Torrens Island Quarantine Station Tours
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Sun 29 Mar 2015 - Sun 28 Jun 2015
The
Torrens Island Quarantine Station was built in 1879 to prevent diseases like
smallpox and
typhoid from coming in to Adelaide. It was the front line of South Australia's disease defence.
The site was a mini-suburb - fully self-sufficient as you would expect a quarantine station to be. They had their own water and power supply and had their own sewerage waste system.
Fellow WeekendNotes writer, Dave Walsh, has written an excellent article on the history of the Quarantine Station - you can read it
here .
In 1979, the World Health Assembly declared that smallpox had been eradicated and, with more people travelling by plane rather than by boat, the quarantine station was closed.
It sat in abandoned silence for many years. The buildings started to decay and deteriorate. Grass grows from the gutters, doors and windows hang open and paintwork is cracked and peeling.
The island is now home to a power station, but relics of Adelaide's immigration past still exist.
Many of the buildings are now heritage listed and several times a year the whole site is open for tours. I would highly recommend a visit.
Tours last for approximately 2 hours and it's plenty of time to wander, read, explore and photograph. It's not often that you can see a place full of history - and it's as though the last person who left simply turned off the lights and closed the door. It's a fascinating place and well worth seeing.
Torrens Island Quarantine Station is only accessible via authorised tours, bookings are essential and tours fill very quickly, so don't hesitate to book your place.
When:
Sunday 29th March (only 12.45pm and 2,15pm are available)
Sunday 19th April
Sunday 17th May and 24th* May
Sunday 28th June
Times:
10am, 11.15am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm.
Please note extra tours on Sunday 24th May - 9.30am, 10.45am, 12.45pm and 2.15pm
What to bring/wear:
It's a walking tour, so wear comfortable walking shoes - you will be walking on gravel paths and in grassy areas.
How much:
$25 per person (no concessions available)
Bookings:
Contact the
SA Maritime Museum on 8207 6255 or email
[email protected]
Torrens Island Quarantine Station is located approximately 20kms from Adelaide and 7kms from the heart of Port Adelaide.
All tours leave from the
Maritime Museum in Lipson Street. There is plenty of free car parking available in and around the Port.
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!date 29/03/2015 -- 28/06/2015
%wnadelaide
102609 - 2023-06-12 10:12:56