Utility poles in Australia
Stobie poles and painted poles
A Stobie pole, two steel beams with concrete between them, is found almost only around Adelaide.
- Stobie poles: two steel I-beams with concrete poured between them (South Australia).
- Many Stobie poles are painted with artwork.
- Elsewhere, tall wooden poles with crossarms.
15 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Stobie pole 6
Key clue Painted Stobie pole 5
Key clue Wooden crossarm 4
Australia: what its poles look like
Australia has one of the most unusual poles in the world: the Stobie pole, made of two steel I-beams with concrete poured between them. It is found almost only in South Australia, especially around Adelaide.
Many Stobie poles are painted with artwork by local artists. Elsewhere in Australia you mostly see tall wooden poles with crossarms.
Stobie poles are everywhere in Adelaide and across South Australia. Other states mainly use wooden poles, often carrying street lights on long arms.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Australia vs 
New Zealand
New Zealand uses concrete or wooden poles with several stacked crossarms, but no Stobie poles. Both drive on the left, so a Stobie pole is the clearest clue for Australia.
Questions about poles in Australia
What is a Stobie pole?
A utility pole made of two steel beams with concrete between them, invented in Adelaide. It is found almost only in South Australia.
Why are Stobie poles painted?
Many councils in South Australia invite artists to paint the poles, turning them into street art.