Australia’s first pedestrian mall launches a year-long Golden Jubilee celebration, celebrating 50 years of South Australia’s most important public places.

Marking five decades since it was opened in September 1976 by then-Premier Don Dunstan, Rundle Mall’s 50th anniversary is being celebrated not as a single event, but as a 12‑month cultural moment culminating in a Golden Jubilee on 1 September 2026.

Born from a bold vision

First announced in 1972 to close Rundle Street to traffic, Rundle Mall was conceived as Australia’s first outdoor pedestrian mall – inspired by European piazzas and designed as a human‑centred city space for connection, culture, performance and everyday life. At its official opening, Don Dunstan famously described the Mall as a place “where people could come and stroll, meet one another, enjoy an o pen‑air activity, and at the same time, of course, go and purchase what they wanted.”

Fifty years on, that vision endures. Rundle Mall is now the busiest shopping precinct in Australia and the largest pedestrian mall in the Southern Hemisphere, welcoming more than 52 million visitors each year.

Home to more than 1,000 businesses, the Mall blends major national and international flagships with local South Australian retailers, laneways, arcades and cultural institutions – making it a destination that is both globally competitive and deeply local.

State funding

Last week, Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia announced $250,000 in State Government funding for Rundle Mall in 2026, supporting the Precinct’s milestone 50th anniversary celebrations.

The funding recognises Rundle Mall’s significance to South Australia as a social, cultural and economic hub, and as an important part of the state’s identity for generations of South Australians. The investment will support a year-long program of events, activations and community initiatives, ensuring the celebrations deliver benefits for the Mall, the city and the wider community.

“Rundle Mall has been at the heart of Adelaide for 50 years, and this funding recognises its importance to our state and to South Australians,” Premier Malinauskas said. “This investment will support celebrations that bring the community together and honour the Mall’s past, present and future.”

Premier Malinauskas said Rundle Mall’s 50th anniversary was a milestone of state significance.

“Rundle Mall is the heart of Adelaide – a place that has shaped how South Australians shop, gather, celebrate and connect for five decades,” Premier Malinauskas said.

“It’s not just a retail precinct; it’s a shared civic space that belongs to everyone.”

Iconic destination

Over its history, Rundle Mall has been the setting for countless iconic moments – from royal visits and political rallies to buskers, street performers and impromptu concerts – and has served as a proving ground for Australian artists and a backdrop to everyday life. Landmarks such as Adelaide Arcade, Regent Arcade, the ‘Malls Balls’ (officially known as ‘The Spheres’), John Martins, The Myer Centre and David Jones are etched into the memories of generations.

Today, Rundle Mall hosts more than 300 events, activations and performances each year, playing a central role in Adelaide’s cultural calendar and reinforcing its position as the city’s true Town Square. Throughout 2026, visitors will be invited to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations, share their Rundle Mall memories, and take part in a year‑long program that celebrates the past, present and future of this city‑shaping place.