Torrens Building Torrens Building The Torrens Building, named after Sir Robert Richard Torrens, is a State Heritage listed building on the corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street in Adelaide, South Australia. Originally known as the Government Offices, the Torrens Building has been home to a number of government departments for most of its existence. Since 2005, it been the site of the University City Adelaide precinct, housing campuses of Carnegie Mellon University, Cranfield University, University College London and Torrens University. The building created some controversy in 1880 when it was reported that the Government of South Australia was going to import
River Torrens jammed, and in trying to free them the weir's designer John Langdon was crippled. The weir was rebuilt from 1928 to 1929 with its footbridge relocated and the centre section replaced. The gates can now be fully raised and the river allowed to flow unimpeded. The "Popeye" boats are privately owned recreational ferries that operate on the lake between Elder Park and the Adelaide Zoo. The first boat was launched on the Torrens Lake by Gordon Watts in 1935. It was a boat, built on the banks of the Torrens to hold up to 20 passengers and named "Popeye 1".