Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga

The geographical and civic heart of Adelaide, starting point for the Bay Tram

Victoria Square is the dead centre of Colonel William Light's 1836 grid — the point from which Adelaide measures itself. Five roads converge here, the Glenelg tram departs from its southern edge, and the city's main ceremonial axis runs north–south through it.

The square was redesigned in 2018 and is now a decent urban space: fountains, shade trees, and a wide plaza that works for markets, rallies, and the weekly lunchtime crowds. The bronze sculpture group at the northern end depicts three figures representing the three major rivers of South Australia. It's the natural place to start a walk — everything in the CBD is within twenty minutes on foot.

things to do sight
A story
The square sits on the traditional country of the Kaurna people, who knew it as Tarntanyangga — "place of the red kangaroo dreaming." The colonial name was chosen for Queen Victoria, but Adelaide City Council now uses both names officially, and the Kaurna name appears on signage alongside the English.

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