Adelaide, Australia was proclaimed as a British settlement on 28 December 1836.

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, was founded in 1836 and stands out as one of the few Australian cities planned before settlement. The city was named after Queen Adelaide, the consort of King William IV of Britain. Unlike many other Australian colonies established as penal settlements, Adelaide was designed as a “free settlement,” meaning it was built by free settlers rather than convicts. Colonel William Light, the city’s first Surveyor-General, created its famous layout — a grid system surrounded by wide boulevards and lush parklands — which remains a hallmark of Adelaide’s urban design today.

Throughout the 19th century, Adelaide became a hub for progressive social and political movements. It was often seen as one of Australia’s most liberal cities, pioneering reforms such as women’s suffrage in 1894 — making South Australia the first Australian colony, and one of the first places in the world, to grant women both the right to vote and to stand for parliament. The city’s economy thrived on agriculture, particularly wheat and wool exports, and later expanded into manufacturing and education, cementing its place as a key regional center.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Adelaide continued evolving from an industrial and manufacturing city into a modern, knowledge-based economy. Its universities, cultural institutions, and festivals — like the Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide — have earned it a reputation as a creative and intellectual center. The city’s focus on sustainability and urban livability has also gained attention globally, with its consistent ranking among the world’s most liveable cities. Despite its modest size compared to Sydney or Melbourne, Adelaide’s careful planning, cultural richness, and progressive heritage have given it a distinctive and enduring identity within Australia’s history.