Moseley Square, Glenelg facts for kids
Moseley Square is a busy public space in Glenelg, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It's like a town center where people gather. The square is part of the City of Holdfast Bay and is located right between Jetty Road and Glenelg Beach.
The square was named after Henry J. Moseley. He was the person who built and first managed the Pier Hotel, Glenelg, a famous hotel in the area.
Today, Moseley Square is home to several important buildings and attractions. You can find the Glenelg Town Hall, the Glenelg Jetty, and the Stamford Grand Hotel here. It's also a popular spot for fast-food restaurants.
Moseley Square is the final stop for the Glenelg tram line, which connects Glenelg to Adelaide. For many years, this was the only tram line in Adelaide! The square also hosts big events like the Glenelg Jazz Festival and the City to Bay Fun Run.
Centenary Monument: A Historic Landmark
In Moseley Square, you'll find a tall monument called the Centenary Monument. It's an obelisk, which is a tall, narrow, four-sided pillar that tapers to a pyramid top. This monument was put up to remember the British settlers who arrived in South Australia 100 years earlier. It was officially revealed on December 28, 1936.
The monument is about 11 meters (36 feet) tall. It's made from South Australian marble and sits on a base of granite from Victor Harbor. At the very top, there's a 2.4-meter (8-foot) bronze model of the ship HMS Buffalo. This was the ship that brought the first governor to South Australia.
Around the top of the monument, you can see carved round pictures. These pictures show important people like Governor Hindmarsh, Robert Gouger, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and George Fife Angas. These were key figures in the early days of the colony.
On the east and west sides of the monument, there are carvings that show the founding and official declaration of the colony. These carvings were based on drawings by artist Ivor Hele. Bronze plaques on the north and south sides honor other important explorers and settlers. One plaque includes a Latin phrase: "Si monumentum requiris circumspice." This means, "For [their] monument, look around." It suggests that the success of South Australia is their lasting memorial.
International Tattoo Event in 1995
Moseley Square was once the exciting location for a big event called the "Sensational Adelaide International Tattoo." This event took place from November 23 to December 3, 1995. It was held at sunset, making the Centenary Monument a dramatic background. About 3,000 people watched the show from grandstands set up on three sides of the square.
This event was inspired by the famous Edinburgh Tattoo in Scotland. It featured performances by military bands from around the world. Bands from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Australian Navy, and the South Australian Police Force all performed. There were also flag wavers from Italy and a special music piece called "Celtic Dreaming." This piece used traditional instruments like the didgeridoo, bodhrán (an Irish drum), and bagpipes. A video of the best parts of these concerts was later sold by the ABC.
Moseley Square has been updated and improved several times during the 2000s, making it an even better place for people to visit and enjoy.
