1980s

Image: R.T. Maurice’s expedition party. Three Aboriginal men standing, two white men sitting, one dog on the floor. All the men wear suits.

Exploration

The early heroic phase of South Australia’s exploration by Europeans was plagued by difficulties.

Historical Subject | By Philip Jones | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Film

In October 1896, within one year of the Lumière brothers’ first public screening of film in Paris, the first public film screening in South Australia occurred at the Theatre Royal in Hindley Street

Historical Subject | By Dylan Walker | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Hudson, Flexmore

Flexmore Hudson was a poet and teacher who produced Poetry, the second largest poetry magazine circulating in the English speaking world.

Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: a round bordered illustration of a church with a single spire on it's right hand side

Flinders Street

From ‘City of Churches’ to the ‘City of Cars’, Flinders Street reflects changes in Adelaide

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

Image: A tall gum tree stands near the bank of a river, which is visible in the distant background. The trunk of the tree is adorned with several small signs showing the year in which a major flood occurred and its water level height

Floods

Paradoxically, the only parts of South Australia to experience occasional serious disruption of by flooding are the far distant sparsely populated deserts around Lake Eyre

Historical Subject | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1970s, 2010s

Image: The body of a tug boat upside down in the process of being constructed, numerous people, ropes and ladders surround the boat

Perry, Mr. Frank

Frank Tennyson Perry (1887–1965) was born in Gawler and educated at Prince Alfred College before joining his uncle’s engineering business in 1903.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Mayo, Mr. George

George Elton Mayo was an extraordinarily versatile pioneer in human relations, management studies and psychoanalysis.

Historical Person | By Dr Oliver Mayo | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Image: The German consul sitting surrounded by his welcoming party at the front of a house in Hahndorf

Germans

The German born community have left a strong cultural legacy in South Australia, evident in many areas today.

Historical Subject | By Ian Harmstorf | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

Image: Black and white photograph of Indigenous woman

Elphick MBE, Gladys

Known to all as ‘Aunty Glad’, Elphick was a tireless worker for Aboriginal welfare.

Historical Person | By Lewis O'Brien & Professor Paul Hughes | North Terrace | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: Black and white photograph showing front of large, white two-storey building

Government House

One of Adelaide’s oldest buildings, Government House welcomes thousands of visitors each year

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000-2010

Image: Hundreds of schools students in black uniforms pose in lines outside a large symmetrical stone building with decorative brickwork between floors, two huge arched windows on the front gable ends and smaller windows on the sides.

Grote Street

Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Central Market continue to attract people to Grote Street

Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson and Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an incredibly attractive young woman with light-coloured eyes and an ear-length 1920s haircut

Mayo, Dr. Helen

Medical practitioner Helen Mayo combined energy and a strong social conscience in her promotion of child health services.

Historical Person | By Decie Denholm | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Butler, Henry

Harry Butler was a charismatic young aviator with a barnstorming style.

Historical Person | By Dr Robert Nicol | 1910s, 1920s

Image: portrait of man wearing tie and suit jacket

Barwell, Sir Henry

Henry Newman Barwell was a successful lawyer and politician who lent his name to a farm apprenticeship scheme.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1940s, early twentieth century

Image: A group of men and children stand outside a two storey terrace building the ground floor of which is serving as a drapery store with fabric sitting in baskets on the street, coats hanging along the storefront and hats in the window.

Hindley Street

An eclectic mix since foundation, Hindley Street has seen it all

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: View of a group of children in garden with church in the background

Hindmarsh Square, located in the north-east of Adelaide, was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide. Originally designed as an oasis from the surrounding city, the Square would, however, see it’s size reduced and its lawns intersected by both Pulteney and Grenfell streets as transport and the city developed around it. Despite this, Hindmarsh Square continues to serve its intended purpose as an area of respite from its urban surrounding.

Historical Place | By Owen Hems | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: shelves full of documents with person sitting on floor

History and Historians

Historians of South Australia have asked one question above all others: how is South Australia different?

Historical Subject | By Robert Dare | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: a black and white copy of a watercolour painting which shows men, women and children in 1840s dress walking or riding in horse drawn carts towards a simple stone church with a single tower which is surrounded by cottages.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church is the earliest surviving Anglican Church building in South Australia, and one of Adelaide’s oldest standing structures.

Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Horseracing

Reputed to be Australia’s third-largest industry, horseracing contributes to the national economy and state government revenues through direct employment and also through primary production, transport, tourism, media, entertainment and gambling.

Historical Subject | By John Mannion | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: view of trees surrounded by buildings

Hurtle Square / Tangkaira

Located in the south-east of Adelaide on the Kaurna peoples land of Tandayangga (place of the Red Kangaroo Dreaming), Hurtle Square was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide.

Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Southeast corner | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Mudie, Ian

Ian Mudie was a poet, publisher, educator, and lecturer. He was involved with the Australia First movement, the Jindyworobaks, and helped to organise Writers' Week. He was also editor-in-chief of Rigby publishers for five years.

Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

Image: Front of large, two-storey historic building with columns bordering its front door

Institute Building

The oldest of North Terrace’s cultural buildings

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: An upper body portrait photograph of a man in an army uniform, and wearing an army hat with chin strap.

Hele, Sir Ivor

Ivor Henry Thomas Hele was an official war artist in North Africa, New Guinea and Korea; possibly Australia’s most important war artist.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a clean-shaven, middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a suit of 1940s vintage

Prescott, Prof. James

The founder of soil science in Australia, James Prescott was active at every level of education.

Historical Person | By Prof Emeritus John Prescott | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Bonython, Lady Jean

Lady Bonython grew from ‘Baby Mayoress’ into a community worker and supporter of numerous charities, especially those benefiting women and children

Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

black and white image of a woman sitting at a desk with a book

Cashmore, Jennifer

Jennifer Cashmore was a trailblazer in South Australian politics.

Historical Person | By Amy Morrison & Larrie Strautmanis | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, 2020s

Newspaper photo, head and shoulders of woman.

Cooper, Mrs. Jessie

Jessie Mary Cooper was the first woman elected to South Australia’s parliament.

Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1850s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Image: Two large interconnected synagogue buildings, a man stands in the bare yard at the front of the building.

Jewish People

Small in number over time, Adelaide’s Jews have contributed significantly to the professions, especially medicine, and are well represented in academia, industry and commerce.

Historical Subject | By Bruce Rosen | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century