1. Art Galleries

    Adelaide’s art galleries contribute to its reputation as a city of the arts. The South Australian Society of Arts, established in 1856 and the oldest Australian fine art society still in existence, had as one of its earliest objectives the setting up of a permanent gallery.

    Historical Subject | By Christine Finnimore | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  2. Art Gallery of South Australia

    The classical building of the Art Gallery of South Australia, with its gracious colonnaded portico, is one of the cultural landmarks on North Terrace. 

    Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  3. Tennyson , Audrey

    Audrey Tennyson (1854-1916), wife of South Australian governor Hallam Tennyson, took a particular interest in the conditions of South Australia’s poor and sick. 

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

  4. Short, Augustus

    The energetic Augustus Short, South Australia’s first Anglican bishop, laid firm foundations for the growth of the Anglican Church in the new colony.

    Historical Person | By David Hilliard | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  5. Aurora Hotel

    The Aurora Hotel – its demolition was a watershed in heritage conservation in Adelaide with statewide repercussions

    Historical Place | By Peter Bell | 1850s, 1890s, 1980s

  6. Australian Rules Football

    The structure of local Aussie Rules football competitions has changed over time, just as the game itself has continued to evolve

    Historical Subject | By Bernard Whimpress | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Austrians in South Australia

    The first Austrians to arrive in South Australia were two Jesuit priests, Fathers Aloysius Kranewitter and Maximilian Klinkowstroem on December 8, 1848. 

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

  8. Ayers House

    Acquired and extended on the back of copper mining from the mid 1840s, Ayers House has had three main occupancies since the early twentieth century

    Historical Place | By Peter Bell | North Terrace | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Barr Smith Family

    Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), the son of a Scottish clergyman and his wife Marjory, née Barr, migrated to Melbourne in 1854. Moving to Adelaide just as Thomas Elder’s brothers were leaving South Australia, he threw in his lot with Elder.

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

  10. Babbage, Benjamin

    Benjamin Herschel Babbage (1815–1878), an English engineer who superintended construction of the first Port Adelaide railway line, was employed by the South Australian Government in 1851 to search for gold. He led two official expeditions (1856 and 1858) that found no gold but surveyed the Flinders Ranges and Far North and established the extent of Lakes Eyre and Torrens.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  11. Bicycles

    From 'boneshakers' to penny-farthings to mountain bikes, bicycles have certainly changed since the 1860s.

    Historical Subject | By Dieuwke Jessop | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Boarding Out Society

    The origins of foster care for disadvantaged children

    Historical Organisation | By Mary-Louise Geyer | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  13. Bonython Family

    Bonython Family is distinguished by a capacity for hard work, a leaning towards public service and significant benefaction to the institutions and people of Adelaide.

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

  14. Botanic Park

    Botanic Park has blossomed as a place for informal family gatherings and a venue for public events

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, 2020s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact

  15. Finniss, Boyle

     South Australia’s first premier was born at sea off the Cape of Good Hope and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. 

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s

  16. Brown Street

    Brown Street, running from South Terrace to Grote Street, morphed into Morphett Street in 1967 but the area retains its out-of-the-way feel

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, early twenty–first century

  17. Sturt, Captain Charles

    A soldier and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt was first to chart the River Murray.

    Historical Person | By Valerie Sitters | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  18. Carclew

    The youth arts centre Carclew was the starting point of McDouall Stuart’s expedition across Australia in 1861

    Historical Place | By Peter Bell | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  19. Spence, Catherine Helen

    Writer and social reformer Catherine Helen Spence was also the first woman to write a novel about Australia.

    Historical Person | By Susan Magarey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  20. Catherine Helen Spence statue

    The powerful sculpture of Catherine Helen Spence in Light Square, Adelaide celebrates the life and work of a formidable South Australian.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1980s

  21. Central Market

    The Central Market is a distinctively Adelaide institution, renowned for fine food and produce and a bustling cosmopolitan atmosphere

    Historical Place | By Peter Bell | Central Market | 1860s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Chalmers Church Free Church of Scotland

    The second oldest remaining church in Adelaide, Scots Church is still in use today.

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, early twentieth century

  23. Charles Cameron Kingston Memorial

    A remarkable and feisty South Australian attorney-general and premier, a father of federation and the first Australian Minster for Trade and Customs is commemorated by this statue

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

  24. Kingston PC QC, Charles

    Though dogged by scandal, Charles Kingston was a lawyer, parliamentarian and Federalist who steered many reforms through the South Australian Parliament and helped draft Australia’s Constitution.

    Historical Person | By The Hon Dr John Bannon, AO | North Terrace, Northwest corner, Southwest corner | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  25. Cawthorne, Charles

    Cawthorne was a dynamic music seller and concert manager, and is remembered as a genial raconteur.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Rundle Street east | 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s

  26. Closer Settlement

    Settlers believed that using land intensively maximised its value and civilised its occupants, and that holdings should be small to allow people to hold land

    Historical Subject | By Bill Gammage | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  27. Colonel William Light Grave and Monument

    Colonel William Light’s grave remains in Light Square, while Light's Monument there has been replaced and embellished over time

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  28. Colonial Laws Validity Act

    The powers of colonial legislatures to create courts, alter local constitutions and authenticate laws were confirmed by the British statute.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1860s, 1930s

  29. Compass

    This compass is believed to have been used by John William Billiatt on the successful 1861-1862 expedition with John McDouall Stuart across Australia, from Adelaide to Chambers Bay, east of the present site of Darwin.

    Collection Item | 1860s

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