Adelaide gives visitors plenty of opportunities to find peculiar, odd corners of the city that require further exploration. Adelaide excites visitors with unique and unusual visitor attractions from a spooky former gaol to a ship graveyard and a rare, precious example of William Morris stained glass window. Challenge yourself and get locked up in a former gaol or kindle an interest in 19th architecture and its place in museum design history. A favourite is a kayak tour of 25 sunken shipwrecks in an area known as a ships graveyard.
1. GARDEN ISLAND SHIPS GRAVEYARD MARITIME HERITAGE TRAIL
The remains of at least 40 abandoned vessels lie embedded in silt and partially hidden by mangroves in the backwaters of the Port River, in Adelaide’s north west. The collection includes large and small sailing, steam and motor vessels, barges, pontoons and dredges … unique and fascinating as you find out why the ship ran aground or was abandoned.
Port Adelaide: Dolphin and Ships Graveyard Cruise – BOOK NOW, PAY LATER
2. SANTOS MUSEUM OF ECONOMIC BOTANY
Even the name invokes another era. Museum of Economic Botany is a very rare Antipodes example of a 19th museum interior. FREE to enter, the 1881 interior is a furniture delight with elaborately carved ornate wooden display cases. Permanent collections include:
- Fruit Model Showcase – Made in Germany these delightful papier-mâché fruit models are for more than just admiring, they were used to educate farmers on establishing crops in the 1800s.
- Fungi Model Showcase – Can you spot the real fungi? Challenge yourself as you explore the collection of 210 papier-mâché models showcasing fungi in different stages of growth.
- Grove – Be spellbound as you discover artist Fiona Hall’s Grove, a cabinet of curiosities that explores the relationship between nature and culture. (source Museum of Economic Botany).
Make time to visit the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
3. ADELAIDE BOTANIC GARDENS – BATS, GREY HEADED FLYING FOXES
BATS are not odd or weird. They are nature’s winged rodents. Adelaide’s microbats, grey headed flying foxes are nocturnal meaning just before dusk hundreds take to the skies. Bats roost during the day in the massive Adelaide Botanic Gardens trees offering shelter from the weather.
Abelaide Botanic Garden Tours & Other Activities – BOOK NOW, PAY LATER
4. ADELAIDE’S OLDEST MORRIS & Co. STAINED GLASS WINDOW – ROYAL INSTITUTE
At the top of the sweeping main staircase is a rare example of Morris & Co. stained glass work in Australia, and is the only Morris & Co. stained glass window not installed in a church in Adelaide. Entry is only as part of a guided tour and/or organised meeting. For WILLIAM MORRIS buffs ART GALLERY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA has the largest collection of William Morris.
Enjoy walking through an entire room with original decorative arts and crafts relating to the 19th century well known designer. The Art Galley of South Australia objects are linked to Adelaide’s prominent Barr-Smith family who were avid collectors.
5. DAVID ROCHE HOUSE MUSEUM
North Adelaide, Australia, extensive collection of collectables from delightful historic toys, show dog memorabilia collected by one individual. One of those endlessly fascinating places beautifully curated and presented. Definitely unusual and slightly odd. The focus of the museum is based on the passionate interests of a single person.
Top Activities & Adventures in Adelaide – BOOK NOW & SAVE up to 60%!
6. ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF TOP OF THE ADELAIDE SPORTS STADIUM
Adelaide Oval is one of the world’s well known cricket grounds (additionally hosts the Aussie Rules Football). Thrilling with extraordinary views of Adelaide. Who needs a drone with the city stretched before you.
Adelaide Ovel Tours & Adventures – RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER
Book a tour when a game is on or perhaps a twilight tour. Awesome holiday magic.
7. ADELAIDE GAOL TOURS WHERE YOU VOLUNTEER TO GET LOCKED UP
While Adelaide’s former gaol has its origins in the 19th century it is amazing to visit a gaol that only closed in the mid-20th century. There are people alive today who were inmates.
Escape devotees will be intrigued by the chance of trying out for real what it’s like to be locked up in authentic brick and mortar gaol.
Adelaide Gaol Adults Ghost Tour & Investigation – BOOK HERE (free cancellation)
8. ADELAIDE RYMILL PARK
Has a bronze statue of Alice, heroine of Lewis Carroll’s fantasy stories.
IN ADELAIDE’S RYMILL PARK/MURLAWIRRAPURKA STANDS a life-size cast bronze statue of Alice, the timeless literary heroine of Lewis Carroll’s fantasy novels. Upon a closer look, visitors may find many characters from the story carved into its base of Waikerie stone, including the Cheshire Cat, the Dodo, the Duchess, and the Sheep, right out of the John Tenniel illustrations.
The sculpture was created in 1962 by local artist John Dowie AM, commissioned by the city that was redeveloping the area with a primary focus on families and children. Originally planned as a statue of Peter Pan just like the one in Hyde Park, London, it was eventually proposed by Dowie that the adventurous character of Alice would be better suited for the site.
9. Z WARD – CRIMINAL INSANE INCARNATION – ADELAIDE (Managed by National Trust, SA)
Z Wards construction was completed in 1885 however, it was not opened until 1888. Patients who were accommodated in Z Ward were Governor’s pleasure patients: those acquitted of their crime on the grounds of their insanity…
Another small group of patients were those who were considered to be dangerous to themselves or to others and were placed in there for the protection of the Asylum’s other inmates. Z Ward closed on the 13th December 1973.
It’s also home to a rare, complete example of a ‘Ha Ha Wall’, a deceptive piece of design that provided security to the building while softening the prison-like image that high walls would have conveyed. (source Z Ward: Behind The Walls)
Location:
Z Ward, former criminal insane hospital Adelaide
63 Conyngham Street
Glenside SA 5065
Enter via Amber Woods Drive
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