children without the means to support themselves could seek help from the state. One of the buildings is known as the Lying-in Home, built specifically for expectant mothers – many of them carrying the ‘stigma’ of being unwed. Incredibly, more than 1,600 children were born inside the walls of the Destitute Asylum over a period of 30 years.
Explore South Australia’s German heritage
Strictly speaking, this one’s not in Adelaide, but a short drive up into the Adelaide Hills will have you in the quaint little township of Hahndorf. Settled in 1839 by Prussian Lutheran families, Handorf @hahndorf_southaustralia is a popular little spot, receiving around one million visitors each year. You’ll love the historic buildings, artisan stores and fantastic food. I suggest the cheese high tea over a glass of bubbles at Udder Delights @udderdelightscheese - if you’re a cheese lover, you won’t be disappointed!
And a drive through the Adelaide Hills in autumn as the colours change is quite simply spectacular.
A visit to Port Adelaide
Home to South Australia’s largest collection of colonial buildings, a wander around the port really does feel like stepping back in time. Take a visit to the National Railway Museum, the Maritime Museum, or the Aviation Museum, or just roam the streets and take in the nuggets of pure old-building gold.
The port is anything but dull – amongst these beautifully curated museums and incredible heritage architecture, you’ll find breweries, bars, festivals, street art, and enough seaside village charm to want to come back again! See more at @ourportadl
Stroll through North Adelaide
If you’re an old home aficionado, I can’t recommend this enough! Grab a mate, put on your walking shoes, and wander through one of Adelaide’s oldest suburbs for a combination of sweeping estates, tiny terraces and soldiers’ quarters, with quaint little pubs just waiting for you to stop in for a glass of rosé and some tapas. Start at the Queens Head @queensheadhotel, the oldest pub in South Australia. Along your way, read snippets of history on the little blue plaques at the front of heritage-listed properties, and allow yourself to daydream!
Go Treasure Hunting
As the daughter of a vintage trader, I couldn’t not recommend a visit to some of Adelaide’s finest treasure troves! If you like your retail therapy to have that pre-loved feeling, you’ll know that the best souvenir is not a t-shirt or a fridge magnet, but a fabulous vintage piece for your home.
Take a stroll through favourites like Rock n Rustic @rocknrusticvintage or Vintage Carousel @vintagecarouselsa, or if you’re day-tripping to the Adelaide Hills, be sure to call past Tinker Shop @tinker_shop_ and Warehouse at Woodside @the_warehouse_at_woodside. Be prepared to bring home some excess baggage!
Stay in a Heritage Home
Adelaide is filled with beautiful old homes. I couldn’t possibly miss the chance to share one of my favourite historic Adelaide experiences with you – a stay at my own heritage home, Ms. Evelyn’s at Mile End! With soaring ceilings and beautiful leadlight windows, Ms. E’s is truly a lovely spot to put your feet up after you’ve explored Adelaide - she’ll welcome you like an old friend. Pick seasonal fruits from the backyard trees for your cheese platter, enjoy a G&T on the front veranda, and chat to the neighbours across the fence… just as Evelyn herself did in days gone by. @ms_evelyns_adelaide_bnb
Honourable mentions to some of my other favourite Adelaide historic homes which are also available for short stays are Bungalow on Thorngate, a classic California bungalow in the leafy streets just beyond North Adelaide. And if you’re travelling to the Adelaide Hills, stay and have a soak in the tub with a spectacular view at Ode to the Orchard in Lenswood.
I love sharing the secrets of this beautiful city! If you’re heading to Adelaide and you’d like some local knowledge, feel free to reach out via Instagram – whether you’re a guest of Ms. Evelyn’s or not. I’d be more than happy to share some more tips.
Lisa
