20 Apr, 2015
Floating Lights For Rundle Mall
The final phase of the Rundle Mall redevelopment begins tonight involving the installation of catenary lighting.
Catenary lighting will provide the visual effect of ‘floating’ lights along Rundle Mall. On a practical level, catenary lighting using structural cables allows a unique ambience without the use of many light poles, masts or intrusive support structures along the Mall.
City of Adelaide Public Realm Executive Manager, Tom McCready, said Council is keen to let the public know works in preparation for the catenary lighting begins this afternoon.
“Around 4pm trucks will be parked at the east end of Rundle Mall in preparation of a mast being erected. Later in the night, cranes and crews will be arriving to carry out the works which should continue until the early hours of Tuesday morning. Another mast will also be erected in due time.
“The masts are approximately 17 metres in height and will support the lighting at strategic points along Rundle Mall.
“This will be followed by the installation of two spires approximately 20 metres in height located at the Eastern and Western ends of the Mall. These Spires will support banners, flood lighting and provides the anchor points for the catenary netting system,” Tom McCready said.
Rundle Mall Redevelopment Fast Facts
11,800 square metres of pavers; 8.4 kilometres of electrical conduit; 520 metres of stormwater pipes; 15,000 tonnes of excavated materials; 59 seats, five podiums and 44 new trees.
Oldest Pedestrian Mall In Australia
On May 23, 1837, Adelaide’s premier shopping strip was given the name, Rundle Street. It was a place where shoppers were entertained at Regent Theatre, shopped at the little stores in Adelaide Arcade and further along the street. They arrived by tram, on foot, by horse and eventually, in cars.
Pastoralists arriving by train at the Adelaide Railway Station would use the James Place public bathrooms to freshen up after a long journey before venturing ‘to town’. People would shop for drapes at Beehive corner, fabric at Myer, and at times, paid with coupons.
As time went on, Adelaide’s population grew, wars came and went. Rundle Street was installed with electric lighting and its dirt surface became bitumen, horses disappeared and shop floors became larger. Haigh’s arrived, followed by Myer, Charles Birks and Harris Scarfe. In 1972, Premier Don Dunstan closed Rundle Street to traffic and renamed the street Rundle Mall. The celebration was marvellous, with the Rundle Mall fountain famously filled with champagne donated by Hardy’s.
For more information visit: www.rundlemallmasterplan.com or rundlemall.com.
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Catherine Kennedy