Eric B.
Google
Adelaide Railway Station — Platform 5, Western End (Final Bench)
I did not set out to review this bench. I merely found myself in its company for a period of time, and it seemed discourteous to leave without acknowledging what had occurred between us.
The bench is blue. This is not an expressive blue, nor is it trying to be. It is the sort of blue that has accepted its role and will not be improving upon it. The surface is perforated with a number of holes which, taken together, suggest an interest in airflow rather than comfort. One sits on the bench rather than into it, which feels deliberate.
There is nothing about the bench that asks anything of you. It does not encourage reflection, nor does it actively discourage it. Instead, it provides a neutral platform upon which time may pass in a very orderly fashion. I observed that trains continued to arrive and depart entirely regardless of my presence, which I found reassuring.
At one point I became aware of my own posture and adjusted it slightly, though I cannot say this resulted in any meaningful improvement. The bench remained consistent throughout, which I respected.
When it was time to leave, the bench did not object.
I would not seek it out again, but I am quietly glad it exists.