Adelaide is a city full of surprises! It’s been celebrated as one of the world’s most livable and beautiful cities. While Adelaide is well known for its wine regions, beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle, there are plenty of hidden gems just waiting for you to discover around every corner.
Here are seven cool facts about Adelaide that you need to know.
One of the world’s driest cities
Adelaide is famously Australia’s driest capital city, with an annual average rainfall of only about 520 millimetres, which is relatively low compared to other Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
Most of Adelaide’s rain falls in the winter months, while the summers are often hot and dry, creating a unique Mediterranean climate ideal for South Australia’s beautiful vineyards and many outdoor festivals.
The O-Bahn
Adelaide is home to the world’s longest guided busway, the O-Bahn, a unique transport system that allows buses to travel on a special track at high speeds, avoiding road traffic. With the recent addition of a tunnel, you could cut your commute into uni by seven whole minutes!
With a 12 kilometre track from the city centre to the northeastern suburbs, the O-Bahn is a quick and efficient method of public transport. Just don’t drive your car onto the tracks!
The mysterious Treasury tunnels
Beneath Adelaide’s historic Treasury Building lies a network of tunnels that have been the subject of mystery for years! Built in the 19th century, these tunnels once stored gold and were rumoured to be used as escape routes for officials during times of unrest.
Today, parts of these tunnels are open to the public through guided tours that reveal fascinating stories of colonial Adelaide and give a glimpse into the city’s past.
Home to the Adelaide Fringe
Did you know that Adelaide hosts the biggest Fringe Festival in the Southern Hemisphere? Every February and March, Adelaide Fringe fills the city with street performances, live music, comedy shows, art installations, and much more.
This month-long celebration is the perfect chance for you to explore the city, get a taste of local creative talent and enjoy spending time with your new friends. Whether you’re into art, music or comedy, this festival has something for everyone.
It wasn’t founded by convicts
Adelaide holds the unique honour of being the only Australian capital that wasn’t founded as a penal colony. Unlike Sydney, Hobart and other major cities, Adelaide was established by free settlers in 1836, led by Colonel William Light, who designed the city’s distinctive grid layout.
This history adds to Adelaide’s independent spirit and progressive character, still evident in its arts, festivals, and community-oriented vibe.
A city of firsts
Adelaide is full of firsts, thanks in part to its famous former Premier, Don Dunstan. Known for his bold, progressive policies, Dunstan helped South Australia lead the way by decriminalising homosexuality (a first for Australia!), introducing anti-racial discrimination laws, and advancing Indigenous land rights.
His era, the ‘Don’s Party’ years of the 1960s and 70s, also brought a cultural and artistic boom that gave Adelaide a reputation as a city of social progress and creative energy.
A very expensive hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) is one of the world’s most expensive and high-tech hospitals, costing over AUD 2.4 billion to build! Completed in 2017, it’s packed with futuristic features, including a fleet of robots that deliver meals, supplies, and even linen around the building. The hospital is huge, covering 10 hectares with 800 beds and plenty of green spaces and natural light to make patients feel at home.
RAH isn’t just a place for medical care, it’s a top teaching and research hospital partnered with the University of Adelaide. Plus, it’s designed with sustainability in mind, using rainwater collection, solar panels, and green rooftops, making it a leader in eco-friendly healthcare.
So there you go! Adelaide is much more than just wine and beaches, it’s a progressive, mysterious city with so much to offer. Next time you’re exploring its streets, look out for the hidden details and unique cultural landmarks that make Adelaide one of a kind. There’s always something new to discover in this underrated gem of a city!
