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The Semaphore Time Ball Tower was in use 1875-1932 and is the only such tower in the State. It is significant for its uniqueness and for being a relic of the era before wireless telegraphy, when the accuracy of vessels’ chronometers was checked by ‘rating’ them against time balls in major ports.

The Semaphore Time Ball was dropped at a specific time each day by an electric impulse transmitted by landline from the Adelaide Observatory. There were once at least two other time ball structures in South Australia, in Port Pirie and Port Adelaide, but both were mounted on existing buildings.

Most days you can still see the Time Ball drop at 1pm – but the tower is an old girl now, so please be kind if she forgets now and then.

The National Railway Museum operates a 2km long 457 mm gauge railway from Semaphore to Fort Glanville which departs from the foot of the jetty at the end of the popular Semaphore Road café strip, and parallels the Esplanade and the sand dunes of one of Adelaide’s most popular swimming beaches, before passing through the dunes near historic Fort Glanville at Point Malcolm.

The railway operates:

• Every Sunday and Public Holiday from end of September to end of April (inclusive)
• Daily during the September & April school holidays EXCEPT Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Daily from and including 26 December to the end of the January school holidays

Steam trains will depart between 11am and 4pm, roughly every hour or at frequencies varied according to demand.

Prices for this unique scenic and relaxing train ride are as follows:

(prices correct at August 2025)

Adult 12
Child $5 (3 years to 15 years)
Family $29 (2 Adults with 2 Children)

Please note:
Tickets for the Semaphore and Fort Glanville Tourist Railway do not include admission to the Museum (and vice versa) and are sold exclusively from the train.

The Semaphore and Fort Glanville Tourist Railway does not operate if the forecast temperature for Adelaide is 33 degrees or higher on the morning of operation.

The Semaphore War Memorial Clock Tower is a beautiful granite tower topped by an Angel representing Peace, carved from Italian marble.

‘The Semaphore Angel’, as she is known, was unveiled in 1925. The granite tower replaced a temporary wood and iron arch over the entrance to the Jetty, which served as a Roll of Honour.

Bearing no names, but just the simple inscription, “In Memory of All Who Fell in the Great War, 1914-1918”. The Semaphore Soldiers’ Memorial stands at the shore end of the jetty.

The four-dialled clock with faces 4 ft (1.21m) in diameter is unusual in that instead of the Roman numerals, each hour is marked by the numeral ‘1’. This gives the dial greater symmetry and a better background, and at night, the face of the clock can be seen at a greater distance.

South Australian artist Deb Sleeman, who created the Semaphore Middern, says midderns can be found along the South Australian coastline where Aboriginal people have lived in communities. There are approximately 30 to be found in South Australia.

The Semaphore Middern is located at the western (beach) end of Semaphore Road near the Time Ball on the corner of Semaphore Road and the Esplanade.

The Semaphore Middern sculpture uses four layers to express the cultural impact of people on the environment. The sculpture took 18 months to create. The size and complexity of the bronze section was a challenge for Deb to create.

The Layers:

• The surrounds represent the earth as it was. This includes the plants and the soil nearby.
• The granite rock was sourced from Black Hill quarry and it was a discard. Also important to Deb that the rock was re-cycled!
• Fishing nets, cultural artefacts, seeds and bones represent aspects of cultural communities.
• Symbols of the growth of Semaphore as a vibrant sea-side community!

Stop a few moments to look at the fascinating layers of the Middern and share Deb’s thoughts!