Bart, Ela and Dani
A once in a lifetime job opportunity brought Bart and his wife Ela to Adelaide but it’s the richness of unique experiences and unparalleled ease that have the Perth natives looking to cement themselves in the city long-term.
Bart is currently playing a driving role rolling out Ten Gigabit Adelaide, a revolutionary fibre-optic network. As an Australian-first, Bart sees this as a huge success story for both himself and the city. Ela runs a Social Media Consulting business and has seen her business thrive since setting roots in Adelaide.
“The entrepreneurial community here is amazing and there is a real energy of wanting to see others succeed. I have joined a few women’s business groups where we frequently meet for lunch and coffee to discuss ideas,” said Ela.
Living in a townhouse in the city’s picturesque South East, the Park Lands have quickly become a place where Bart and Ela embrace some R&R. Just minutes from the CBD, Bart regularly does the rounds at North Adelaide Golf Course where he’s treated to 54 holes with the city skyline and old majestic trees as the backdrop.
For a family affair, the couple and their Am-Staff puppy Dani venture over to the dog park in Pelzer Park / Pityarilla where they meet up with other furfamilies.
“All the dog owners are super lovely and enjoy chatting about their respective fur babies. That type of friendliness seems to be a common trait in South Australia.” Said Ela.
The couple were quick to discover Adelaidians’ love of having a chin wag stretched far and wide. Bart and Ela quickly forged friendships with their neighbours, providing a sense of safety when the couple are travelling interstate, a hand bringing in the forgotten bin and of course, a cuppa and a chat.
Bart and Ela see Adelaide as the perfect melting pot of larger capital cities, but with the major bonus of all the action at their fingertips.
“The city’s nightlife and food culture have a very Melbourne feel to it but Adelaide also has the suburban comfort and sense of community of Perth” said Bart.
The prime location of their home and lack of traffic in comparison to other cities leave them more time to explore and embrace the things they love. The East End’s eclectic being their social stomping ground of choice.
“The locality of work and home is unbeatable. After work, we wander over to Rundle Street for dinner and a drink at one of the many amazing restaurants and bars,” said Bart.
It’s also Ela’s shopping destination of choice, with a penchant for designer boutiques such as Zimmermann and Aje which line the Street.
Adelaide’s globally renowned festival program fits seamlessly into the couple’s social calendar bringing the culture, sights and sounds of the world right to their doorstep.
Bart said, “the majority of events are only a stone’s throw away from our place so we get involved in as much as possible! Our top picks are Adelaide Fringe, WOMADelaide and Adelaide Film Festival”.
Adelaide has proven to be a fantastic gateway to adventures within the State and beyond.
“We can get to South Australia’s incredible wine regions within an hour whereas that kind of experience was 3.5 hours away in Perth,” said Bart.
A cheeky weekend to the eastern seaboard has also become exponentially easier. With the airport only 15 minutes from the city centre, Bart and Ela are much more partial to a quick dash to Melbourne and Sydney now that it comes without Perth’s 2.5 hour time different and the 3 hour flight!