Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Vintage Port Adelaide

Vintage Inspiration from an Adventure Day to Historic Port Adelaide

On the weekend, our Joey Scouts (6-8yo) had a transport-themed adventure day. We went on a bus, then a tram, then a train, then a boat. Then we went to the Aviation Museum to look at planes, and finally took two more trains back. I don’t know about the kids, but by the time we got home, I was exhausted!

Vintage Port Adelaide color scheme by Clever Chameleon

The major destinations of our day were located in historic Port Adelaide, one of the oldest parts of our city. Since the Island Batik Ambasador challenge for April is Vintage Inspired quilts, and Port Adelaide is dripping with history, I was on high alert for some vintage inspiration!

Vintage Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide has undergone some serious renovations since I was there last. Many of the preserved buildings and other architecture in the area date from the second half of the 1800s. I know that is not particularly old by most history standards, but it is quite old for artefacts of European settlement in South Australia.

I would have liked to spend more time observing the commercial district of Port Adelaide as we passed through. But most of my attention had to be devoted to preventing young boys from doing silly things, and I didn’t get a chance to take a lot of photos. I also only had my phone with me as a camera. But I did get a few passable snaps to show you a taste of the Port.

Port Adelaide Information Centre
Port Adelaide Information Centre

The Port Adelaide Information Centre building dates from 1860 and originally housed the Customs, Courts, Police Station and Jail Cells 

There are lots of old stately stone buildings, including numerous hotels. The massive building shown below was the fourth Port Adelaide Customs building. It was built in 1879 and was still used by customs until the 1980s.

Port Adelaide Customs building
Port Adelaide Customs building

The Port Adelaide precinct also boasts a lighthouse that first went into operation in 1869. Of course the lighthouse is now purely a tourist trap. It was once situated at the mouth of the Port River.

Port Adelaide historic lighthouse
Port Adelaide historic lighthouse

Back to the Quilt Inspiration…..

There were a lot of grand structures in Port Adelaide, but the objects that took home my prize as the best quilt inspiration of the day were the supports holding up the railway bridge at Port Adelaide Station.

Port Adelaide train bridge supports

I am not sure of the provenance of the decorations on these pillars. They look much older than the bridge that they are now underneath, so I am guessing they are either reproduction or repurposed from a prior structure. I couldn’t find any useful info online. 

Regardless, wouldn’t the decorations at the top of these pillars make a marvellous border treatment for a vintage-style quilt?! I could appliqué or quilt modified versions of this pattern…… or even both!

Port Adelaide frieze

brown Clever Chameleon logo

Do you see quilt inspiration in the brick, plaster and woodwork around you? I know a few of you do. I think lots of quilters are drawn to geometric patterns in everyday life. And a few of you even blog about them too. I know my friend Joy at Days Filled with Joy does.

I’ll be back very soon with more vintage-quilt-related thoughts for my April Island Batik challenge.


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4 Replies to “Colour Inspiration Tuesday: Vintage Port Adelaide”

  1. That design would be absolutely stunning on a wide border of a quilt. Thanks for sharing.

  2. What a great day out. I remember when I was a child,my Mum and I would walk 1.5 miles on a metal road, get a bus, about 30 minutes ride, then a train to Auckland, then the tram. The trams are all gone now, trains are faster, and the metal road is all sealed. Lovely patterns you found.

  3. Oh, that would make a wonderful applique and/or quilting pattern!! I’ve been known to photograph floors!!

  4. The second half of the 1800s is pretty old for Canada too! I love how you’re finding all kinds of ways to use your new-found love of appliqué. And yes! That would make a lovely border treatment. My town, Kingsville, is quite old, situated on the north shore of Lake Erie, where the battle of 1812 was fought. Windsor, and Detroit, across the river from Windsor, along with Kville, all have beautiful architecture, inspiration for quilts all the time! I have my quilt idea in my head still, need to finish up the current one for the deadline tomorrow, mail it, and then move on!

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