Thursday, March 5, 2009

ADELAIDE

Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth-largest city in Australia, with a population of more than 1.1 million.[3] It is a coastal city situated on the eastern shores of Gulf St. Vincent, on the Adelaide Plains, north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, between the Gulf St. Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges. It is roughly 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills but sprawls 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south.

Named in honour of Queen Adelaide who was born in Germany, the consort of King William IV, the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia. Colonel William Light, one of Adelaide's founding fathers, designed the city and chose its location close to the River Torrens in the area originally inhabited by Indigenous Australians of the Kaurna tribe. Light's design set out Adelaide in a grid layout, interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by parkland. Early Adelaide was shaped by religious freedom and a commitment to political progressivism and civil liberties, which led to world-first reforms. Today Adelaide is known for its many festivals as well as for its wine, arts and sports.

As South Australia's seat of government and commercial centre, Adelaide is the site of many governmental and financial institutions. Most of these are concentrated in the city centre along the cultural boulevard of North Terrace, King William Street and in various districts of the metropolitan area.

Adelaide is centrally located among the wine regions of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, all of which are within day-trip distance.

PLACES TO VISIT

Adelaide Planetarium
Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Town Hall
Art Gallery of South Australia
Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens of Adelaide
City of Port Adelaide - be a tourist in your own town
Cleland Wildlife Park
Dacou Aboriginal Art Gallery
Falie - South Australia's Historic Tall Ship
Higher Ground
Maritime Museum
Migration Museum
National Motor Museum - Birdwood
National Railway Museum - Port Adelaide
National Wine Centre The National Wine Centre is adjacent to The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, in the north east part of the City. The pedestrian entrance is located on Botanic Road - the continuation of North Terrace. You can also walk through the Botanic Gardens to the National Wine Centre.
Planetarium Shows
Red House Gallery (The)
Rodney Fox Shark Museum
SA Aviation Museum
SA Military Vehicle Museum
Snowdome Adelaide
South Australian Museum
South Australian Museum Online Shop
State Library
West Torrens Railway Signal, Telegraph & Aviation Museum




In 1972 the then South Australian Institute of Technology installed the Planetarium to teach students from the School of Surveying, field astronomy at its Levels Campus. The School of Surveying opened up the Planetarium to the general public, primary and secondary schools and tour groups.
In 1997 the School of Environmental and Recreation Management relocated to Building P at The Levels campus and took over the operations of the Planetarium, and in 2002 the Planetarium celebrated thirty years of operation and over 8,000 people have attend yearly the various sessions conducted at the facility




Adelaide Zoo is a must for anyone visiting Adelaide, especially those who love to view exotic animals close up. One great things about the Adelaide zoo is the ongoing move away from cement cages with bars. Most of the exhibits are now much more natural and open plan, many enabling visitors to feel like they are right in with the animnals, on pathways through enclosures or boardwalks. They are planted and landscaped with specific relevance to their inhabitants.

The Adelaide Zoo is home to over 3,400 animals from 300 different species. From a variety of big cats and apes, to tiny hopping mice and reptiles. The huge Galapagos Tortoises are a marvel to behold and the alligators watch you from murky depths. Hippos wallow and snort spray into the air! Giraffes look down upon you from lofty heights. And who could forget the fascinating and appealing meerkats, with their appointed guards, while the rest fossick and scamper? The zoo has a great collection of Australian native animals also.

The Adelaide Zoo is Australia's second oldest zoo, having been opened on 23rd of May 1883 on 6.5 hectares- later increased to 8 hectares- of land granted to them by the Government of the time. The Zoo was founded by the South Australian Acclimatisation and Zoological Society, which later became the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia.
R E Minchin was the original zoo director, from 1882 to 1893, and the post was passed on to both his son and grandson.

The zoo has many buildings which are of architectural importance, including its magnificent front entrance on Frome Road, and the marvellous old former Elephant House, which housed the beloved Samorn for many years. These features are heritage listed by the National Trust of South Australia. including the front entrance on Frome Road, and the former Elephant House.

The Children's Zoo is a wonderful place where you can get close to the animals, and even touch some of them. Watch out for the pesky goats and deer who think everything is edible! Animals in the Children's Zoo can be fed with the special food available from the Children’s Zoo gatekeeper at the following times: 10am - 12noon & 2pm - 4pm. Feeding animals in any other part of the zoo is strictly forbidden!

Facilities include ample areas for picnicking in the beautiful grounds, toilets, parent's facilities, fully licensed cafe, vending machines, conference and function centre for hire, zoo shop for souveniers, first aid facilities, disabled access, ATM and eftpos. You can hire pushers, wheelchairs and lockers to help make your visit easier.

Please Note: Guide Dogs - Guide Dogs may enter the front gate and are given a suitable area with shelter and water while their owner visits the Zoo. Guide Dogs are not allowed through the Zoo, as it is a quarantine zone.

The zoo is open every day 9:30am-5pm. In the summer, the Zoo offers special evenings when it remains open later.
The Zoo Shop is open 9:30am-4:45pm.
The Reptile House, Nocturnal House, and Walk-through Aviaries are open 10am - 4.30pm

Entry prices (2007) are-

Adults: $18

Children 4-14 (under 4 free): $10

Concession: $14

Family (2 adults, 3 children): $52

You can also join the Royal Zoological Society which then entitles you to free entry to the Adelaide Zoo, and others, for the period of your membership.

Free guided tours of the zoo depart from outside the zoo shop at 10:30pm and 2:30pm each day.

Animal feeding times are as follows (subject to change):

Sealions 11:45am daily
Lions 2pm Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Gorillas 1:30pm daily
Pelicans 2:30pm daily
Penguins 2:45pm daily
Leopards 3:15pm Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Sunday and Public Holidays
Australian Rainforest Bird Feeding 3:30pm daily (Australian Rainforest/Wetlands Aviary)
Macaws Freeflight Display - 1pm daily

The Adelaide Zoo is located on Frome Rd Adelaide, South Australia.

Phone: +61 (0)8 8267 3255




The Town Hall stands on Town Acre 203, originally purchased by the Corporation from the Colonial Treasurer for 12 shillings on 15 February 1841. It was designed by Edmund Wright and built by Thomas English (both early Mayors of Adelaide) at a cost of 20,000 pounds. The foundation stone (whereabouts now unknown) was laid on 4 May 1863 and the Town Hall was opened on 20 June 1866. An adjoining south wing was added in 1869, serving as the Prince Alfred Hotel until 1953 when it became Corporation offices. Queen’s Chambers was also built in 1869 in Pirie Street, with Eagle Chambers being completed in 1876 and Gladstone Chambers in 1882. In 1880 a new Council Chamber was erected at the rear of the Town Hall. Sir J. Lavington Bonython, a former Lord Mayor donated the Albert Tower clock, in 1934. Major alterations were carried out to the Town Hall foyer during the 1950s, including installation of a marble staircase, while substantial refurbishment of the entire complex was undertaken during the late 1980s.



Adelaide Botanic Garden on North Terrace, was founded in 1855 and opened in 1857 and is the headquarters of the organisation in South Australia. It features a glorious Victorian gardenesque landscape, including avenues of mature trees particularly Araucaria and figs and important garden buildings, ie Museum of Economic Botany, Palm House and Victoria House, and statuary.

0 comments: