1. Statue of Robert Burns

    Robert Burns Memorial

    One of many around the world, this statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns was unveiled in 1894

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1930s, 1940s, 1990s

  2. Image: man holding large axe standing on wooden plank embedded in large wooden post

    Royal Adelaide Show

    The Royal Adelaide Show has become the annual meeting place for country and city. 

    Historical Event | By Rob Linn | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Image: The multimedia screen emits a rainbow of colors over nighttime pedestrians

    Rundle Lantern

    The Rundle Lantern is 100% green-powered and the light show is carbon neutral.

    Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 2000-2010

  4. Bronze bust of Douglas Mawson by Adelaide sculptor John Dowie, 1981

    Sir Douglas Mawson bust

    The spirit of Antarctic explorer and professor of geology, Sir Douglas Mawson, is captured in the bust by John Dowie

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1980s

  5. Image: Bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg

    Sir Lawrence Bragg bust

    The bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg commemorates a South Australian Nobel Laureate

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1970s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  6. Sir Mellis Napier bust, 2013

    Sir Mellis Napier bust

    The bronze bust of Sir Mellis Napier, sculpted by eminent South Australian artist John Dowie, commemorates his distinguished community service, including to the law and legal profession in South Australia

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  7. Sir Samuel Way statue

    Sir Samuel Way Memorial Statue

    A statue of Sir Samuel Way reflects his towering presence in legal, political and cultural circles in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  8. Bronze statue of Sir Thomas Elder by Alfred Drury, 1903 outside Elder Hall, University of Adelaide

    Sir Thomas Elder statue

    The sculpture of Elder is at the University of Adelaide, a major beneficiary of his philanthropy

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1890s, 1900-1910

  9. Image: crowd of people around large bronze statue of seated man

    Sir Walter Watson Hughes statue

    The bronze figure of Sir Walter Watson Hughes by Francis Williamson stands on a massive block of red granite.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 2000-2010

  10. Image: The statue of a horse and rider mounting the crest of a hill

    South African War Memorial

    The mounted trooper reining in his horse commemorates South Australians who served in the South African War (1899-1902).

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1930s, 2000-2010

  11. Image: view of a street corner with telephone box and poles

    Stobie Poles

    Unique to and ubiquitous throughout South Australia, the ugliness of stobie poles is periodically denounced, as also the mortal damage which they can and do inflict on the occupants of any vehicle unlucky enough to strike one at speed. 

    Historical Thing | By Patricia Sumerling and Wilfrid Prest | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Bronze plaque set in pavement inscribed with name and City of Adelaide logo

    Susan Grace Benny Plaque

    The first female local government councillor in Australia, Benny was a Justice of the Peace, a businesswoman and a lobbyist for women’s equality.

    Historical Thing | By Laura Sherwood, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2000-2010

  13. Image: bronze statue of a young naked boy in running pose

    The Athlete

    Once dubbed 'Adelaide's most active statue' the Athlete is now safely installed in the Lord Mayor's Courtyard. 

    Historical Thing | By Pat Stretton | Central Market, River Torrens, Southwest corner | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  14. The Eternal Question by Richard Kelly Tipping 1982, Light Square

    The Eternal Question

    Word artist Richard Tipping prompts us to consider big ideas in his sculpture ‘The Eternal Question’

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1940s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  15. Image: two ships on still water

    The hulk 'Fitzjames'

    Between 1880 and 1891 the hulk Fitzjames, colloquially known as ‘Hell afloat’, served as a Reformatory for over 100 boys aged from 8 to 16 years of age. 

    Historical Thing | By Nikki Sullivan | 1880s, 1890s

  16. Image: bronze sculpture of family group with suitcase

    The Immigrants

    The Immigrants sculpture has been climbed on, sat on, stood next to and embraced by many people who have walked through the gates of the Migration Museum since 2006.

    Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | North Terrace | 2000-2010

  17. Governor Richard MacDonnell

    The opening of Parliament 1857

    Crowds gathered on 22 April 1857 to watch Governor Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell open South Australia’s first fully elected parliament.

    Historical Event | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s

  18. Image: two people walking through underground brick-walled rooms

    Tunnels of Adelaide

    Adelaide tunnel tales are a perennial favourite in the popular press, and are cheerfully perpetuated by tour operators and publicans everywhere.

    Historical Thing | By Deb Morgan | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  19. Urban Cow Studios

    Previously situated on Frome Road, near the corner of North Terrace, the Urban Cow Studio has been operating in Adelaide for around 25 years.

    Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  20. Venere di Canova, 2013

    Venere di Canova

    A startled Venus caused consternation as Adelaide’s first public statue in 1892

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

  21. Voyagers in Whitmore Square night photo

    Voyagers

    The lives and cultures of ‘Afghan’ cameleers are recognised in Whitmore Square

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1860s, 1870s, 2000-2010

  22. Image: monument with crowds of people

    War Memorial

    Architect Louis Laybourne-Smith and sculptor George Rayner Hoff created a memorial that conveys the impact of the First World War

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 2000-2010

  23. Image: A small circular badge with painted wattle flowers with text above them which says for our own

    Wattle Day

    1 September in Australia is Wattle Day, though not widely known, some have argued it should replace Australia Day.

    Historical Event | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1900-1910, 1910s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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