ADELAIDE - SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Colonel Light, designer of Adelaide

Which is a work of art, and largely the work of this one man

Colonel William Light.

Light had vision, prepared to negotiate, listen, work towards it, and take responsibilitiy. It is one of the best planned cities in the world, a city surrounded by parklands, the original design of 1839 still works today.

Extract from Colonel Light's Journal 1839

"The reason that led me to fix Adelaide where it is I do not expect to be genarally understood or calmly judged at present by my enemies, however, by disputing their validity in every particular, have done me the good service of fixing the whole of the responsibility upon me. I am perfectly willing to bear it, and I leave it to posterity and not them, to decide whether I am entitled to praise or blame."

Colonel Light completed the survey in 1937, his choice of sight was voted on by thirty landowners at the first public meeting in South Australia, held in in a tent near Holdfast Bay. By the end of the year the first newspaper had been published, the Supreme Court established, the first school was in operation as was the first hospital, and whaling and vineyards had been established. 1838 was also a year of firsts - the first Police Force in Australia.

In 1834, the British Parliament had passed the South Australia Act, which enabled the province of South Australia to be established. The plan for the colony was unique in Australia the aim was to establish the province as a centre for free immigrants, promising civil liberties and religious tolerance.

The first immigrants arrived at Holdfast Bay in November 1836 and the colony was proclaimed on December 28th 1836, now known as Proclamation Day.

....................................

And it was in South Australia that granted restricted woman's suffrage in 1861, and in 1894 became the FIRST place in the world to grant universal suffrage where women had the dual rights to vote and stand for Parliament.

Adelaide Today

You'll find something fresh everyday walking down its main streets, not least it's market, Central Market, which is everything a fresh produce market should be, come to Adelaide and it's as though all the fruit, veg, nuts and cheese has landed piled high in this market.

And it is no accident that the Adelaide Oval is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world, no the universe, well, that's what some cricket followers believe.

The most interesting part of the Adelaide Oval is the scoreboard, dating back to Ewardian times, first seeing action in 1911. It is completely hand operated, with four working levels to allow all the information to be updated. It is made from wood, apart from two electronic features added, a light to identify the bowler and one to identify the fielder. Six people are needed to operate the scoreboard during test matches.

Sir Donald Bradman - Cathedral in the background

• Adelaide the elegant capital of South Australia, a stylish capital with historical heritage architecture in North Terrace, and many of the older suburbs have outstanding colonial houses beautifully kept in lovely leafy surroundings.
• It's Festivals - The Festival of Arts, Womad, Caberet, and Food festival delight many people.
• World leaders in wine technology, and wine makers of high esteem in the very well known areas of the Barossa Valley and Mclaren Vale, both producing some of the best wines in the world.
• The Tour Down Under has been named as the first Pro Tour outside Europe to get world cycling's highest status.
• The Clipsal 500 is an adrenalin charged motor sports event held in Adelaide every year.The motor race attracts thousands of excited fans every year.
• Fleurieu Peninsula only 40 minutes from Adelaide with beaches, wineries, and restaurants.
• Kangaroo Island a ferry trip from Cape Javis taking you to this delightful place with many unique animals in pristine surroundings.