The first time I walked from one end of Rundle Mall to the other it was unexpectedly short. 528m in length. A steady 10 minutes walk. And it was capital city’s main strip.
This was my very visit to the City and South Australia, and it is more than 20 years ago. I was alone, came to join an Australian company while the family stayed behind until I made the arrangements.
A few strolls along Rundle Mall on that same week I realised it had the buzz, the right mix of shops, eateries, Woolies plus to 3 major Department stores. As one of the capital cities of Australia I thought the mall strip would be longer. And I wondered why not.
Had a friend who visited Adelaide who also remarked how short it was. There were very little in terms of side lanes branching out or a parallel streets of shops which Melbourne had. Sydney had multiple nodes of activities.
Few days later I visited the Zoo and came out at the other end rather quickly. The Zoos elsewhere would take half a day. It then dawned on me it was indeed a small city in a sparsely populated State despite its size. The State however was bigger than some of the European countries.
The smallness
A few months later, the family came over for a visit to have a look, and make the decision whether Adelaide was the right place for them.
I was profoundly surprised they loved Rundle Mall, Adelaide and South Australia.
Maybe I was thinking too much. It seems to be all good things that are easily accessible and the smallness of the city has an appeal. And it became our permanent home, unplanned.
I have moved on to other jobs overseas and Adelaide remains our home and Rundle Mall is quite central to our existence.
The “20 minute” city as it popularly known among locals has it all. World class events, beautiful and heavily protected parklands, gardens , universities and a whole host of liveable things.
Back to Rundle Mall
After over 20 years the Mall the is indeed the heart of the city. There is one unusual distinction compared to other main strips in other cities I have been to. It has a rather international flavour and you would notice it sooner rather than later.
Here is a link to a good article with photographs of the origin of the Mall by ABC.
Mall features
The Mall was converted to full pedestrian strip as traffic was closed off in 1976. And with conversion and over the years came some interesting features that are now synonymous with Rundle Mall. Take them away and there will some loss in identity.
The two balls, one on top of the others in front of David Jones is the most prominent feature and an excellent landmark for people to meet. Why two steel balls and why on top of each other? I don’ think it matters.
Then comes the 4 live size bronze pigs nears Myers Plaza and these are source of interest for both adults and children.
The 2020 addition at the Gawler Place side entrance is a 2 metres steel Pigeon. Homage to the feathery city dwellers.
Finally not statues or sculptures but buskers. Adults to young children, veterans to newbies that turn up each day to entertain the crowd and they add life to the Mall. International buskers turn up during “Mad March” adding more variety and colour.
Flagship stores and more
Many of the South Australian flagships stores of major Australian retailers are here. The Mall is also home to a mix of old and new. It is home to 4 well known Arcades, Adelaide Arcades, Regent Arcade, Gay’s Arcade and Renaissance Arcade. These are old form of shop clusters with an arcade entrance.
The new formed complexes are City Cross, Southern Cross, Myers Plaza and Adelaide Central Plaza. Again with clusters of shops within each complex with the main entrance along the Mall. Contemporary, upmarket and higher rental cost.
Besides the arcades and the newer complexes, there are single stores on both sides of the Mall. The single stores is interesting as these have vanished in bigger cities, taken over by larger developments.
People watching at the Mall
The mall is unusual among main city malls in Australia or in any of the cities that I have lived in or visited. This unusual international character is the reason for people watching at the Mall. And the driving factor is again the smallness of the city and the mall.
International Students
The international students are the most prominent. And there are 2 phases to this. The first is the arrival of new international students for their first academic year usually accompanied by their parents.
The mall becomes filled with families from other countries from the second week of February each year.
They are anxious and excited to have their child ready for the final stretch of education. And for many, its their first visit to Australia.
You will see them in Woolies and Coles stocking up essentials for their child. Walking around having their meals at the various cafes and eateries and buying souvenirs.
It is wonderful sight. As many of them are here in the belief that Australia’s education will provide a firm grounding and open doors for their children’s future.
Some of the students remain after their education to become new Australians as they enter our workforce. Others will head home to push their countries to the next level.
Watching these anxious parents is evident that our education sector is a major revenue earner and one of the pillars of our economy. The numbers have increased as well. There are also the number of preparatory and matriculation schools that have been established to fuel the university intake. You can see them dotted around the city centre.
Test cricket
There are many events that bring visitors to the Rundle Mall and Rundle Street and the surrounds and Test cricket deserves a special mention.
Due to the smallness of the city, our beloved and famed Adelaide Oval is only a walk away from the city and Rundle Mall with a river to cross.
This means you don’t have to take a taxi or drive. It also means you will see not only international cricket fans including the well known English Barmy Army but also International Test Cricketers walking around. Rather nonchalantly I may add. For some reason, they feel secure to be on their own in this city.
I remember a year when there was a buzz around a colleague’s desk. I stepped outside my office cubicle to see what was going on. She had a drink with Sachin Tendulkar the evening before. A lovely and greatly looking lass and we were all one step away from the legend. She just smiled on recognising him, and Sachin invited her to join him for a drink.
I would see test cricketers lining up for a Pizza, nodding to fans on being recognised or heading into one of the many restaurants for dinner and all done in a very casual manner. Rundle Mall and the city gives that vibe of safety and friendliness.
Festival city crowds
“Mad March” or to be specific from Mid February to mid March each year. This is when Adelaide stages the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe. Both major events and encapsulates the State as the ”Festival State”.
I have done a post on the Festival State and it will give you an idea the scale, the people and the vibrancy that it creates. And Rundle Mall benefits from it.
Rundle Mall becomes awash with interstate and international performers and visitors. The strip become more exciting and exotic. Some of the performers begin busking on the Mall as a warm-up.
The weather is great as it is the end of the hot summers and heading into cool winters. It is such a shame that the Australian Open in neighbouring Melbourne misses this patch of excellent weather due to international scheduling.
So don’t forget to head to Rundle Mall besides the annual sales, when new international students arrive, when a Test is on or during Festival days.