Adelaide House, Historical stone building in Alice Springs, Australia.

Adelaide House is a stone building on the Todd Mall in Alice Springs, completed in 1926 as the first purpose-built hospital in the town. It was designed by the Reverend John Flynn with a cellar and ducts that drew cool air to the upper levels, a cooling system based on the Coolgardie safe. It now operates as a local history museum run by volunteers, focusing on health in Central Australia.

The building was completed in 1926 and served as the first hospital in Central Australia under Reverend John Flynn's direction. It expressed the medical pioneering work of the Australian Inland Mission in an isolated region.

The building shows how European settlers adapted their construction methods to desert heat while using local materials. Visitors can see today how the thick stone walls and purposeful openings kept the rooms cool.

Adelaide House stands on the Todd Mall in central Alice Springs, an easy walk from the town's shops and hotels. The museum is run by volunteers, so opening depends on their availability; check locally before setting out. The rooms are small and the stone walls hold the day's heat, making the cooler morning hours the more comfortable time to look around.

The building features an early cooling system using roof vents and underground channels to lower summer temperatures. This principle was developed long before modern air conditioning and works purely through clever placement and air flow.