The Myths about Adelaide: Are They Real?

From out-in-the-field stereotypes to the downright, off-the-deep-end hearsays about hidden tunnels and haunted alleys, Adelaide’s myths are thought-provoking. 

In this article, our team will discuss them and see if they’re cold hard facts or fabricated folklore.

What are the top myths about Adelaide?

Adelaide is a boring city

Fact or fiction? Fiction

Our team’s moniker for the city is Radelaide—a title Adelaide rightfully deserves. Most people think the city is Australia’s Snoozeville because it’s relatively smaller and more rural than urban heavyweights like Sydney or Melbourne. 

The geographical comparisons may be based on facts, but we believe that Adelaide isn’t boring at all. With world-class festivals, a bustling art scene, adventures that can keep you on your toes, and jaw-dropping sights to explore, Adelaide is an electric city.

Adelaideans are snobs

Fact or fiction? Fiction

Uhm, no, it would be unfair and inaccurate to categorize all Adelaideans as snobs. Like any city, Adelaide has a diverse population with varying personalities. 

There may be some with a high and mighty attitude, but hey, most of us are as warm as toast!

Yes, we tend to boast about our wines and beaches, but we’re not holier-than-thou. 

If you don’t believe us, just ask tourists who’ve been to Adelaide. They’ll probably describe us as pure sweethearts—hopefully. 

You’ll be sweating bullets in Adelaide

Fact or fiction? Fact

We got our region’s Mediterranean climate to blame for this one. Adelaide experiences hot and dry summers (Dec to Feb).

Temperatures can often reach high levels, with occasional heat waves where the heat can soar above 40°C (104°F).

This doesn’t mean that Adelaide is hotter than hell 24/7, though. Our city’s temperatures can be temperate and pleasant during spring and autumn and even cold and wet during winter.

Adelaide isn’t a part of Australia

Fact or fiction? Fiction

How we wish we have the power to materialize a globe or map whenever we hear someone say, “Oh, Adelaide, is that a Tasmanian city?” This lights our fuse every time.

Thankfully, Google Maps has been a lifesaver. 

The next time someone mistakes Adelaide for a non-Australian city, don’t think about throwing pie floaters at them (violence is never the answer, peeps). Just use the Internet to correct their honest misconception.

Adelaide is overly religious

Fact or fiction? Fiction

Adelaide may be the City of Churches, but it’s far from an overly religious place. 

Reports have shown that Adelaideans with no religious affiliation are a dime a dozen—making the city one of the least religious places in the country. We may have an abundance of churches, but not everyone is up for Sunday service.

Adelaide is full of serial killers

Fact or fiction? Fiction

Adelaide has unfortunately experienced its fair share of unsettling and tragic crimes—even ones involving serial killers. 

Once touted as “The Murder Capital of the World” and “Murder Town,” Adelaide’s darkest myth is still ingrained in the minds of locals and foreigners.

However, the city’s crime rate isn’t as gruesome as this myth portrays. It has dropped over the years. 

In fact, in the year 2023, Adelaide is ranked the second safest city in Australia.

Adelaideans sound different

Fact or fiction? Fact

One distinctive feature of the Adelaidean accent is the soft ‘W’ sound for the letter ‘L,’ so ‘hill’ and ‘bill’ become ‘hiwl’ and ‘biwl.’ 

In addition, our ‘L’ sounds also have a vowel twist, making it quite distinct from other states. 

Take ‘hurled’ as an example: it sports a vocalized-L in SA (hayd).

Moreover, we also have a fondness for abbreviating words and using slang—confusing they may be to non-Aussies. ‘Barbecue’ becomes ‘barbie,’ and ‘mosquito’ becomes ‘mozzie.’

Our team’s verdict? There’s a semblance of truth to this myth. It just depends on who is listening. 

Adelaide’s tap water tastes “strange”

Fact or fiction? Fact

The hint of chlorine in our city’s tap water might be the main reason this myth is going around. 

Adelaide’s tap water has to be treated with chlorine to destroy the bacteria and pathogens that accumulate during its long journey from the river source to the reservoir. 

It might taste weird or even utterly horrendous to most, but chlorine makes our tap water safe to drink. We’d rather experience its tingy aftertaste than chug unclean water—not even if the contaminated one tastes like wine.

Adelaide’s nightlife is abysmal 

Fact or fiction? Fiction

If we hear “Adelaide has zero nightlife!” one more time, our team might lose it. Seriously, the likes of the ever-eclectic Hindley Street and Rundle Street can give world-famous nightclub districts a run for their money. 

We got total party zones like El Cheeky Flamingo, The Atrium, and Beer Garden. 

Pubs like The Crown and Anchor and The Austral offer top-tier cocktails and spirits. Plus, restaurants like Sobosoho and Osteria Oggi provide cuisines perfect for night escapades.

It only takes 20 minutes to travel everywhere in Adelaide

Fact or fiction? Fact

Dubbed the 20-minute city, most of Adelaide’s top-notch tourist sites are just 20 minutes from the city center. 

Adelaide’s beaches, wine regions, and forest reserves are near the CBD. If you have a personal car, this travel time might even be shortened.

There’s a city under Adelaide

Fact or fiction? Fiction

This myth might sound straight out of la-la land if you’re unfamiliar with Adelaide’s Treasury Vaults—the old underground passageway that started this urban legend. 

Contrary to the myth, these vaults were constructed to connect Adelaide’s old treasury basement with the city’s former survey department. Living in an underground city sounds fun, but this one is certainly a myth blown out of proportion.  

There are ghosts in Schneider Alley

Fact or fiction? Fiction

According to an urban legend, Dr. Michael Schneider, the original owner of the Clifton Manor, lost his mind after his wife passed away—prompting him to go on a murderous rampage. As the story goes, Dr. Schneider’s victims were even experimented on.

Some believe that his victims are still haunting the area where they were killed—the infamous Schneider Alley. As bone-chilling and thought-provoking as this tale may be, there are no police report or pieces of evidence proving the murders happened.

The Adelaide Arcade is haunted by the ghost of an old caretaker

Fact or fiction? Who knows?

According to eyewitnesses, a cryptic blue apparition is haunting the Adelaide Arcade.

A clairvoyant named Joan Lesly claimed that the ghost is Francis Cluney, a former caretaker of the shopping center who died in a job-related accident. 

There are camera recordings that show his ghost wandering the area during nighttime, and most security guards and sellers think this spooky myth is true. Our team is actually divided on this story, so we’ll leave the decision to you.