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Adelaide accommodation, restaurants, history, things to do

The things to do in Adelaide are limited only by your imagination.

The site for the city of Adelaide was chosen in December 1836 by the colony's Surveyor-General, Colonel William Light, who created its remarkable design.

He chose the site because it was well-drained, had fertile soil and straddled the Torrens River, which guaranteed a ready water supply. The site was named after Queen Adelaide, wife of the British King William IV.

By 1840, only three years after first settlement, the colony had a population of fourteen thousand free settlers but was totally bankrupt. It was in this year that the South Australia Company, determined that the city would succeed, developed the numerous wharves and warehouses at Port Adelaide, and built a road between the port and the growing city.

Fortunately the city was saved from economic ruin in 1842 when huge copper deposits were found at nearby Kapunda.

Electric street lighting was introduced in 1900 and Adelaide's electric tram service began transporting passengers in 1909.

After WWII, an assisted migration scheme brought 215,000 emigrants of many European nationalities to South Australia between 1947 and 1973. Electrical goods were manufactured in former munitions factories and Holden cars were assembled from 1948. A pipeline from Mannum brought River Murray water to Adelaide in 1954 and Adelaide Airport opened at West Beach in 1955.

Located only 20 minutes from the city of Adelaide, the nearby Adelaide Hills is home to the famous town of Hahndorf, the garden village of Stirling, Mount Barker, Lobethal and Birdwood.

The wine industry in South Australia is famous for its quality wines and Adelaide is surrounded by wine growing regions that demand a visit. The main wine growing region is in the Barossa Valley, although other valleys including Clare, Coonawarra and McLaren are equally brilliant.

There are numerous art galleries dotted around our wonderful city that are worthwhile visiting, not to mention the South Australian Museum, National Wine Centre, Ayers House, Old Adelaide Gaol, Botanical Gardens, Migration Museum, National Motor Museum, the unique Adelaide Central Markets, Haigh's Chocolates, Glenelg Tram, South Australian Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide - the list is endless.