Arabic version: راندل مول يحتفل بمرور 50 عاماً كمركز مجتمعي في أديلايد

According to ABC News, Adelaide’s Rundle Mall is celebrating 50 years since it opened as the country’s first major pedestrian-only shopping mall. Then-South Australian premier Don Dunstan removed cars from a section of Rundle Street, a decision that drew disagreement between motorists, pedestrians, small traders and larger businesses.

Rundle Mall opened on September 1, 1976, when about 10,000 people gathered for an event that included a champagne-filled fountain. Dunstan told the opening crowd the space was intended for more than retail, offering people somewhere to stroll, meet and enjoy outdoor activity as well as shop.

Executive manager Andrew White said the mall’s anniversary celebrates its role in South Australian culture and social life. Historian Keith Conlon said its continuing character was as a community and people hub, despite the changes it has undergone since the 1970s.

Public art has become a defining feature of the precinct. The Mall’s Balls, officially named Spheres, were installed in 1977, while the four pig sculptures — Horatio, Oliver, Truffles and August — arrived in the 1990s. A giant pigeon artwork was installed in 2020. Some works initially faced uncertainty or friction, but White said they had become part of the fabric of the place.

The mall has also hosted major public occasions and notable visitors. Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1977, and about 25,000 people came to hear Boy George in 1984. Conlon said Rundle Mall has remained a place for celebrations, multicultural festivals and community gatherings, as well as shopping.