Free Showers in Adelaide Updated 30 September 2023 This guide is never fully accurate so it is best to phone each service provider.
Finding a clean shower is extremely difficult and it is a scandal that most highly-funded homeless welfare services don't have them or like the rich Hutt Street Centre installed eight-minute timers on the hot water. Criminals have infiltrated Welfare.
Most educational institutions have showers, but access can be tricky. Most shower services specific to homeless people offer towels, soap, shampoo and razors.
Tea Tree Gully Salvation Army 138 Reservoir Road, Modbury. Ph (08) 8360 6444. Very clean shower. Mon – Fri 8:30am – 3:00pm. Exceptions 9am – 11:30am Thursdays during school terms and 1st Wednesday of every month 9am – 2:30pm. Howells and toiletries supplied if needed. Very slow free washing machine and drier available from same times. No I.D. or registration required.
Salvation Army, Adelaide 277 Pirie Street, Adelaide. Showers behind cafe, but they won’t let anyone use them.
Prospect Library Prospect Road, Prospect. Free parking under building. Entrance from Vine Street. Catch elevator up to disability toilet that includes shower. Not sure how staff will react.
Bunnings Hardware Bunnings have showers in the disability toilets in some stores. A homeless man suggested using old towels then dumping them after shower so you're less conspicuous while leaving.
Baptist Church Christies Beach Shower, soap, towel, washing machine, drier, free coffee. Baptist Church, 8 Fowey Street, Christies Beach. Mon, Tues, Fri 9:00am to 12:00pm. They prefer an appointment made on (08) 7200 2501. They don’t understand homelessness.
One Voice shower truck Truck managed by Puddle Jumpers much improved, but its appearance is haphazard. Don't believe the schedule below, but phone first or go there expecting nothing. Tuesdays: St Andrew's Church-at-the-Sea 11:30am - to 2:00pm. Other times it’s at their Food Hub Mission Building on the grass in the middle of Port Road on the corner of Anne Street, Hindmarsh. You might phone Puddle Jumpers on 7071 5270, but even the office staff give false information. Soap, towels, shampoo in the truck while socks and underwear are locked in cabinets. No I.D. or registration required. This is an invaluable service.
UCare Gawler 10 Tod Street, Gawler. Showers locked and empty. Wasted resource.
Gawler Visitors’ Centre At Pioneer Park near corner of Lyndoch Rd. and Murray St., Gawler. Phone the Visitors Centre on (08) 8522 9260 for information. Free showers locked and closed until further notice due to vandalism by drug addicts. This leaves only Salvation Army in Gawler for showers.
Salvation Army Gawler 17 Edith St., Gawler East. Phone (08) 8523 4844. Free cereal and coffee breakfast Mon - Fri 9am. No toast. Toast is bad. Nice dining room with view of river. Free showers, washing machine, driers Mon – Fri 9:00am to 2:00pm, but showers on Tues and Wed only up to 10:00am. Staff previously enquired if clients had dirty extremities or a sexual disease. No I.D. required for above services, but they will want a Centrelink card for vouchers to supermarkets. Haircuts at Christmas.
Hutt Street Centre 258 Hutt Street, Adelaide (near South Terrace). Ph 8418 2500. See the Monday entry for the Hutt Street Centre for shower information. Use requires intake interview making this big-money outfit irrelevant for most homeless people. Eight-minute timers on hot water.
Salvation Army Kadina Corner of Drain and Port Roads, New Town (Kadina). Free laundry and showers. Seven days a week. 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Baptist WestCare Adelaide Millers Court (off 212 Wright Street near Whitmore Square), Adelaide Monday to Friday. 9:00am to 1:00pm. Sundays 10:30am to 12:00pm. Closed on Saturdays. Towels, razors and soap included.
Salvation Army Ingle Farm Corner of Bridge and Maxwell Roads, Ingle Farm. Ph 8397 9333. Free large shower room with bench, hand rails, large mirror, toilet, hand basin, but no hooks to place your clothing. Large shower curtain. You simply ask at reception to use shower. No humiliation or signing up process.
Adelaide Airport Free showers on upper and lower levels. Best to pretend you’re waiting for a flight.
Port Adelaide T.A.F.E. Nile Street, Port Adelaide. In the disability toilets on the ground floor at the Birkenhead Bridge end of the building. Carry a T.A.F.E. leaflet as you search for them.
Adelaide T.A.F.E. Cnr Currie and Morphett Streets, Adelaide. There were showers in the men’s toilets near the library.
Nunkuwarrin Yunti health clinic 182-190 Wakefield Street, Adelaide. Ph (08) 8406 1600. Check corner of ceiling to ensure no camera hidden in cracks. Also, 28 Brady Street, Elizabeth Downs, S.A. ph (08) 8254 5300 Primarily for patients.
Service to Youth Council Phone 8405 8540. 46 Carrington Street, Adelaide. Showers for those aged from about 18 to 27. Not sure whether you have to register for the Eternal Shame File.