1. Image: sepia city map

    Light’s Plan of Adelaide, 1840

    Light’s Plan of Adelaide as printed in 1840 gives the names of people who first bought land in the city and the title numbers of the town acres that they purchased.

    Maps and Panoramas | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s

  2. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian woman dressed in early twentieth century attire. She has dark hair and eyes and is wearing a pearl necklace and light cardigan sweater

    de Lissa, Ms. Lillian

    Hard working, widely read and exceptionally charming, exotically-named intellectual Lillian Daphne de Lissa was a kindergarten pioneer.

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

  3. Logic (Pinba)

    Logic (Pinba), a convicted murderer, was described in the Advertiser of 12 December 1885 as ‘one of the most popular men in the colony’. 

    Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  4. Lord Florey, 2013

    Lord Florey bust

    Adelaide-born Lord Florey won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945 for his part in making the infection-fighting penicillin available

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

  5. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged man sitting in a chair in front of a large bookcase. He is wearing wire-rimmed spectacles, a suit and tie, and academic gown

    Florey, Sir Howard

    Hundreds of millions of people have lived longer and healthier lives, thanks to medical scientist, Nobel Prize winner and penicillin pioneer Lord Florey.

    Historical Person | By Pat Stretton | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  6. Image: A photographic portrait of a moustachioed middle-aged Caucasian man wearing wire-rimmed spectacles and a mid-20th century suit and tie

    Scammell, Mr. Luther

    Manufacturing chemist Luther Scammell prepared compounds, saved a struggling business, and coined the name ‘Solyptol’. 

    Historical Person | By Peter Donovan | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  7. Image: Upper body portrait photograph of a man wearing a suit

    McEwin, Mr. Alexander

    Lyell Alexander McEwin (1897–1988) received a frugal Mid North upbringing which taught him the motto, ‘waste not, want not’, that characterised his 40 years in the Legislative Council, 1934–75. 

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  8. Image: William Magarey

    Magarey Medal

    An award for the ‘fairest and most brilliant player’ in South Australia’s major Australian Rules football competition

    Historical Thing | By Bernard Whimpress | 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Magazines

    The first South Australian magazine to focus on local content was the South Australian Magazine, first published in 1841. Other magazines published during the nineteenth century include: Illustrated Adelaide Post, Pictorial Australian, Observer Miscellany, Adelaide Punch, Lantern, and Quiz.South Australian magazines published in the twentieth century include: Pheonix, Chapbook, and Angry Penguins. ‘Street press’, free newsprint magazines, began appearing in the last decades of the twentieth century with such titles as dB and Rip It Up . 

    Historical Subject | By Anthony Laube | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

  10. Image: black and white photo of man in suit wearing white turban

    Allum, Mahomet

    Mahomet Allum was described in glowing testimonials as 'the wonder man' and by his adversaries as a 'quack'. 

    Historical Person | By Vedrana Budimir & Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  11. Image: A black and white image of Margaret Graham

    Graham, Ms. Margaret

    Margaret Graham was an outspoken and forthright nursing sister and army matron with a strong sense of justice.

    Historical Person | By Joan Durdin | North Terrace | 1890s, early twentieth century

  12. Image: A young Caucasian woman in a full-length Edwardian-era dress paints a still life on an easel. The painting features a couple of vases holding flowers

    Preston, Mrs. Margaret

    A highly influential painter and printmaker, Margaret Preston was once described as 'a natural enemy of the dull'.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  13. Jackson Nelson, Ms. Marjorie

    A phenomenally successful athlete, Marjorie Jackson Nelson went on to become a governor of South Australia

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | North Terrace | 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  14. Image: wedding party

    Marriage and divorce

    Marriage and divorce rates have fluctuated according to social mores and legislative imposts. 

    Historical Subject | By Margaret Allen | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  15. Image: bench top covered in large number of bottles of alcohol

    Mars Bar

    Adelaide’s longest running gay venue, located at 120 Gouger Street and known, until recently, as the Mars Bar, first opened in December 1976.

    Historical Place | By Nikki Sullivan, Migration Museum | Southwest corner | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, mid twentieth century

  16. 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

  17. Image: Black and white headshot of woman wearing a fascinator

    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

  18. Mary Lee, 2013

    Mary Lee bust

    ‘My aim is to leave the world better for women’ – Mary Lee was an activist, suffragist and unionist

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1990s

  19. Image: sculpture of standing man in nineteenth century costume

    Matthew Flinders Memorial

    A statue to honour Matthew Flinders, the first explorer to circumnavigate Australia, was a long time coming in Adelaide

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1790s, 1800-1810, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  20. 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

  21. Image: An image of Thistle Anderson

    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

  22. Image: bronze medal with striped ribbon

    Medal

    Honorary medal awarded to Antonio Giordano by the World Federation of Italian Press Abroad.

    Collection Item | 1970s

  23. Memories of a 12 year old on the adventure of a lifetime

    We arrived on the 'SS Strathnaver' on 14 April 1960 on a cold wet blustery Autumn day.

    User Story | 1960s

  24. Image: Methodist Church, Pirie Street

    Methodist Church

    Several of the brands of Methodism introduced to colonial South Australia merged in 1977 to become the Uniting Church.

    Historical Organisation | By Arnold D Hunt | Hindley Street | 1830s, 1840s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  25. Black and white image of old museum display showing large wooden plinth with staircase on top.

    Miniature Staircase- Newmarket Hotel

    This scale model of the spiral staircase in the Newmarket Hotel is just 600 millimetres high, but represents months of careful craftwork. It was made by a young man named Walton Banks and exhibited at the Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition in 1887.

    Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  26. Image: a two storey gothic style building with arched church style windows and an arched portico protruding from the front, providing a balcony above. A thin spire rises from the centre of the cross gable roof.

    Mitchell Building

    The 'University Building' has served many functions since it opened in 1882

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 1970s

  27. Image: a statue of a man holding a map stands on a plinth on a hill surrounded by formal gardens and overlooking a city

    Montefiore Hill

    Montefiore Hill, overlooking the city planned by Colonel William Light, was named after South Australian Colonization Commissioner Jacob Montefiore

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1830s, 1840s, 1880s, 1930s

  28. Image: a two storey corner hotel with balcony. A 1940s era car is parked outside. Signs on the upper level advertise West End Exhibition Stout and Seppelts wine.

    Morphett Street

    Morphett Street, named after prominent South Australian colonist Sir John Morphett, was a street in Colonel Light’s Plan of Adelaide in 1837 but in August 1967 it was extended to include Brown Street

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  29. Baby Evangeline Gabriel being being weighed by a nurse 1908

    Mothers' and Babies' Health Association

    Could the problem of infant mortality be dealt with by giving expert advice to mothers? The Mothers’ and Babies’ Health Association certainly thought so.

    Historical Organisation | By Judith Raftery | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  30. 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

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