A bit more of Adelaide
Adelaide on a Sunday morning is quiet, very quiet. There are very few people around which makes an early morning walk around the city enjoyable.
The statues in Victoria Square feature two of the early explorers and Queen Victoria herself. Captain Charles Napier Sturt was born in India in 1795 and raised in England before joining the army and escorting convicts to Australia in 1827. Sturt made his name exploring the river systems in the country. His statue was unveiled in December 1916.
John McDouall Stuart was born in Scotland and came to Australia in 1838, living in the early settlements that became Adelaide. He was a surveyor and joined Charles Sturt on his third expedition into the interior before leading 6 more expeditions into Australia. The statue was erected in 1904, built from marble and sculpted by J.W. White.
The fountain was designed by John Dowie and represents the three rivers from which Adelaide receives its water, the Torrens, Onkaparinga and the Murray.
Rundle Mall is Adelaide’s main street for stores. Along the street are some fun sculptures including “A Day Out” with the four famous pigs. The bronze statues were sculpted by Marguerite Derricourt and named in a competition by children.
Parliament House, on North Terrace, was built in stages between 1874 and 1939. Original designs featuring towers and dome were scaled back due to lack of funds but by 1889 the west wing was complete and in use by the state parliament.
Replacing an older station building Adelaide Railway Station was built between 1926 and 1928 and designed by local architects Garlick and Jackman.
Behind the State Parliament is the Hajek Sculpture Garden featuring the geometric concrete form painted in bright colours. German artist Otto Hajek was commissioned to create the artwork as part of the Festival Centre.
