Colonel's Light Vision Statue, Adelaide

The Colonel Light Vision Statue in Adelaide commemorates Colonel William Light (1786–1839), a distinguished soldier, sailor, linguist, musician, and painter who played a pivotal role as the first surveyor-general of Adelaide. Colonel Light is widely celebrated for his innovative design of the city's grid-like layout, surrounded by parklands, a plan famously known as "Light's Vision." This visionary urban design was remarkably ahead of its time and remains a defining feature of Adelaide.

The bronze statue of Colonel Light, sculpted by Scottish artist William Birnie Rhind, depicts him in the uniform of the British Royal Engineers, though recreating the 1830s uniform caused delays. The statue stands on a pedestal made of grey and Murray Bridge red granite. The front inscription highlights Light's role in planning Adelaide, while the back features a wreath from the 1917 Australian town planning conference and an excerpt from Light's journal, ironically thanking his critics for the responsibility of choosing the city's location.

Initially installed in Victoria Square in 1906, the statue was later relocated in 1938 to Montefiore Hill, coinciding with the centenary of Light's death. For many years, the statue of Colonel Light stood with his right arm extended, pointing towards the city below, with a map in his left hand. According to local legend, this gesture mimics the moment in 1837 when Light stood on Montefiore Hill, declaring, "This is the place for a city."