1. Warnes, Mrs. Mary

    Deeply affected by the isolation and loneliness of her early married life, Mary Jane Warnes strived to improve conditions for her fellow countrywomen by founding the South Australian Country Women’s Association.

    Historical Person | By Nancy Robinson Flannery | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  2. Lee, Mary

    Suffragist and social reformer Mary Lee was jubilant when, in 1894, South Australia became the first Australian colony to grant women the vote.

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  3. MacKillop, Mary

    An educationist and co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mary MacKillop is now famous as Australia’s only Catholic saint.

    Historical Person | By Sister Marie Foale | Central Market, North Terrace | 1900-1910, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  4. Mills, Ms. May

    Educationist and sports administrator May Mills believed 'the wholesome development of a nation' depended on sport. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  5. Anderson, M.C.

    MC ‘Thistle’ Anderson was a Scottish born actress turned writer. Best known for her pamphlet Arcadian Adelaide; she also published poems and short stories. 

    Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  6. McLeod, Mr. Murdoch

    A very industrious and conservative businessman, Murdoch McLeod was generous but modest and never flamboyant. 

    Historical Person | By Knoyle Cross | Central Market | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  7. Tindale, Dr. Norman

    Norman Tindale was a prodigious anthropologist and polymath who chronicled aboriginal culture, studied butterflies and moths, and broke Japanese wartime codes. 

    Historical Person | By Philip Jones | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  8. Jolly, Mr. Norman

    A forestry scientist by profession, Norman Jolly was also an accomplished scholar known for his integrity and keen critical faculty.

    Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Nesbit, Mr. Edward

    Barrister, intellectual and proud hedonist, Paris Nesbit was an early starter who allegedly read Milton at three and translated Goethe at ten.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  10. Begg, Prof. Percy

    The pioneer of improved orthodontic treatments which are now standard worldwide

    Historical Person | By Donald Simpson and Geoffrey Brown | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  11. Begg, Percy

    Literally born in a tent, Percy Begg became a pioneer orthodontist whose innovations benefit patients to this day.

    Historical Person | By Dr John Jenner | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  12. Nelson, Mr. Peter

    A resolute cyclist, Peter Nelson was married to Marjorie Jackson Nelson and died of leukaemia at a young age.

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  13. Dawson, Mr. Peter

    A singer of both bush ballads and classics, Dawson was the first to record ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Waite, Mr. Peter

    A pastoralist who built an empire on sheep and cattle runs, Peter Waite was also a major philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Yvonne Routledge | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  15. Bragg, Prof. William

    Professor William Bragg had an extraordinarily active scientific career in Adelaide. 

    Historical Person | By John Patterson | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  16. Smith, Mr. Richard

    Richard Bowyer Smith and his brother Clarence could both rightfully claim distinction as the inventors of the stump-jump plough. 

    Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  17. Schomburgk, Dr. Richard

    A botanist, horticulturist and the director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Richard Schomburgk was honoured locally as 'the people’s pet'. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Pauline Payne | North Terrace, Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  18. Sharpe, Mr. Ronald

    An outstanding baseballer and baseball writer, Ron Sharpe was also no slouch as a cricketer.

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  19. Rene, Roy

    Roy Rene, known most prominently for his character of Mo McCackie, has been generally hailed as one of Australia’s best comic performers. 

    Historical Person | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  20. Young, Sarah

    Sarah Jane (Jeanna) Young (née Foster) (1866–1955), inspired by Catherine Helen Spence, became secretary of the Effective Voting League (1897), wrote and lectured on proportional representation and, with Spence, campaigned for eight weeks in Sydney to have the Hare-Spence voting system adopted in Federal elections. She would later run for parliament and receive an OBE.

    Historical Person | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  21. Price, Sir Archibald

    Working with this vivacious geographer, historian and educationist was said to be 'like hanging on the tail of a comet'. 

    Historical Person | By Betty Lewis | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  22. Todd, Sir Charles

    Sir Charles Todd was a leader in the fields of meteorology, astronomy and communications, and is best remembered for masterminding the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line.

    Historical Person | By John Jenkin | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  23. Gibb, Sir Claude

    Irascible yet open-minded engineer, industrialist, and ideas man Sir Claude Gibb was responsible for the design of the Centurion tank.

    Historical Person | By Gwenyth Moxham | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  24. Bradman, Sir Donald

    Being the only Australian cricketer to be knighted is just another testimony to The Don’s stature in the game of cricket

    Historical Person | By Bernard Whimpress | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  25. Mawson, Sir Douglas

    Sir Douglas Mawson became famous as an Antarctic explorer, but the geology of South Australia was his life’s work.

    Historical Person | By Dr Simon Cameron | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  26. Hayward, Sir Edward

    Known as ‘Bill’, Sir Edward Hayward was a businessman, patron of the arts and the originator of the Adelaide Christmas pageant.

    Historical Person | By Hon Christopher Legoe | early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  27. Holden, Sir Edward

    Motor car manufacturer and industrialist Sir Edward Holden gave his name to a car, albeit posthumously.

    Historical Person | By June Donovan | North Terrace, Southeast corner | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  28. Stirling, Sir Edward

    Sir Edward Stirling was (among other things) a surgeon, scientist, educationist, curator, lecturer and parliamentarian; in short, a Renaissance Man.

    Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  29. Smith, Sir Edwin

    Sir Edwin Thomas Smith was a brewer, parliamentarian and, thanks to his philanthropy, Adelaide’s favourite millionaire.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  30. Brookman, Sir George

    A wealthy businessman and quiet philanthropist, Sir George Brookman was a conservative who was described as ‘hard but fair’ by one of his descendants.

    Historical Person | By Ron Gibbs | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s

Pages