Rundle Mall

Rundle Mall is a pedestrian zone in Adelaide's city center, stretching over 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) and offering access to more than a thousand shops, department stores, and fifteen interconnected arcades. The zone connects several cross streets and hosts both international brands and local boutiques, cafés, and restaurants on both sides of the wide pedestrian promenade.

The zone opened in September 1976 after Premier Don Dunstan ordered the closure of western Rundle Street due to vehicle congestion and heavy pedestrian traffic. The conversion of a busy thoroughfare into a pedestrian zone marked a major shift in Adelaide's urban planning.

The name honors Robert Rundle, an early European settler in the South Australian region, whose family name has marked this street since the 19th century. Locals often meet at the shiny metal spheres, which serve as a gathering point surrounded by street musicians and performers.

The zone is accessible daily and best explored during business hours when most shops and cafés are open. Weekends can be busier, especially on Saturdays when many locals come to shop.

The Adelaide Arcade inside was the first retail establishment in Australia to introduce electric lighting, and six ghosts are said to reside there. These stories attract curious visitors interested in the old arcade's past.