Adelaide Secrets – Page 13 of 44

May 13, 2016

Urban Exploring: The Ethereal Palace

The Ethereal Palace opened in the mid-1900’s too much praise from Adelaide’s people. Never before had they seen such a grand interior. Windows, ceilings, chandeliers and panelled walls all decorated with gold leaf. Ornamental plaster panels, door and window treatments so impressive as to be a rarety in Adelaide.

It quickly became the ‘in’ place to be on a Friday and Saturday night. Long queues awaited patrons who had not pre-booked. Upon entering, a faux fireplace, inset with an electric heater, provided warmth on cold occasions.

Sadly, declining attendances led to its closure, and for the past 30 years The Ethereal Palace has sat more or less disused. It’s now only being utilized sporadically by government officials. All but for their odd executive meeting or late night soirée, the space is off-limits.

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April 28, 2016

Urban Exploring: Ye Olde Telephone Exchange

Adelaide‘s first Telephone Exchange was originally set up inside Adelaide’s General Post Office (GPO). Crammed into the back corner of the building, it started operation on the 14th of May 1883 with 48 subscribers — largely made up of business and government users.

Demand grew for the new service, and by the end of 1883, nearly a thousand miles of telephone lines had been strung.

Urban Exploring Ye Olde Telephone Exchange — Awesome Adelaide — Telegraph poles line King William Street, Adelaide ~ 1895. (Photo courtesy State Library of South Australia)

By August 1894 demand had grown so much new multiple-switchboards with increased capacity were installed. Women became central to the network.

The Telephone Exchange moved into its own building in 1908, outgrowing the GPO. However, elements of its early beginnings still remain elsewhere…

Down a dark and musty hallway, through secured and prohibitory doorways, lies its decaying infrastructure. Spiders (more than people) get to see more of this place now; quietly stringing their cobwebs together, working on catching their next meal, oblivious to their immensely historical surrounds.

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April 17, 2016

Urban Exploring: Garth’s Bistro

We’ve been quietly visiting Garth’s Bistro on-and-off for over two years now. As far as we can tell, Garth just loves to hoard things. And he’s particularly fond of boats.

Some here are over a century old. They would have once carried people across oceans; possibly with a promise of a new beginning.

Once we’ve outlived our usefulness, what’s to become of us? Will someone cherishingly hoard us? Or will we be forgotten, like others before us, like bottles on the sea.