The Adelaide Oval was arguably the most beautiful cricket ground in the world, set in beautiful park-lands north of the Central Business District, and the Torrens River, and surrounded by four of Adelaide’s leading scenic attractions.
- Colonel Light’s Vision
- St Peter’s Anglican cathedral
- The Pennington Terrace War Memorial Gardens
- The picturesque Torrens Lake
The re-developed Adelaide Oval arises somewhat grotesquely in this beautiful leafy setting, appearing somewhat crass in comparison to the quiet dignified composure of the old Oval.
South Australians will no doubt quickly embrace the modern facilities provided for in the new complex, and appreciate the ease of access and parking, adjacent to Adelaide’s West End nightlife area.
This post seeks to remind us of the beautiful old Adelaide Oval and the environs now fore-ever changed.
The Old Adelaide Oval and environs

English: Adelaide Oval Scoreboard, Dec 2010 during the second test of The Ashes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Adelaide Oval, and City Sky-Line, before the Oval Development. Taken just below Colonel Lights Vision on the slope of Montefiore Hill
The bronze statue of Colonel William Light, originally placed in Victoria Square in 1906, but moved to Montefiore Hill (named after Jacob Montefiore, one of the ten commissioners of the colony of South Australia) in 1938..
The re-development of the Adelaide Oval in progress (courtesy of Adelaide Now)
Excavation under-way
The framework of the new stands towering upwards.
Artistic visualization of the completed Oval.
History of the Adelaide Oval reviewed in this Adelaide Now feature for the Second Test
Adelaide Oval past and present
Related articles
- Things to see and do in Adelaide (irkitated.com)
- Rolling Stones to play revamped Adelaide Oval (abc.net.au)
- Adelaide Oval revamp look the real deal (thedaverosecolumn.wordpress.com)
- Ashes: Adelaide Oval is breaking new ground so hold on to your hard hat | Mike Selvey (theguardian.com)
- Bradman Collection moves to Adelaide Oval (abc.net.au)
- Rolling Stones Confirm 2014 Adelaide Oval Concert To Mark Opening Of Brand New Venue (contactmusic.com)
- Light’s vision hit for six (pateblog.nma.gov.au)
- The Ashes 2013-14: Adelaide Oval just about retains some of its charm despite extreme makeover (metro.co.uk)