Adelaide Arcade

Adelaide Arcade is a beautiful shopping experience with an exciting atmosphere.

Located just off Rundle Mall in the Adelaide city centre, this olde-worlde arcade has more than 100 specialty stores on the ground floor and balcony level.

The Adelaide Arcade was built in 1885 using more than two million bricks, 50,000 square feet of glass, ornamental cast iron and marble slabs flanking the entrances. Wander through the Adelaide Arcade's museum, which showcases its colourful history. Set up on the balcony level of Gay's Arcade, there are artefacts, photographs, newspaper clippings, trinkets and even an accordian that plays the official Adelaide Arcade Polka.

The museum houses stories, surprising facts and figures, pictures and articles from years gone by and colourful artefacts from the construction period. The museum adds to the charm and history of the arcade and is open during the arcade shopping hours. There is no charge to wander through - just spend some time.

See the Adelaide Arcade's distinctive coat of arms at its entrance – the result of a competition when the arcade was being built. At the time, Australia did not have a proclaimed coat of arms. The arcade's version is still similar to Australia's official one in a few respects, with a kangaroo and emu on each side.

South Australia's renowned chocolate makers, Haigh's, has a shop here and there's also plenty of friendly cafes and coffee bars. There's a wealth of fashion, from Adelaide Hatters and Bonnie's Wigs through to menswear, silk fashion and shoes stores. You'll find all manner of services including the One Hour Hem Stop Shop, shoe repairers and the Shaver Shop. And you're sure to find the right button at the Button Bar, or right battery at the Battery Bar.