Wednesday May 9th


Walking past a statue the other day I suddenly thought how rarely I actually look at them, so today have made amends by following a history trail of statues in the CBD. Due to the fact that it is impossible to get near the Oval because they are renovating it, I had to miss some out so only hope these are in the correct order!

Not an obvious one to start with, this is Robert Burns, the first statue carved in Adelaide. According to my guide he is one of Russia's favourite poets and the old USSR was the first country to issue a stamp commemorating him. (Just remember all this will be very useful in your next pub quiz!) The builing in the background is the state library which I am saving for a rainy day.

King Edward V11 born in 1841 and 59 when he became king and was the longest serving heir apparent in British history until Prince Charles took on that title.

This is the National Soldiers Memorial , better known as the "spirit of sacrifice". As is common the design was the subject of many arguments, so it was decided to run a competition for its design. The main figure, the angel with the sword represents the "spirit of duty" whilst the three bronze figures of a student, a farmer and a girl represents the community.

The woman at the back represents compassion and the aftermath of war whilst the fountain reflects the constant flow of memories for those who sacrificed their lives. Inside the walls are lined with those fallen in battle.

Inside the walls are lined with those fallen in battle.

Matthew Flinders was a navigator, surveyor and hydrographer who explored the coast of New South Wales from 1797 to 1798 and circumnavigated Tasmania in 1798 and 1799. I have not been to a city in Australia which does not have a Flinders Street!

Matthew Flinders was a navigator, surveyor and hydrographer who explored the coast of New South Wales from 1797 to 1798 and circumnavigated Tasmania in 1798 and 1799. I have not been to a city in Australia which does not have a Flinders Street!

Lord Florey was born in Adelaide on September 24th 1898, and was perhaps Australia's greatest scientist, jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945. He is best known for his work on penicillin.

Mary Lee, born in Ireland in 1821 and arrived in Australia in 1879, worked tirelessly towards providing relief a from the misery and hardship of the late 1880s and 90s. She is best known for her work for women's rights.

Marcus Oliphant was Governor of South Australia from 1971 to 1976 and the bust was erected in recognition of his services to the public.

The Honourable Sir Mellis Napier was Lieutenant Governor of South Australia, Chief Justice and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1948-1961.

Now for something completely different... a copy of the original Venus by Canova which caused

controversy when first unveiled in 1892, the first of Adelaide's street statues.

The very popular Dame Roma Mitchell, the first woman appointed to the bench of the SA Supreme Court, first female chancellor of a major university, and first female  State Governor in Australia. 

The South African Boer War Memorial.

Pione .er Women's Memorial; the unladylike hands represent the power and strength of the pioneer women. An intriguing sundial is on the base on the left.

The  Angas Family Memorial. The Angas dynasty enjoyed both political and pastoral success but not everyone admired the family name. This memorial was originally intended for Victoria Square (in the centre of town) but an outcry by some people led to it being located here.

A memorial to those in the medical service of defence. Despite being the driest state the parks are full of colour and foliage.

No, not a statue, just another of the trees I have come to love...

George Vth, responsible for changing the royal name to Windsor, having cut off all ties with Germany during WW1.

The Naval Memorial Garden. Phineas Philip Davies was the first serving South Australian seaman to die in the colonial navy. He died as a result of a premature discharge of HMC's Protector's eight inch gun during Commemoration Day 1885. There are over 30 plaques commemorating various shipwrecks.

The Cross of Sacrifice is a shrine from the women of SA to their fallen servicemen lost in the fields of France in the Great War. The Anzac day parade ends here and a service is held around the cross.

Captain  Sir Ross Smith became one of the most daring and most decorated of Australia's pilots during the First World War.Along with his brother in 1919 he flew in an open cockpit,converted VickersVimy WW1 bomber from London to Australia in 28 days.Their goggles would continually clog with snow and their sandwiches froze solid.

 Colonel William Light Adelaide's founding father, who was responsible for fixing and surveying  the site of the city of Adelaide. (see earlier entry)

The tour of monuments ended here but I combined it with a tour of some of the older buildings in this part of town, including this block of apartments dating from about 1938. Apartment blocks were not popular with Adelaidians before the 1980s and consequently there are not many examples from earlier times.

I have no idea what this is, the sign caught my attention. Any offers? (Masons?)

This is the oldest trading pub in the state, first licensed in 1838.

Although the photo does not do it justice I ended in this lovely little street just off the main road and yet so quiet.  Quote of the day has to come from the Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile ( a running track through the park);

"It is only through inner peace that we can have true outer freedom" (Sri Chinmoy - Indian spiritual teacher and poet.)