Adelaide: A Queer History Tour

(21 reviews)

Adelaide audio tour: Adelaide: A Queer History Tour

This is a 2.4mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Adelaide

Australia

$11.99

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About the Tour

Adelaide made history as the first Australian state to decriminalize homosexuality, yet this progress came at a terrible cost. On this walking tour, you'll discover how one man's death in 1972 transformed Adelaide from a place of persecution into Australia's first state to embrace LGBTQ rights.

The tour starts at the George Duncan memorial beside the River Torrens, where a drowning catalyzed Australia's gay rights movement. You'll walk through the University of Adelaide, past the Migration Museum's groundbreaking queer exhibitions, and along North Terrace where Premier Don Dunstan wore his infamous pink shorts to Parliament. Along the way, you'll hear how Vice Squad persecution gave way to hard-won freedoms.

You'll explore Mary's Poppin drag venue in a former synagogue and walk much of the Adelaide Pride March route from Light Square. You'll learn about Feast Festival's role in building visibility, hear stories of gay-hate crimes that persisted into the 1990s, and discover where musician Sia grew up before becoming an international queer advocate. The tour ends at the site of Bert's Tea Rooms near Adelaide Central Market, once run by the flamboyant King of the West End.

On this thought-provoking 60-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

Visit the Centre of Democracy to see Don Dunstan's legendary pink shorts from 1972
Discover Jeffrey Smart's works at the Art Gallery of South Australia, where queer art ranges from Andy Warhol to transgender sculptor Marc Quinn
Walk Twin Street and learn about the mysterious Montmartre Cafe, allegedly the underground key to finding secret queer parties
See Jasmine Crisp's Sia Furler mural on Hindley Street, the city's party strip
Stand on the rainbow-colored Pride Walk unveiled in 2016, documenting historic LGBTQ achievements
Trace the route of Australia's 1973 pride march, one of the world's earliest
Learn about Mars Bar, the basement nightclub that launched Adelaide's commercial queer club scene

This tour reveals how Adelaide transformed from a place of persecution into a city of pride, one courageous story at a time.

Tour Producer

Katina Vangopoulos

1 tour

Hi! I'm Katina, a born-and-raised Adelaide local. Having worked as a tour guide across 20+ countries in Europe for Topdeck Travel, I returned to Adelaide to create my business Flamboyance Tours. My walking tours specialise in all things Adelaide, and I can't wait to walk with you across the city!

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Preview Location

Location 1

George Duncan memorial

Hello, and welcome to your audio tour of Adelaide’s Queer History. My name is Katina, and I am a local guide who owns walking tour company Flamboyance Tours. While I identify as straight, I have connections in Adelaide’s queer community and have had tours run in Feast Festival... Hello, and welcome to your audio tour of Adelaide’s Queer History. My name is Katina, and I am a local guide who owns walking tour company Flamboyance Tours. While I identify as straight, I have connections in Adelaide’s queer community and have had tours run in Feast Festival, which is the city’s major queer event. This tour takes approximately an hour and will finish close to the ever-popular Adelaide Central Market and Chinatown - great foodie spots!

You're about to discover some true quirks - as well as tragedies - that have come to shape Adelaide’s queer community. You’ll also be taking most of the Adelaide Pride March route in the last section of this walk.

We start at this peaceful place along Adelaide’s major river, the River Torrens, where you can stay for a minute. But there’s a dark undercurrent as you’ve probably noticed with the black sign you see among the flowers. Adelaide's queer history is synonymous with one story - that of Doctor George Duncan, and his untimely death in this area.

The sign you see here was installed in July 2020 on what would’ve been his 90th birthday. Since 2002 there’s been a plaque in the shape of an inverted triangle that’s just to your right on the other side of that gravel track there. Feel free to have a look at that and then wander onto the University Bridge as I tell his story. The left side of the bridge is the area this story is based around.

George spent his life between Melbourne and London before accepting a job as a law lecturer in 1972 at the University of Adelaide across the road. He was gay and knew of the city’s beats within a short time – places where gay men could meet at night for a rendezvous. It was a dangerous undertaking every time, as homosexuality was illegal across Australia then, and a South Australian police task force called the Vice Squad was dedicated to stamping out any gay activity.

On May 10 1972, George and another man named Roger James were approached and then assaulted by a gang along the river between here and the Adelaide Bridge, as the south bank of the River Torrens was a popular meeting spot. The Number 1 Beat as it was known. Both men were eventually thrown in the river. Roger suffered a broken ankle but managed to swim to safety. George wasn’t so fortunate. He didn’t know how to swim and drowned aged 41.

A grim fact would follow. Just after George’s body was discovered by police in the river and pulled out, a TV news crew shows up. It’s now understood that they persuaded the police to put George’s body back in the water so they could film footage of him being retrieved. For a peaceful place, there have been some shocking events.

Before we get going, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works.

It uses your location to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. This means that you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent at times, when I'm not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know.

Now, I’m going to finish George’s story as you walk through a small part of the university. With your back to the river, head across the street, and walk right until you see the Gate 10 sign. I'll let you know when you reach it.

George had only been in Adelaide for about six weeks. Though he was yet to entrench himself in its community, his death brought shock to the city. His death would provide the push needed for social change. Within three months, South Australia’s Legislative Council introduced what they call a private member’s bill to decriminalise male homosexual acts. It passed, but then fell flat when ridiculous amendments changed the purpose of the law.

Immediately after George’s death, rumours flew about the Vice Squad being involved. South Australia's Premier Don Dunstan offered protection for anyone who came forward with information, but no-one did. Three Vice Squad members were soon at the centre of the coronial inquest, where two refused to answer questions and a third was also under watch. All three were suspended and later resigned. And no-one was charged with George’s death. Read More

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Major Landmarks

George Duncan Memorial
Art Gallery of South Australia
Mary's Poppin
Hindley Street
Pride Walk
Light Square
Push Pin Boutique Vintage

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Kaurna Learning Circle, Victoria Dr, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Total distance

4km
Final location
Gouger St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Distance back to start location

2km

Directions to Starting Point

Your starting point is the George Duncan memorial along Victoria Drive, which is behind the University of Adelaide.

Begin by opening the tour on the Voicemap app, press start and then click "Get Directions". This will open your phone's preferred map system with directions to the memorial. On public transport, the closest option is the Botanic Gardens tram line, where you get off at University stop. From there you can walk down Kintore Avenue and turn right into Victoria Drive, or cut through any of the entry points into the university, and you'll likely come out on the other side right near it.

Look out for a black information sign within a flower bed close to a gravel path leading down to the River Torrens, right by the University Bridge. That's part of the memorial and where we'll start.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The Migration Museum, Centre of Democracy and Art Gallery of South Australia are mentioned as we walk through the North Terrace Cultural Precinct, and are all worth a visit in their own right. The Adelaide Pride Walk feature is also pause-worthy with facts dotted across the pavement.

Best time of day

Any time during the day is suitable for this tour, but please remember to dress appropriate to the forecast weather conditions.

Precautions

Sunscreen and water are important to bring with you, particularly in the hot summer months. Please also note that there are stairs and a slight uphill walk in the first section of the tour, but from then it's mostly very flat.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”