Rundle Street, Adelaide

Rundle Street is a street in the East End of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs from Pulteney Street in the west to East Terrace, where it becomes Rundle Road. (A separate Rundle Street continues from Rundle Road through Kent Town.) [cite book|title=2003 Adelaide Street Directory, 41st Edition |publisher=UBD (A Division of Universal Press Pty Ltd) |year=2003 |isbn=0-7319-1441-4] Its former western extent, which ran to King William Street, was closed in 1972 to form the pedestrian street of Rundle Mall. The street is in proximity to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Rymill Park, Hindmarsh Square and North Terrace.

The street was named after John Rundle, a director of the South Australia Company and member of the House of Commons, by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837. [cite web | accessmonthday =6 January | accessyear =2006 | url =http://www.adelaide.sa.gov.au/archives/pdf/RundleMall.pdf | title = Rundle Mall | format=PDF | publisher =Adelaide City Council ] It was installed with the first electric street lighting in South Australia in 1895 at the former intersection of Rundle, King William and Hindley streets.

The street contains numerous cafés (like Cibo Espresso), restaurants, shops, cinemas, clubs and hotels. It is one of Adelaide's most popular streets for cafés and fashion. Most of the street has a heritage façade, but has been redeveloped for modern use, with some buildings converted to residences, such as the East End Markets.

The street is two-lane with parking on both sides plus bicycle lanes. A tramline ran through the street in the early 20th century. Each Sunday, Rundle Street between Frome Street to East Terrace is closed for the Rundle Street Market. [cite web | accessmonthday =15 May | accessyear =2007 | url =http://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/scripts/nc.dll?ADCCBRAND:STANDARD::pc=PC_184 | title = Rundle Street Markets | publisher =Adelaide City Council ]

In late 2006, the Adelaide City Council proposed to transform Rundle Street's western approach, the Pulteney Street-Rundle Mall junction, into a Piccadilly Circus or Times Square-type meeting place at a cost of around AU$1.5 million.Vlach, Anna. "Adelaide's Times Square", "The Advertiser", 13 November 2006.] The proposal, based on ideas expressed in mid-2005 for neon billboards and video screens, [Drayse, Rebecca. "Our Times Square", "The City Messenger", 13 July 2005.] included an initial nine design concepts which were narrowed to two for consideration by the Council in early 2007. [Leo, Jessica. "Decision on Adelaide's Times Square", "The Advertiser", 16 April 2007.] A minimal design called the "Rundle Lantern" – a 924 panel LED lighting display wrapping around the façade of the U-Park building – was eventually selected, with the Council deciding video screens were inappropriate for the location. [Leo, Jessica. "Council votes for scaled 'Times Square'", "The Advertiser", 16 April 2007.]

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