How do we lose the 'boring & dull' stereotype?

[TooFar]

The single most effect way is to have a continually changing skyline, or at the very least, some regular updates. The fact that the view from Montefiore Hill has barely change since the 80’s is the main reason why interstaters think Adelaide is dull. The skyline is dull and boring – the city is dull and boring. It is the only view that they associate with the place.

[Wayno]

The single most effect way is to have a continually changing skyline, or at the very least, some regular updates. The fact that the view from Montefiore Hill has barely change since the 80’s is the main reason why interstaters think Adelaide is dull. The skyline is dull and boring – the city is dull and boring. It is the only view that they associate with the place.

that's a very good point!

[TooFar]

The single most effect way is to have a continually changing skyline, or at the very least, some regular updates. The fact that the view from Montefiore Hill has barely change since the 80’s is the main reason why interstaters think Adelaide is dull. The skyline is dull and boring – the city is dull and boring. It is the only view that they associate with the place.

that's a very good point!

It amazes me that the local politicians fail to see this logic.

[Will]

The single most effect way is to have a continually changing skyline, or at the very least, some regular updates. The fact that the view from Montefiore Hill has barely change since the 80’s is the main reason why interstaters think Adelaide is dull. The skyline is dull and boring – the city is dull and boring. It is the only view that they associate with the place.

I agree. That is why it is imperative that this image be removed from the main Adelaide page on Wikipedia:



It should be replaced by an image taken from a viewpoint which better reflects the density of the CBD but also features some of the new buildings which have gone up (which aren't seen from Light's Lookout).

[Dr Rudi]

Sorry to disappoint you all, but it ain't about the buildings.

It's what goes on in and around those buildings that matters. For example - I love Melbourne and visit several times a year - and I'd struggle to identify the skyline. Sure, I'd recognise some flagship buildings, but unless I could pick one of those flagship buildings in the image - no chance.

To all those posters who talk about Adelaide's busy times - well Melbourne has it all over us. Examples - they have a festival every year, not every two; they have a film festival every year, not two. Someone mentioned trams - hello ? We have one tram that goes one place - please, give me a break. Cafe culture - you can't be serious.

Yes, our 'attractions' - community gathering places - are too spread out. In Melbourne, they're all withing walking distance of the CBD (or a tram ride). Read the interstate press, and keep a record of all the bands (say) who play Melbourne, and not Adelaide.

[Will]

Sorry to disappoint you all, but it ain't about the buildings.

It's what goes on in and around those buildings that matters. For example - I love Melbourne and visit several times a year - and I'd struggle to identify the skyline. Sure, I'd recognise some flagship buildings, but unless I could pick one of those flagship buildings in the image - no chance.

To all those posters who talk about Adelaide's busy times - well Melbourne has it all over us. Examples - they have a festival every year, not every two; they have a film festival every year, not two. Someone mentioned trams - hello ? We have one tram that goes one place - please, give me a break. Cafe culture - you can't be serious.

Yes, our 'attractions' - community gathering places - are too spread out. In Melbourne, they're all withing walking distance of the CBD (or a tram ride). Read the interstate press, and keep a record of all the bands (say) who play Melbourne, and not Adelaide.

Such comparisons are unhelpful. In fact they are quite stupid. You are conviniently forgetting that Melbourne is 4 times larger than us!

:wank:

[Wayno]

Sorry to disappoint you all, but it ain't about the buildings.

It's what goes on in and around those buildings that matters. For example - I love Melbourne and visit several times a year - and I'd struggle to identify the skyline. Sure, I'd recognise some flagship buildings, but unless I could pick one of those flagship buildings in the image - no chance.

To all those posters who talk about Adelaide's busy times - well Melbourne has it all over us. Examples - they have a festival every year, not every two; they have a film festival every year, not two. Someone mentioned trams - hello ? We have one tram that goes one place - please, give me a break. Cafe culture - you can't be serious.

Yes, our 'attractions' - community gathering places - are too spread out. In Melbourne, they're all withing walking distance of the CBD (or a tram ride). Read the interstate press, and keep a record of all the bands (say) who play Melbourne, and not Adelaide.

Yep, a larger population certainly helps, as does proximity of 'attractions'. I'm keen for your opinion on how we can work with what we have to lose the 'boring and dull' stereotype...

[Somebody]

Why would people get their entire impression of an entire city by the CBD skyline? I hate it when people say that the CBD of a city is what 'makes' the entire place and the rest is all just filler. Adelaide is not in a bad natural setting - far better than dull Perth for example (what's that going for it - the sea? lol).

Such comparisons are unhelpful. In fact they are quite stupid. You are conviniently forgetting that Melbourne is 4 times larger than us!

:wank:

Adelaide = pop 1 158 259

4 x 1 158 259 = 4 633 036

I didn't know Melbourne was that big.

