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The Adelaide Feel-Good News Lifting Our Mood
In a world of constant updates and endless headlines, these are the Adelaide stories offering a little more light.
A collection of Adelaide’s feel-good stories, celebrating the people, places and moments making our city shine. From community wins and creative highlights to local legends and uplifting news, these are the stories worth knowing, sharing and celebrating.
A New Crime Drama Is Being Filmed in South Australia
South Australia is no stranger to the screen, and there’s another local production to look forward to. Filming is now underway on Rural Crime Unit, a new six-part ABC crime drama starring Rebecca Gibney, Morgana O’Reilly and Philip Lynch. Set in country Australia, the Northern Pictures production will be filmed entirely across the state, including in Adelaide and regional locations, with local talent Erin White directing and Joshua Tyler among the writers. Beyond the on-screen action, the series is expected to inject more than $7.3 million into the state’s economy and create over 460 jobs for South Australians, following the third season of ABC comedy Austin, which was also filmed here. So, keep your eyes peeled. You might just spot the cast and crew bringing the series to life
Netflix’s Trending New Series Was Filmed in SA
If you grew up on the rambunctious tales of Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, this delightful Australian period drama promises to be a lovely little sojourn for your soul. Based on Miles Franklin’s enduring classic, My Brilliant Career follows creative country girl Sybylla as she’s sent from her rural home to her grandmother’s estate for a spot of ‘straightening out’, only to find herself caught between convention, creativity and a rather inconvenient love story. Even more lovely, the new Netflix adaptation was filmed right here in South Australia, with Yallum Park near Penola standing in for her grandmother’s grand estate, Para Para Mansion adding a little Victorian grandeur, and the Southern Barossa providing those sweeping rural landscapes. Add in a heritage steam train and plenty of period dressing, and it’s lovely to see familiar South Australian scenery dressed up for another era.
Adelaide Is Getting A Brand New Coastal Suburb
For more than two decades, one of Adelaide’s prettiest stretches of coastline has sat behind a fence, completely off limits. That’s finally changing. The former Port Stanvac oil refinery site, just 25 minutes south of the CBD, has been given the green light for a major transformation, with developer MAB set to turn it into Adelaide’s newest coastal suburb: South Beach.
Once complete, the 230 hectare site will bring 3,600 new homes, a town centre, an employment hub and, best of all, public beach access to a part of the coast most South Australians have never been able to reach. There’s also a coastal reserve in the plans, along with the final missing link in the 70 kilometre Coast Park trail, finally connecting North Haven all the way to Sellicks Beach.
At least 15% of homes will be set aside as affordable housing, and with the Lonsdale Railway Station right on the doorstep, it’s shaping up as a rare win for coastal living without sacrificing city connection. Construction begins in 2028, with the first residents expected in 2029.
Adelaide Is Officially One Of The World’s Most Liveable Cities
Adelaide has climbed to eighth place in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2026 Global Liveability Index, up from ninth last year and a serious leap from 30th back in 2022. The city scored 96 out of 100, landing ahead of Vancouver and Tokyo on a list of 173 cities worldwide. The index scores stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, and Adelaide’s result reflects steady gains across the board rather than one standout category.
It’s a big year for Australia overall too, with Melbourne taking third and Sydney fourth, meaning three Australian cities cracked the global top ten. Copenhagen held onto the top spot, followed by Vienna.
Adelaide Is About to Get Australia’s First Neighbourhood Just for First Homebuyers
In an Australian first, Adelaide’s northern suburbs are set to become home to a new community where every allotment is reserved for first-home buyers. The 400-home precinct will form part of Playford Alive, one of the nation’s largest urban renewal projects, creating a rare opportunity to step into a brand-new neighbourhood alongside hundreds of other first-home buyers doing exactly the same thing.
