Australia · Heritage Walks

2-Hour North Adelaide Walking Tour of Grand Mansions and Heritage Homes

2 Hours Round trip from Brougham Pl Easy pace

Third Oldest Catholic Church in Adelaide

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 View a Victorian villa from the 1870s that was once home to a Lord Mayor and brewer
02 Walk past striking German buildings and hear about the early families who lived there
03 Learn about the role pubs and hotels played in North Adelaide's early history
04 Explore an old brewery and discover its history and significance

Explore the lower part of historic North Adelaide on a walk through imposing grand mansions, row cottages, and homes once associated with the area's poorer residents. Along the way, visit an old church, an old brewery, and the site of a double murder and suicide from the 1880s. The tour also looks at one of Adelaide's largest sub-divisions, once fruit and vegetable gardens owned by the Hack brothers, revealing how heritage, social history, and urban change meet in this distinctive neighbourhood.

Explore the lower part of historic North Adelaide on a walk through imposing grand mansions, row cottages, and homes once associated with the area's poorer residents.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Adelaide

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

North Adelaide Mansions, Heritage Homes and Brougham Gardens

Commence the tour at the corner of bustling O'Connell Street and Brougham Place.
Begin with an introduction to the tour, including a brief history of Adelaide in general and North Adelaide in particular.
View a Victorian villa built in the 1870s that was once the home of a Lord Mayor and brewer.
See how built heritage is blended with progress at the former home of one of South Australia's Premiers and a philanthropic doctor.
View the heritage and historic buildings within Lincoln College, a tertiary residential college. Discuss some of the former owners and their occupations, and admire the striking architecture.
View a Gothic-style mansion that has recently been renovated, and hear about the family who built the home and the stories associated with it.
View some Federation-style homes, one of which was owned by one of Adelaide's premier ironmongers, George Fulton.
Visit a Queen Anne-style house with distinctive leadlight windows featuring Australian flora and fauna themes.
View one of the original large acreages, now subdivided, which still contains one of the oldest houses in North Adelaide, dating from the 1830s or 1840s.
Admire a former rectory and post office, now a private home.
View a typical corner store that once operated as a drapery and general store. Hear about some of the early German families who inhabited the house, as well as the woeful tale of a double murder and suicide there during the 1880s.
Walk past some excellent examples of German buildings that have now been fully renovated, and hear about some of the early families who lived in these dwellings.
View one of the best intact examples of row housing in Adelaide, and hear about its history and original purpose.
Discuss the role pubs and hotels played in the area's early history.
View workers' cottages from the 1850s and 1860s.
Pass by and discuss a kindergarten named after a woman who championed early childhood education in South Australia.
View and discuss some of the diverse forms of housing found in the area.
Cross busy Melbourne Street and discuss some prominent nearby buildings, including the Lion Hotel and the old Bakehouse.
Visit an old brewery and discuss its history and significance.
View the third-oldest Catholic church in the city of Adelaide and learn about its connection to Mary MacKillop, Australia's first and only saint.
View some historic villas once owned by journalists, opticians, pressmen, and Lord Mayors.
View a renovated house formerly owned by the wife of one of Australia's aviation pioneers.
Visit Brougham Place Uniting Church, formerly a Congregational Church. Hear about its history, architecture, and some of its founders and parishioners.

Where this trip takes you

Brougham Place, Victorian villa, Lincoln College, old brewery

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Brougham Pl 1 city · 2 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Services of an experienced local Adelaide tour guide with intimate knowledge of North Adelaide

What's Not Included

Meals
Transportation

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Clothing suitable for the weather conditions
On warm to hot days, light, cool clothing
A hat
An adequate supply of water

Know before you go

Grand Mansions & Sub-Divisions Tour: The Grand Mansions and Sub-Divisions Tour explores the lower part of historic North Adelaide, which has a good blend of imposing large mansions together with row cottages and houses that were traditionally the homes of the poor. You visit an old church, an old brewery, and a place where a double murder and suicide took place during the 1880s. One of the largest sub-divisions in Adelaide is visited, which was previously fruit and vegetable gardens when bought by the Hack brothers.
The experienced guides will also advise participants on what there is to see and do in Adelaide, with many valuable tips. Participants are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing suitable for the weather conditions. For example, on a warm to hot day, it is suggested to wear light, cool clothing, a hat, and bring an adequate supply of water.

Logistics