To all non-Adelaideans, forgive my seemingly war-like brother's for their defensive stance for they are merely loyal South Australians with good
intentions.
South Australia was unique in Australia, being the only non convict settlement in the entire continent.
That is not to say that it was a safe place to live. It was a European style society with all the accompanying elements.
Pirates are reported to have operated from Kangaroo Island attacking incoming shipping and by the early 1900's Adelaide possessed it's own warship
(The Protector) for local waters and the coastline was protected by Forts With large cannons always pointing seaward.
When ships docked after 6 month voyages around the horn (Africa) from Europe entire crews would jump ship at Port Adelaide and press gangs worked
collecting new crews by force.
When the burnt-out Clubhouse Hotel in Port Adelaide was being rebuilt in the 1970s, one of the remaining walls had an old fireplace that had been
sealed. Thinking it may be reusable they opened it only to find stone steps leading down to a number of tiny stone cells with iron bars. From the
cells an underground tunnel led under a road and emerged in the side of a wharf. unruly patrons were drugged with a 'Mickey Finn' (a local term for
a spiked drink) taken to the cells, and held for the press gangs to transfer via longboat to a waiting ship anchored at Outer Harbour.
The poor drinker would wake up at sea and given the choice to swim or work.
Port Adelaide Exists on two levels;
1.The original settlement.
2.The settlement post Jervois Bridge construction.
1. The first settled area had wharves and jettys
2. When planning for the construction of The Jervois Bridge to connect both sides of The Port River to the coast Town planners raised the height of St
Vincent Street to accommodate the bridge's entrance ramp. This placed some of the main shops below the level of the street and as the road became
macadamised and bitumised, the surface rose even higher in some places obscuring shop-fronts from the sun. Eventually buildings were extended upwards
and first floor were connected directly to the roadside.
Since none of the original levels had electricity they were abondoned and often forgotten.
The point is Adelaide has many tunnels that are still being un-earthed. At the present tours are conducted through some of the better known tunnels by
the historical society.see link.
www.about-australia.com... 
