A walk through the engineering that built Adelaide
The 175 years engineering and construction history of Adelaide has now been brought together in a guidebook that leads locals and visitors through the city’s streets in a fascinating insight to what we see or no longer see of the development of Adelaide.
Produced by Engineers Australia, ‘Engineering A City’ outlines the story of the engineering behind the building of Adelaide that delivered the day-to-day needs of the residents, along-side the engineering achievements behind industrial and commercial development of the city.
The President of Engineers Australia’s South Australian Division, Doug Gillott, said, “When we move about the central city area today we see and enjoy many impressive buildings, roads and open spaces that emerged from the choice of an area to meet the needs of the first settlers for the water supply from the River Torrens and the transport corridor to Adelaide’s port.
“Initially that lead to a tight mix of warehouses, foundries and numerous commercial enterprises that sat next to houses along North Terrace, and it is through the ‘Engineering A City’ guidebook that we can re-capture what was and understand what we have today.”
The publication draws focus on the multitude of engineering related aspects of the development of Adelaide that continues to underpin the water supply, food production, buildings and materials, light and power, roads and rails, bridges, communications, manufacturing, public health, and parks and gardens.
The release of the publication will be marked by a Civic Reception to be hosted by the Lord Mayor Michael Harbison tonight and copies of the publication will be available free from the Visitor & Travel Centre on King William Street from tomorrow, Thursday 5 November.
The guide was complied and written by Richard Venus of the Engineers Australia Heritage Committee, with the assistance of the Adelaide City Archives, and produced by Engineers Australia to mark its 90th anniversary.
Media Contacts: John Bright – 0407 234 490 / Caroline Argent – 08 8267 1783
Engineers Australia is the common name of The Institution of Engineers Australia with a membership of almost 90,000
