South Australian Taylor Swift fans leave for Melbourne as Australian leg of Eras Tour kicks off

The pop sensation may have skipped Adelaide on the Australian leg of her world tour, but South Australian Swifties spent hefty sums to see her perform in Melbourne and Sydney.

Taylor Swift fans have spent thousands to see the Australian leg of her world tour, with one dedicated mother and daughter splashing $5,000 for a show “that will go down in history”.

On Thursday, hundreds of ‘Swifties’ made the early morning pilgrimage to Melbourne via rail and air to see her first two shows on Friday and Saturday.

Paradise high school student Isabella Fischetti, 19, explained why she spent around $900 on the trip.

“I went to her first tour in 2015 and I was captivated from that moment – I’ll probably see her concerts for the rest of my life,” Ms Fischetti said.

“It’s like she’s taken a page out of your diary, she can explain how you feel in any given situation.”

Hundreds of South Australian Taylor Swift fans flocked to the Adelaide Parklands train terminal on Thursday morning. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Isabella Fischetti, 19, (second from right) with friends and parents. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Reserve tickets for the Eras Tour ranged from $65 to $379.

But the most expensive VIP tickets went for a whopping $1249, offering front row seats and exclusive merchandise on arrival.

Two of these top-line tickets went to Fidelma Hopkins, 40, and her daughter Sibeal, 15, a musician who adores Swift because “she’s been doing what she loves since she was a teenager”.

“It was lucky that we even got tickets – the first ones that came in on the queue, we just thought, “Yep, we’d better try because they’ll be sold out like just that’,” Sibeal said.

Dedicated Swifties Sibeal Hopkins, 15, and her mother Fidelma, 40, jetted off to Melbourne on Thursday for the Eras Tour. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Ruby Elmes, 14, Billie Dawson, 11, and Coco Elmes, 14 waiting for their flight to Melbourne. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Taylor Swift fans at Adelaide airport leaving to see her Melbourne concert. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Her mother said the trip costs were “getting towards $5000”.

“(Sibeal) was talking about it so much about the tour before tickets were released, and I realised how much excitement there was,” Ms Hopkins said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever paid that much for a concert ticket and I’ve been to a few of them.

“But I’m glad I did it because it looks like it will be one of those experiences that will go down in history.”

The parents who woke up early to drive their children, and in some cases went along, told The Advertiser they thought Swift was a good role model for young girls.

(L-R) Macey Wilson, Maddie Townsend, Rebecca Townsend and Charlotte Townsend ready to board the Overland train to Melbourne. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Underdale mother-of-two Rebecca Townsend, 49, said her daughters Maddie, 14, and Charlotte, 16, gave her Tay-Tay fever.

“She’s a fantastic role model who is showing girls they can do anything,” Ms Townsend said.

“She has great messages when she’s talking to her fans and she’s someone I’m really happy for them to look up to.”

Swift landed in Melbourne on Thursday morning, with fans braving the cold to see her exiting the plane.

She is performing in 100 countries for the Eras Tour, which has become the first concert tour in history to crack USD$1 billion in gross sales.