1. 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

2. 

   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

3. 

   Philanthropy

   ‘South Australia’, wrote the early twentieth-century author of The Cyclopedia of South Australia, ‘owes its existence to a movement which had its origins in philanthropy’. 

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

4. 

   Playford Family

   A Baptist minister and Waterloo veteran with a dragoon’s pension, South Australia’s first Thomas Playford arrived in 1844 to claim an inherited original town acre. Thomas’s eldest son, Thomas Playford (1837–1915), was a successful orchardist at Drysdale, Norton Summit, in the Adelaide Hills. Thomas’s grandson, Tom Playford (1896–1981), also went into parliament, becoming Australia’s longest-serving premier.

   Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

5. 

   Population

   South Australia’s demography is in many ways the most distinctive of all Australia’s states, but the wealth of historical population data available for both the colony and state remains under-analysed.

   Historical Subject | By Graeme Hugo | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

6. 

   Prisons

   Although South Australia was proclaimed a free settlement, colonial officials soon found they needed a gaol to house lawbreakers. 

   Historical Subject | By Patricia Sumerling | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

7. 

   Probation

   In South Australia probation encapsulated several kinds of opportunity, not only for those prosecuted but also for the criminal justice system and society

   Historical Subject | By Jon Telfer | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

8. 

   Pubs

   JM Freeland characterises Australian pubs as among ‘the most socially significant, historically valuable, architecturally interesting and colourful features of Australian society’ (Freeland 1977, p. 1). South Australia’s pubs are no exception. 

   Historical Subject | By Patricia Sumerling | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

9. 

   Refugees

   In general refugees have enriched and diversified South Australia’s religions, universities and schools, food, the arts, newspapers, clubs and sports.

   Historical Subject | By Kate Walsh | 1830s, 1840s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

10. 

    Retail Trade

    In the early years of European settlement the distinction between retail trade, wholesale trade and importing in South Australia was unclear, with many businesses combining all three functions.

    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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 

    Science

    Before and after the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal peoples had a well-developed cultural understanding and practical knowledge of plants, animal behaviour, local geology and meteorological conditions. Information they provided was frequently vital to the success – and even survival – of early European navigators and explorers.

    Historical Subject | By Pauline Payne | Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

14. 

    Serbians in South Australia

    Serbians migrated to South Australia from the 1940s - 1990s to escape various forms of prosecution and have since established a wide community. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1990s, early twentieth century, Second World War

15. 

    Singaporeans in South Australia

    Singaporean migration to South Australia has occured from the early nineteenth century, however, when the Restriction Act 1901 was relaxed in 1967 there has been a significant increase of people coming to South Australia. 

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

16. 

    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

17. 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

18. 

    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

19. 

    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

20. 

    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

21. 

    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

22. 

    Heysen, Sir Wilhelm

    Sir Hans Heysen was a masterly artist, the immortaliser of the gum tree on canvas, and a dedicated conservationist.

    Historical Person | By Peter Heysen | North Terrace | 1960s, early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

23. 

    Newland, Sir Henry

    Sir Henry Newland gained an international reputation as a pioneer plastic surgeon.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

24. 

    Cairns, Sir Hugh

    A pioneering neurosurgeon, Cairns worked extensively in the field of head injuries and was one of the first to promote the use of crash helmets for motor cyclists.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

25. 

    Cleland, Sir John

    Pathologist, naturalist and ardent conservationist, Professor Cleland, as he preferred to be known, contributed across many fields.

    Historical Person | By Dr Jane Southcott | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

26. 

    Wills, Sir Kenneth

    Businessman and soldier Sir Kenneth Wills was Controller of the Allied Intelligence Bureau during the Second World War.

    Historical Person | By William Wills | North Terrace | 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

27. Dumas, Sir Frederick

    At the end of his long life, newspaperman Sir Lloyd Dumas described himself as simply ‘the luckiest man in the world’.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

28. 

    Oliphant, Sir Mark

    Best known as a governor of South Australia, Sir Mark Oliphant was also a pioneering nuclear physicist, who became an outspoken anti-nuclear campaigner.

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

29. 

    Napier, Sir Thomas

    Sir Mellis Napier was a Chief Justice of South Australia, and arguably a reactionary one. 

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

30. 

    Helpmann, Sir Robert

    His versatility as actor, dancer, producer and choreographer, coupled with flamboyance and wit, made Sir Robert Helpmann a household name.

    Historical Person | By Meg Denton | North Terrace, Parklands | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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