1. Image: A middle-aged, clean-shaven man in a suit poses for a full-length photographic portrait. An autograph on the photo reads ‘Best Wishes to Keith Wingrove from Peter Dawson, May 20th 1933, Brisbane’

    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

  2. Image: two smiling caucasian women writing at a main desk in library

    Public Libraries

    South Australia was unique among the Australian colonies in that the South Australian Literary and Scientific Association assembled a subscription library before the settlers left Britain.

    Historical Place | By Carl Bridge and Michael Talbot | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Image: A photographic portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a white goatee. He is wearing a Stetson hat and a dark-coloured overcoat

    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

  4. Image: A map depicting morphological features of the City of Adelaide and its surrounding landscape, with particular emphasis placed on the River Torrens and its associated features

    River Torrens

    The River Torrens has dominated the development of Adelaide and its metropolis, often in subtle or little recognised ways

    Historical Place | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  5. Image: An elderly man with a cane sits in a chair within a garden

    Smith, Robert

    Robert Barr Smith had a genius for business. He was also a generous philanthropist, though his modesty dictated that much of the funding was dispensed anonymously.

    Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  6. 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

  7. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing an early-20th century suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

    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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Image: A group of middle-aged Caucasian men dressed in early twentieth century suits and fedora hats stand in front of a brick building. A late-1920s model car is parked immediately behind the group

    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

  11. Image: drawing of a man in profile wearing a top hat

    Kingston, Sir George

    By turns architect, engineer, surveyor and parliamentarian, Sir George Kingston was also Speaker of the House of Assembly for almost two decades.

    Historical Person | By Dr Simon Cameron | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  12. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a clean-shaven man wearing a turtleneck sweater and tweed jacket

    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

  13. Image: Pencil sketch of the upper torso of an elderly man wearing a suit and academic robes

    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

  14. 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

  15. Image: A moustachioed middle-aged Caucasian man in an Australian Army officer's uniform. He is wearing a hat and spectacles with oval lenses

    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

  16. 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

  17. Image: A man in a barrister wig and gown poses for a photograph. He is seated in a chair with his right profile facing the camera

    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

  18. Image: A man in stage make-up and costume dances on a stage with arms outstretched

    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

  19. Jacobs, Sir Roland

    Jacobs was a businessman, but also a warm and generous philanthropist with no interest in personal wealth.

    Historical Person | By The Hon S.J. Jacobs | North Terrace | 1970s, early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a white-haired man with goatee. He is wearing a suit and is standing with his arms crossed

    Kidman, Sir Sidney

    Abstemious but easy-going, Sir Sidney Kidman was a pastoralist and philanthropist who made friends easily.

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  21. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven man in a dark, pinstriped suit

    Playford, Sir Thomas

    Premier for 26 years, Playford managed the industrialisation of South Australia while maintaining a conservative social agenda.

    Historical Person | By Gaye Brown | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  22. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-twentieth century suit and academic regalia

    Mitchell, Sir William

    Philosopher, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, and a teacher of economics, psychology and literature, Sir William Mitchell was nothing if not a polymath.

    Historical Person | By Dr W. Martin Davies | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  23. Image: facade of a building with cars parked in front of it

    South Australian Hotel

    This hotel on North Terrace was first licenced as a public house in 1878 and was closed and demolished in 1971. To many, ‘The South’, the city’s three-storey grand hotel, was Adelaide.

    Historical Place | By Patricia Sumerling | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  24. Image: Photographic portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in the clothing of a Christian minister. He is sitting in an high-backed chair and has his right hand resting on a book--possibly a bible

    Stow, Thomas

    Founder of the Congregational Church in South Australia, Thomas Stow was a strenuous minister and a dedicated opponent of state aid to religion.

    Historical Person | By Brian Jones | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  25. Image: A simple line drawing of a man in cricket batsman attire swinging a cricket bat

    Richardson, Mr. Victor

    The term 'all-round sportsman' might have been coined for Victor York Richardson, who excelled at cricket, football, baseball, lacrosse, tennis and basketball. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Bernard Whimpress | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  26. Image: Walter Gill

    Gill, Mr. Walter

    A conscientious and gifted forestry administrator, Walter Gill was also an enthusiastic nature photographer.

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

  27. Bagot , Walter

    Bagot was an architect whose work, including Bonython Hall and the Barr Smith Library, displays his preference for classical and traditional designs.

    Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  28. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a bearded, middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie

    Giles, Dr. William

    Surgeon William Anstey Giles came from pioneering stock, but was a pioneer himself in medical literature.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  29. Image: Photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in the uniform of a high-ranking Australian Army officer

    Veale, Mr. William

    Soldier, engineer and Adelaide Town Clerk William Veale is celebrated for revitalising the city's parklands.

    Historical Person | By Robert Thornton | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

Pages