Adelaide: The Free Colony That Began Without Convicts

Discover the story of Adelaide's founding on a guided walking tour. Learn about the city's history, see the grave of Colonel William Light, and visit North Terrace and Government House.
We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains, and pay respect to Elders past and present.

Discover why Adelaide was founded differently from many Australian colonies. Follow a local guide through the historic city center, hear the stories of its founders, and uncover the ambitious experiment to build a free colony without convict transportation.

Travel back to 1836 and discover the bold ideas behind the founding of Adelaide. With a local guide leading the way, begin at Victoria Square and follow the early city streets while hearing the stories of settlers, planners, and political figures who dreamed of creating a different kind of British colony.

Walk along King William Street to Light Square and the grave of Colonel William Light as your guide brings Adelaide's dramatic early years to life. Hear how the city was planned, why convict transportation was excluded, and how competing visions, money, land, and power shaped the struggling new settlement.

Continue to North Terrace and Government House, where the story of colonial authority unfolds. In two hours, discover how an ambitious experiment on the edge of the British Empire became the city of Adelaide.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.