How good is Adelaide you ask? It’s so good!
Firstly an admission. I’m a Sydneysider. I grew up and loved its raw, unexpected and unvarnished corners. Corners which mostly seem to have been polished away these days, but this story isn’t about Sydney it’s about Adelaide. I married an Adelaide girl and have found myself here for Christmas’s and holidays over the years. Right now, during COVID, I find myself here again.
We had been living in Nepal and spent 3 months in lockdown earlier this year. It wasn’t so bad. We had a lovely garden and enjoyed endless lunches under its magical magnolia tree. The pollution disappeared and the Himalayas sparkled on the horizon but, after three months, we decided to leave. Who knew, who knows, how long this pandemic will last. So via two quarantines, Canberra and Adelaide, we arrived back here and (relatively) free from COVID.
It’s what happened next that was remarkable. The kids were in school by lunchtime on the first day out of quarantine and I was free! All the Adelaide attributes I used to turn my nose up at had become shining stars. The small, flat city? I ride my bike around in an hour, exploring alleyways and stopping here and there for food and coffee. The regimented square roads? No need for Google.
I’m a filmmaker, so my projects were all upside down, but it also seemed like a time to develop the ideas I’d developed over 10+ years of living in developing countries. An unexpected gift. A clear run without distractions.
This is where Adelaide really started to shine! It didn’t take me long to find St Paul’s Creative Centre. A government supported co-working space in an old church. It’s full of musicians, music promoters, app developers, with kitchens, printers, boardrooms, lounges, coffee and tea. Cool as heck! They hold events every week. A free sandwich here, a speaker’s event there. I’ve met executives from SA Music, Music Viva, SA Film and young freelancers of all stripes. It’s just two blocks from the city, so I can take a stroll to the Art Gallery, down the mall, or check out some clothes whenever I need some inspiration.
The creative agencies and government here seem to love the arts. They're not hard to find, willing to listen and happy to help. A friend of mine is editing at Lot 14 and its easy to see the ambition and possibilities.
I’ve started to think Adelaide doesn’t get how good they have it. They do, but do they really?
I’ve started to digitise and edit a documentary about a refugee-led education revolution in Indonesia, optioned and written a script for a film about crime and corruption on Hawaii’s North Shore, Welcome to Paradise, Now Go To Hell, and I’ve written a screenplay for an Antonioni-esque feature film set in the desert.
Thanks so much Adelaide. You’re the best. I might never leave!