Around 30 per cent of allotments will also be released through HomeSeeker SA’s affordable housing program, with eligible buyers able to access land capped at $259,000. It also helps that Playford Alive is already the real thing — a $250 million town centre, schools, a medical centre, wetlands, parklands and a train station, all there from day one. Civil works are underway, with homes expected to be delivered by the end of 2027.
Adelaide Central Market Ranked Among the World’s Top Food Markets
Adelaide’s food scene has scored a global moment, with the Adelaide Central Market officially named one of the world’s top three food markets in a new ranking by travel specialists AllClear.
One of the largest undercover fresh food meccas in the Southern Hemisphere, the CBD market is a constant bustle of flavour and colour — where seasonal produce meets speciality grocers, and bakers, butchers and makers sit shoulder to shoulder under one roof, bringing the city’s food culture to life in real time.
The study analysed thousands of four and five-star reviews from food-loving travellers around the world, with the Adelaide icon landing in third place — behind London’s Borough Market and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, and ahead of global heavyweights including Mercado Central in Spain, Marché Bastille in Paris and Chelsea Market in New York City.
Adelaide Named Australia’s Happiest City
Turns out Adelaide isn’t just liveable, it’s genuinely happy to be here. The 2025 Happy City Index ranked us 28th happiest city in the world and first in Australia, beating out Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. The index measured 82 indicators across citizens, governance, environment, economy, health and mobility, with Adelaide scoring particularly well on environment, landing second globally in that category. As a certified “20-minute city,” Adelaide’s compact layout and low congestion make it easy to get around, and with some of the country’s best beaches and wine regions on the doorstep, the reasons for that happiness aren’t exactly a mystery.
FAQs
Several recent productions have been filmed in South Australia. ABC crime drama Rural Crime Unit, a six-part series starring Rebecca Gibney, Morgana O’Reilly and Philip Lynch, is being filmed entirely in the state and is expected to inject more than $7.3 million into the economy and create over 460 local jobs. The third season of ABC comedy Austin was also filmed here, while Netflix’s new adaptation of Miles Franklin’s classic, [Series Title], used Yallum Park near Penola, Para Para Mansion and the Southern Barossa as filming locations.
Adelaide is known for its food and wine culture, liveability, and creative scene. The city is home to the Adelaide Central Market, one of the largest fresh food markets in the Southern Hemisphere and internationally ranked among the world’s best. It’s also close to major wine regions including the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, has a growing reputation in interior design and hospitality, and consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities. Its compact CBD, arts calendar and beach proximity add to its reputation as a city that punches above its weight.
Yes, Adelaide regularly ranks among the world’s most liveable and happiest cities. It has placed in the top 10 of the Global Liveability Index and been named Australia’s happiest city, with strong scores across healthcare, education, environment and infrastructure. Its “20-minute city” layout means most essentials are within a short commute, and it offers access to beaches, wine regions and a strong food and cultural scene without the congestion or cost of living pressures found in larger Australian cities. These consistent rankings reflect steady, well-rounded strengths rather than one standout feature.
Beyond this column, Sitchu covers Adelaide’s dining, events, culture and lifestyle scene across its Eat & Drink, Lifestyle and Destinations pillars, with dedicated guides to the city’s restaurants, things to do and local suburbs. For the latest openings, awards and community stories, this feel-good column is updated regularly and sits alongside Sitchu’s broader Adelaide coverage, offering a rounded picture of the city beyond just what’s on or where to eat.
Adelaide consistently performs well in global liveability and happiness rankings due to a combination of factors: strong healthcare and education systems, low congestion, a compact “20-minute city” layout, access to beaches and wine regions, and a relatively low cost of living compared to other major Australian cities. Indexes such as the Global Liveability Index and Happy City Index assess categories including stability, environment, infrastructure and governance, and Adelaide tends to score evenly across the board rather than excelling in just one area, which contributes to its consistently strong overall position.
For more Adelaide goodness, check out our food news guide to everything new and upcoming in hospitality, plus our pick of the best new cafes in town.
