1. Spiritualism

    Spiritualism began as a nineteenth-century radical cause and survives to the present as a spiritual option.

    Historical Subject | By Helen Bartley and Jill Roe | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  2. 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

  3. Mary Lee

    Suffrage 125

    The History Trust of South Australia is coordinating a series of programs and events to mark the 125th anniversary of womens suffrage in South Autralia. In December 1894, after decades of activism, women in South Australia were awarded the right to vote and stand for parliament. In 2019 we will celebrate the victory of the early suffragists such as Mary Lee, Augusta Zadow, Catherine Helen Spence and those who joined the fight. The Suffrage 125 initiative will explore issues of gender equality over the past 125 years.

    Historical Subject | By The History Trust of South Australia | 1890s

  4. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Taiwanese in South Australia

    The indigenous people of Taiwan make up roughly 2 per cent of the population.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  5. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Tanzanians in South Australia

    African and Asian Tanzanians have immigrated to Australia since 1973, when the White Australia Policy, was abolished.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twenty–first century, late twentieth century

  6. Image: photo of the members of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union

    Temperance

    The temperance movement saw the abolition of alcohol as a cure for society’s ills – and also believed it was an achievable goal.

    Historical Subject | By Judith Raftery | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Image: Front view of a theatre building with cars driving in the foreground and people on the street

    Theatre

    South Australia’s theatrical beginnings were commercial and entrepreneurial: trade as much as art drove public houses and performance together.

    Historical Subject | By Gus Worby | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  10. Image: Black and white photo of an old observatory building.

    Time

    Within a year of settlement, Adelaide's residents were synchronising their timepieces by a bell rung in North Terrace near West Terrace at local noon.

    Historical Subject | By Bill Stacy | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Torrens Title

    The Torrens title system for land ownership was inaugurated in South Australia  has led the world in the computerisation of real property title information.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  12. Image: People walking and others fishing with hand rods from a wooden jetty

    Tourism

    The South Australian Tourism Commission, established in 1993, focuses on marketing South Australia as a tourist destination to interstate and overseas markets.

    Historical Subject | By Lyn Leader-Elliot | North Terrace, Parklands | 1880s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  13. 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

  14. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Ukrainians in South Australia

    The first significant wave of Ukrainians arrived in Australia during the years 1911 - 1915. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  15. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Uruguayans in South Australia

    Uruguayans first came to Australia in significant numbers in the 1960s and 1970s. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  16. 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

  17. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Vietnamese in South Australia

    Before 1975, the Vietnamese in Australia were either wives of ex-servicemen, students, or orphans who had come to Australia between 1969 and 1974. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Image: People in a field picking grapes

    Viticulture

    The growing of grape vines dates from the earliest years of European settlement in South Australia.

    Historical Subject | By Dr Geoffrey Bishop | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  19. 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

  20. Sir John Langdon Bonython, 1926

    Wealth

    In South Australia, the prime key to wealth has been land. From its inception as a European colony, ownership (or control) of land meant access to agricultural and mineral resources. For the Aboriginal peoples, dispossession meant devastation.

    Historical Subject | By Martin P Shanahan | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  21. Image: Darryl Pfitzner Malika's Yerrakartarta, 2018.

    Yerrakartarta

    At the time of its installation in 1995, Yerrakartarta was the largest public commission of Aboriginal artwork in Australia. 

    Historical Thing | North Terrace | 1990s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, late twentieth century

  22. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Zambians in South Australia

    African and Asian Zambians have resettled in Australia since 1973 when the White Australia Policy was abolished.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

  23. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Zimbabweans in South Australia

    African and Asian Zimbabweans were not permitted to resettle in Australia until after 1973 when the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act, better known as the White Australia Policy, was abolished

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

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