Rundle Mall - Street, Adelaide

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Adelaide’s Rundle Mall is famous for its street architecture which began with the what is known locally as the Mall’s Balls (main picture).

The 4m tall structure, erected in 1977 and known officially as 'The Spheres' by Bert Flugelman, consists of two large stainless steel spheres with a diameter of 2.15 metres, balanced one on top of the other. A popular meeting space.

Other street adornments include:

A bronze sculpture of a group of life-sized pigs, officially known as 'A Day Out' by Marguerite Derricourt (second picture). The four pigs - Truffles (the standing pig), Horatio (the sitting pig), Oliver (the pig at the bin) and Augusta (the trotting pig) - are depicted in lively poses as if they were walking the street, greeting shoppers, and sniffing out a bargain – be careful you don’t trip over the bloody things. The pigs arrived in 1999 and I can’t help suspect they were based on a set of sheep in altogether more compromising positions located in the centre of Canberra and which have been around a longer.

The 'Girl on a Slide' sculpture by John Dowie (third picture). A much smaller sculpture of exactly as the title suggests. Installed in 1997 as a small discovery piece – the idea being that you come across it by accident.

Santa Claus – by wabat (fourth picture). Only appears at a certain time of year ☺ .

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Rundle Mall is the main shopping street the eastern and longer part of which is pedestrianised. It runs parallel to North Terrace where museums, universities, etc are located.

There are number of arcades on the mall and all the major Aussie stores can be found there – David Jones, Myers, Harvey Norman, etc – along with smaller local shops and eateries. About half way along the mall you should visit Regent Arcade - named after an old ex theatre on the corner – a beautiful heritage style interior, with over 30 specialty shops including a good selection of cafe's and a couple of small antique shops.

For those with a sweet tooth visit Haigh's chocolate store at the West (Hindley Street) end of the mall on the intersection with King William Street. This is the oldest family-owned chocolate manufacturing retailer in Australia and the chocolates are great. Short guided tours of the factory, situated about 5-10mins drive from the shop, are available – see website for details http://www.haighschocolates.com.au/.

You don’t need to be into shopping to come here. I have included it under things to do, as opposed to shopping tips as I rarely go there to buy anything. It is very popular at weekends when lots of good buskers descend on it. Half way up is a merry-go-round always popular with kids.

The mall features a few interesting pieces of street architecture/ adornments which you can read about in my separate review.

A tourist office is located on the mall - a handy spot to find out whats on in town and around Adelaide.

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Amid much controversy, the Adelaide Council blocked off part of Rundle Street in the 1970s to make it a pedestrian precinct. Hard to believe that people (particularly the shopkeepers) objected to it, fearing that lack of cars would result in dying of trade. Of course, people flock and it's also the centre of many a public event.

All the obvious shopping outlets are to be found on the Mall or nearby - including the historic Adelaide Arcade, opened in 1885, with its resident ghost....

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If you want, after you come out of Rundle Mall, continue across Pulteney street and along Rundle Street East and into the cosmopolitan East End District. More historic buildings, leading designer labels, gifts, home wares, jewellery, camera shop and much more. If you turn into some of the side streets, here you will find some South Australian fashion shops, and perhaps something different to wear back home! There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and wine bars and outdoor alfresco dining.

This end of Rundle street is where the Botanical Gardens, The National Wine Centre and Rymill Park are located. It' also where festivals or events like the Adelaide Fringe, the Adelaide Festival, Clipsal 500 V8 Car Race, Tour Down Under, East End Jazz Festival and several international Film festivals are held.

If you are walking down the Mall from King William street, don't stop too soon, as located infront of the Adelaide Arcade entrance is a lovely fountain that was built in the 1800's.

There were two fountains, one was moved to here, and the other to North Adelaide. Built in the Victorian era, it's an example of the domestic fountains of the period. I loved it, especially seeing it looked to be recently repainted in its original colours.
In summer, some of the locals like to cool of in it!

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I thought these life-sized pigs were great! There are four -Truffles, Horatio, Oliver and Augusta, all depicted in poses as if they were walking along Rundle Mall.
How were they named - by public competition!

Rundle Street used to be a very narrow street, quite a dangerous street for pedestrians, so it was good when it was decided to make it a Mall.
Rundle Mall opened as Australia's first pedestrian street mall in 1976. Since then, Australia has lots of Mall's.

Even if you haven't shopping to do, a walk along the Mall is quite entertaining. People are here everyday of the week, Buskers entertain the crowds, there are fresh fruit and flower stalls where office workers buy by the piece. Plenty of retailers, arcades, boutiques, Banks, ATM Machines and eateries make it a great place for a stroll and to pass time!

The 'Mall's Balls," officially "the Spheres," is a well known landmark in Rundle Mall and now is used as a meeting place.
These two large stainless steel spheres are balanced one on top of the other. Erected in 1977, they were donated to the City of Adelaide to mark its 1977 centenary.

General trading hours are....Monday - Thursday up to 7pm
Friday 9am - 9pm ...Saturday 9am - 5pm ...Sunday 11am - 5pm
Different shops may have different opening and closing times.

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When in Adelaide and walking around the city.. the first place I stopped was the visitors information center in Rundle Mall..here you can obtain a map of the city with attractions also a map of the local transport network..Many shops and street art with street musicians here..lots to see and do..

If you have a wife or girlfriend in tow, how can you miss Rundle Street Mall. It's Adelaide city's main shopping drag and on the eastern end of Rundle Street and Frome Street is the great cafe and food district of Adelaide. There are numerous cheap eats to be found here. For pizzas and pasta, try the Amalfi...the Marinara pasta was excellent although i found their signature pepper and salt calamari abit too overrated and small in portion.

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Every Saturday there is a market place set up on Rundle street. Rundle street is well known for its restaurants and El fresco dining. There is around a 100 stores selling a variety of items from jewellery to take away Indian food. Its not a bargain shopping kind of fete but rather caters to the unique with many of the items handmade or locally produced. There are also permanent stores lining the street, several of them selling travelling and camping goods. Paddy Pallins is my favourite but there is also Kathmandu, the scout shop and Annapurna. Rundle street connects at one end to Rundle Mall, which is the main city shopping area, and at the other end too the Adelaide park lands.

The market is open Every Saturday – 9am – 3pm