Interesting facts you might not know about Adelaide

The chic city of Adelaide is famous for its rich history, entertainment, and multicultural atmosphere. But what else is there to know? Keep reading to find out seven unusual facts you might have never heard of before!

• Adelaide was a free settlement

  Adelaide is the only capital city in Australia that was not settled by convicts, which has made the locals extremely smug. Established in 1836, the city was a planned capital for free British settlers. A majority of the people had no criminal history, the city was thought to have little crime compared to other areas. As a result, no prison was built for some time. Criminals took advantage of this decreased law enforcement and a prison was added soon after.

• The 20 minute city

  Adelaide is a small city, but did you know it only takes 20 minutes to get to any point in the city? Nicknamed the 20-minute city, Adelaide is one of the easiest cities to venture around. Test out the theory for yourself, trust us, everything really is only 20 minutes away!

• City of Churches

  Adelaide has many nicknames, including the city of churches. To understand this nickname, you merely have to take a look around the city. You’ll see a church on every corner! Some are historic monuments where some are simply a few years old. Whatever their age, each beautifully designed church adds to the city’s peaceful atmosphere.

• Home to the biggest display of Aboriginal Artefacts

  Although this might not be your first guess, Adelaide is home to the largest display of Aboriginal artefacts. You can see this huge range on display at the South Australia Museum. Go in for an exceptional education of the past and present lives of the Indigenous communities of Australia.

• The Opal City

  Adelaide is the opal capital of Australia, famous both locally and internationally for the best-selling opals available. Lighten your wallets as you shop around to find the best-priced opal for you!

• Has the third most expensive building

  The city’s recent construction of the Royal Adelaide Hospital has cost a whopping 2.7 billion Australian dollars. This makes it the third most expensive building in the entire world. The hospital also broke the record for being the largest building ever built in Australia.

• The City of Firsts

  Throughout history, Adelaide has been at the centre of forward thinking. It was the first city to give women access to vote, recognise Indigenous land rights, as well as criminalise sexual and racial discrimination.

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.