Rundle Mall has launched its 50th anniversary celebrations, kicking off this week with a year-long program of events and activations.
The company described the celebration as a “12-month cultural moment” culminating in a Golden Jubilee on September 1, while early phase initiatives will include a Rundle Mall 50th-branded car as part of the Santos Tour Down Under.
Andrew White, executive manager of Rundle Mall, said the anniversary is “a monumental milestone” for both the mall and South Australia, reshaping the role of the strip today and in the future.
“Our 50th anniversary program is built around three pillars – history, social connection and legacy – celebrating everything that has made the mall special while looking confidently toward the next 50 years,” White added.
Acknowledging its significance, the Premier of South Australia announced a $250,000 State Government funding for Rundle Mall this year, claiming that it has been “an important part of the state’s identity for generations of South Australians.”
“Rundle Mall is the heart of Adelaide – a place that has shaped how South Australians shop, gather, celebrate and connect for five decades,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said, noting that it has long served as the city’s social, cultural and economic hub. “This investment will support celebrations that bring the community together and honour the mall’s past, present and future.”
Born in 1976 from the ongoing vision of closing Rundle Street to traffic, Rundle Mall was recognised as Australia’s first outdoor pedestrian mall, hosting events and initiatives under the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA). Today, considered the busiest shopping precinct in the country and the largest pedestrian mall in the Southern Hemisphere, it is home to more than 1000 businesses and welcomes over 52 million visitors annually.
“It’s not just a retail precinct; it’s a shared civic space that belongs to everyone,” Malinauskas stated.
The celebrations will be open to South Australians and visitors alike throughout the year, given the anniversary itself was an invitation to the community, said Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax‑Smith AM.
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