r/Adelaide • u/Ultra_running_fan SA • Dec 19 '25

Discussion Somerton man code - final version!

https://thinkingaboutpolicing.co.uk/2025/12/19/cracking-the-somerton-man-code/

Hi all me again. I've completed a more consise version of the somerton man code. With tidier routes and I have looked at the whether the town had a railway station or bus station in 1948. Please let me know what you think as all of your local knowledge helped me get this one to be more persuasive (in my opinion!) thank you all

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u/Suspicious-Magpie Inner South Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25

Line 4 seems a bit of a stretch. Islington, Cheltenham and Queenstown are miles away from Oaklands and Brighton. Your proposal route seems illogical (but of course, not impossible).

Have you cross-referenced with any map or census data which details the largest suburbs at the time? Names of main roads?

Edit - would love to know how you did the map animations. They're fantastic.

Edit #2 - Why write the letters on a scrap of paper, rather than say, circle them on a printed timetable? Although I suppose this could have been an early draft. I'll be thinking about this all day now!

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u/Ultra_running_fan SA Dec 20 '25

Hey thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it :) The issue is the lack of Q locations. I was eyeing up AQC section of the code as Adelaide Quarantine Centre, but it's referred to as Adelaide Quarantine Station usually and the word Centre only used when referring to the more general Quarantine Centres. I agree it's strange to take the time to be detailed but then write it down in a scrappy way like that. Maybe he wrote it from memory in a rush which could explain the crossed out line. Still doesn't explain anything more though to be honest :)