From its commencement in 1960, local artists saw the Adelaide Festival as an opportunity to showcase their own work, but it was not until 1974 that these 'fringe' events were presented in their own program.

The first independently organised Fringe, known as Focus, was in 1976. Frank Ford chaired the steering commitee. The name Fringe returned in 1982, the same year the festival held the first of its legendary opening night parties.

In 1988 the Fringe opened itself to international acts for the first time, helping it take its place as one of the world's biggest arts festivals.

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