Adelaide city isn’t really that big to walk around and discover. The CBD is bordered by North, South, East and West Terraces and the city streets are all laid out in an easy to follow grid. The city centre area is only 10.5 km² and pretty much flat to walk around. Different pockets of the city have reputations for their entertainment, restaurants, younger and older crowds, shopping strips and more. One thing that you’ll find throughout the city streets and laneways though, is sculpture and art.

On a recent visit to the city I found a few more examples to share here, of the bright and wonderful street art and murals. Most of these examples are in a north east pocket of the city and we also stumbled across a small pub tucked away in a narrow city street that not only had great food but also a full colourful mural wall.

Starting in Bent Street there is a three dimensional mural which was completed in 2014, a collaborative project of designer Ash Rundle and artist Tony Rosella in consultation with two aboriginal artists, Lee-Ann (Tjunypal) Buckskin and Muriel (Mumthelang) Van Der Byl. The mural is of natural vegetation including kangaroo grass and acacia, is made of anodised aluminium and has painted outlines of flora and waterholes.

On the corner of Grenfell Street and Hyde Street Adelaide, is this monochromatic portrait of Clint Keneally, the wall is a memorial to this well-known Adelaide skate boarder and was painted by Vans the Omega.

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Rundle Mall is only one street over from Grenfell Street so it was a good opportunity to see the giant pigeon, Adelaide’s newest sculpture to join other quirky ones in the Mall. It stands on the corner of Rundle Mall and Gawler Place and was created by South Australian artist, Paul Sloan. The mirrored stainless steel beauty stands over two metres tall and pays homage to the humble pigeons that call Adelaide city (and every other city in the world) home. ‘Pigeon’ has been situated in the mall since late 2020 and has quickly become a fan favourite.

Nearby you can have a great value lunch at the Historian Hotel in a quiet street, Corromandel Place. I discovered this hotel thanks to an initiative called ‘Adelaide’s Long Lunch’, which gave people a $30 voucher to spend on lunch at a number of venues in the city. It was part of scheme by the city council to accelerate economic growth and get people back into the city, so I was only too happy to apply for one and add to the economy while having a great day out.

The ‘Histo’ is an impressive old building from the outside but inside it is bright and modern and comfortable banquette seating and tables downstairs and a function room ( and spill over area on crowded days) upstairs, look for the quirky donkey light fitting upstairs. Downstairs is a cosy setting and features a bright mural along the length of one wall.

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Still more street art can be found, in the laneway behind the hotel with three pieces to see from artists, Order 55 & Jimmy C, Elizabeth Close and Mimby Jones Robinson. On the way check out the groovy painted pattern on the road outside the hotel and an intriguing doorway nearby.

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Happy days in Adelaide

Glenys