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If you’re intrigued by murder, macabre tales, and the mysteries of history, “Bob the Murder Man” from Historical Adelaide Tours is the researcher and guide for you.
On Saturday 24 January, WEA Adult Learning will host a guided walking tour led by Bob, a passionate researcher with a deep interest in Adelaide’s darker past. The two-hour experience explores murders and unusual deaths that have taken place in the south-eastern corner of the city, offering a revealing look at crime, punishment and society through the ages.
Beginning at Light Square at 10am, the tour crosses the Morphett Street Bridge, follows the banks of the River Torrens and concludes at Hindmarsh Square. Along the way, participants will hear about a series of chilling cases tied to these locations, including the deaths of George Duncan, John Neill, Constable John Holman and Elva Stewart.
For Bob, this work goes far beyond a standard tour. What began as a personal interest has grown into a deeply researched project driven by curiosity and respect for history. As the founder of Historical Adelaide Tours, Bob has spent years uncovering the stories hidden within Adelaide’s streets, drawing from historic coronial records and archived files held at State Records. To access these materials, all cases must be at least 50 years old, a requirement that ensures historical distance while preserving factual accuracy.
Bob’s fascination with Adelaide’s darker history was sparked during History Month events, where he volunteered at the Old Adelaide Gaol. Over four years as a volunteer guide, he developed a detailed understanding of the people who passed through its gates, from prisoners to warders, and the social conditions that shaped their lives. The deeper he delved into the records, the more captivated he became by the stories of murder, suicide and unusual death that punctuate South Australia’s past.
While the subject matter can be confronting, Bob’s tours are not designed to sensationalise tragedy. Each case is carefully placed within its broader historical context, examining how social expectations, legal standards and community attitudes have shifted from the early 1900s through to the early 2000s. As Bob walks you through the city, he explores how crime was understood at the time, how justice was delivered, and how those perspectives compare with modern views.
Some of the cases discussed remain unsolved, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the experience. Others reveal the harsh realities of life in earlier eras, from frontier conditions to the pressures of growing urban centres, and the ways in which justice was publicly carried out and remembered.
Designed for a more mature audience, the tour is best suited to those with, as Bob puts it, “a genuine interest in either the macabre, murders, or history of Adelaide”. If that sounds like you, this historical walking tour hosted by WEA Adult Learning offers a compelling opportunity to see the city through a very different lens — one shaped by shadow, inquiry and the enduring stories left behind.
What: MURDER WALK – LIGHT TO HINDMARSH SQUARE
When: Saturday 24 January from 10am, and Saturday 14 February from 10am
Where: Departing from Light Square, Adelaide city
Price: $69pp
More info: https://www.wea-sa.com.au/67231A
