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Australia's summer heatwave has set new records as temperatures of 120F (49.5C) were recorded in the south of the country. 

Adelaide recorded 118F (47.7C) heat on Thursday afternoon, smashing the previous record of 115F (46.1C) which was set in January 1939. 

An even higher temperature of 120F (49.5C) was measured north of the city amid extreme heat warnings in the state of South Australia. 

Forecasters expect that temperatures will start to drop on Friday with possible thunderstorms in Adelaide.  

Temperatures hit 43C in Melbourne but dropped of by 12C in just nine minutes on Friday afternoon. 

Keeping cool: A woman jumps off the jetty at Glenelg beach in Adelaide which recorded its all-time highest temperature of 118F (47.7C) on Thursday, surpassing a record set in January 1939 

One man and his dog: A beachgoer and his pet cool off in the water in Perth, Western Australia, amid a sweltering summer heatwave which has broken records 

Water break: Dana Hinton cools off in Adelaide by dipping her feet in a fountain and drinking a bottle of water as the city recorded its highest-ever temperature on Thursday 

Thousands of Australians have headed to the beach to cool off in the surf and many others have taken to shopping centres to stay out of the extreme heat. 

The heatwave has brought power cuts and sparked fears of devastating bushfires while dozens of people have needed emergency treatment for heat-related illnesses. 

At the Red Lion Hotel in South Australia, publicans gave a free beer to each of their patrons while the temperature remained above 113F (45C). 

Health authorities were also forced to issue a public warning to avoid contact with hundreds of heat-stressed bats falling from trees in parkland areas.

Authorities in central Australia said they had to cull more than 50 feral horses, after they found 90 dead or dying wild brumbies near a dried-up water hole.

'With climate change well and truly upon us, we expect these emergencies to occur with increasing frequency and nobody is truly prepared and resourced to respond to them,' said David Ross, director of indigenous representative body the Central Land Council.  

The great oudoors: A woman plays beach volleyball on Bondi Beach in Sydney (left) while another dives into the water to keep cool amid the soaring temperatures

Heatwave: A woman relaxes by the beach as thousands of Australians head to the seaside to cool off from the extreme heat 

Hot animals: One dog submerges its body underwater while another pants on the beach during Australia's record heatwave

Something for everyone: Rock wallabies have been given ice to lick at the zoo in Adelaide where records have been broken

Cooling down: At Adelaide Zoo animals have been getting hosed down with cool water to keep them hydrated in the heat 

At Adelaide Zoo tortoises have been getting cool water wipedowns, rock wallabies have been given ice to lick and hyenas have taken refreshing dips.

But the temperatures are also testing municipal services, with SunCity buses forced to cut their services, leaving commuters searching for trams or trains to get home.

Emergency services are on the alert as more than 13 districts are under threat of possible bushfires.

Meanwhile, a total fire ban was issued further south in the island state of Tasmania, where authorities continued to battle blazes.

The heatwave began last week and saw some Australian towns among the hottest places on Earth.

As many as a million fish were discovered dead last week along the banks of a major river system in drought-battered eastern Australia.  

Unusual method: A pan with frying eggs is seen on a pavement during the heatwave in Adelaide, South Australia