From Port Misery to Post-Misery? Spectro-geographies and the Exorcism of ‘Ghosts’ in Port Adelaide, South Australia

Port Adelaide was founded in 1837 as the Crown Colony of South Australia's first port, but the new port was quickly plagued with numerous challenges, earning it the colloquial title of ‘Port Misery’ in 1840. While its fortunes waxed and waned over the decades, the port fell out of use in 1970 and quickly plunged into disarray, characterised by abandoned shopfronts, derelict buildings and social malaise, subsequently resurrecting its ‘Port Misery’ epithet. To reverse its misfortune, a series of state-led and public-private regeneration projects were initiated from the 1980s, however, each ultimately ended in failure. Despite this, another ambitious 15-year renewal plan was launched in 2012 where the spectre of decline is interred by redevelopment visions inspiriting the Port’s maritime history and heritage. Our study explores the utilisation of self-guided ghost walks to examine how ‘spectro-geographies’ are used as a vehicle to not only reconcile the problematic colonial histories of Port Adelaide but also support its urban regeneration goals. While Port Adelaide may be haunted by its dark colonial history and repeated failings to regenerate, paradoxically, the government-sanctioned ghost tour narratives, may in fact exorcise its past as ‘Port Misery’ and positively inform goals to develop the Port as a progressive and innovative ‘Post-Misery’ place.