[crawf]

I recently picked up a great backpackers guide to Australia and what it said about Adelaide made the city sound like a fun and vibrant city compared to the Perth section (not being bias either). It mentioned about our tageline the City of Churches, our cafe/restaurant scene, festivals, events, shopping, nightlife, pubs, inner suburbs etc and our close proximity to the many regions like the Adelaide Hills, Barossa etc.. While Perth sounded like a family friendly destination.

If I was interstate or overseas backpacker and I picked up that booklet, I would be interested in visiting Adelaide.

Tourism promotion of Adelaide & South Australia has improved a hell of allot in the last few years

[Will]

Such comparisons are unhelpful. In fact they are quite stupid. You are conviniently forgetting that Melbourne is 4 times larger than us!

:wank:

Adelaide = pop 1 158 259

4 x 1 158 259 = 4 633 036

I didn't know Melbourne was that big.

If we are going to be pedantic, then Melbourne is 3.46 times larger than us. Regardless, it does not devalue my arguement. Melbourne is still much larger than us, and is thus not comparable to us.

[Wayno]

If we are going to be pedantic, then Melbourne is 3.46 times larger than us. Regardless, it does not devalue my arguement. Melbourne is still much larger than us, and is thus not comparable to us.

But then Melbourne and Adelaide were similar sizes not that many years ago...A simple comparison on "lessons learned" is in order i believe...

[rhino]

But then Melbourne and Adelaide were similar sizes not that many years ago...

When was that, exactly? I don't recall Melbourne and Adelaide ever being the same size. They had 7 years' head start on us and I think that's around the time our populations were the most similar - around 1840 - and I don't believe we ever caught up to them population-wise. I'm happy to be corrected though.

[Dr Rudi]

Such comparisons are unhelpful. In fact they are quite stupid. You are conviniently forgetting that Melbourne is 4 times larger than us!

:wank:

Er Will, you need the comparison. There is no darkness without light; no hot without cold. How else do you think people come to the conclusion that Adelaide is 'boring and dull' - they are comparing it with something. And most punters are comparing it with Melbourne because most of the punters have been there.

Would you care to list other urban agglomerations of Adelaide's population and population densisty ? Would comparisons with those places be acceptable ?

[ozisnowman]

There are a lot of things that could be done

For example we could spruce up the parklands, properly landscape them, have wetlands
which store storm water runoff through aquifers, these parks should have nice
trees, watered lawns and flowers and not look like general scrubland... You could
use these activities for running, walking, cycling (a few good bike tracks would help),
boating and fishing in the wetland lakes etc. If all the parklands looked like the
Botanic Gardens/Veale Gardens/Rymil Park etc then it certainly would be an attraction.
Also a couple of mega playgrounds for the kids would be great. Take a look at
the ones on Mount Gambier for a start.

The city should have cheap parking on the weekends to make the place more lively and
have free concerts at say Elder Park and a new spruced up Victoria Square would be good.
These could be up and coming musicians earning a few bobs busking etc. But these
entertainers should have no license fees/taxes applied as they are doind the community
a service....

In relation to buildings that wont change in a hurry but certainly Government Planning
laws could help to ensure that small sites are joined into bigger sites and then developed
so that the developments are substantial and sustainable, rather than a lot of small
scale development. Also how many old warehouses do you see in the centre of the
CBD its just appalling.... Flinders Street next to the old Just Kidding comes to mind

[Dr Rudi]

Yep, a larger population certainly helps, as does proximity of 'attractions'. I'm keen for your opinion on how we can work with what we have to lose the 'boring and dull' stereotype...

Wayne - I fear it is too late. Adelaide / SA does not have the money (either in Government coffers, or in private businesses) to salvage the situation. Notwithstanding current efforts to increase population.

The sporting/entertainment venues at West Lakes and Cavan and Mile End and Hindmarsh and Findon and ... should have all been built in the West Parklands. So, let's rebuild them.

Infrastructure such as the Port River Expressway (and to a lesser extent) the Southern Expressway should have been constructed years ago; and matched by roads for commuter traffic. To example Melbourne again, last time I drove into the CBD from Corio Bay I was still able to travel at 100km/h a stone's throw (or maybe 2 throws) from the CBD. So, let's build them.

Why not spread some of the load of 'mad March' throughout the year? Couldn't Womadelaide work in October ? Where are Adelaide's exlcusive art seasons ? Art Deco - part of Melbourne's 'Winter Masterpieces'. Vanity Fair photographs ? Canberra only. The Archibald Prize tours regional Australia - and not Adelaide. Monet and the Impressionists from Boston Gallery ? Sorry, Sydney only. Tracey Emin - sorry, Sydney only. So, let's shift a few existing events in the calendar, and let's get some exclusives to Adelaide.

All of that takes money that the State doesn't have / isn't willing to go into debt for.

If someone can find a copy of the 'Bringing Them Back Home' study that the Key Centre for GIS did back in 2000, they'll find plenty of answers / ammunition depending on one's perspective.