1980s

Song of Australia

‘Song of Australia’ became the accepted national song in South Australia and, for a time, throughout Australia.

Historical Thing | By Kerrie Round | late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: The statue of a horse and rider mounting the crest of a hill

South African War Memorial

The mounted trooper reining in his horse commemorates South Australians who served in the South African War (1899-1902).

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1930s, 2000-2010

Unveiling the colours of the SANFL premiers, 5 October 2010

South Australian Brewing Co. Ltd

Still brewing strong: Lion’s West End Brewery at Thebarton.

Historical Organisation | By Alison Painter | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

South Australian Land Commission

Acquiring and developing land holdings in a coordinated way assists in orderly expansion and growth

Historical Organisation | By Judith Jeffery | 1970s, 1980s

Image: group of men sitting around long table

South Australian Liberal Party

South Australia’s major non-Labor political party has gone from a record period of governing to years in the political wilderness.

Historical Organisation | By Dean Jaensch | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

South Australian National Party

The National Party: A changing party in a changing political, social and rural environment

Historical Organisation | By Dean Jaensch | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: view of a street corner with telephone box and poles

Unique to and ubiquitous throughout South Australia, the ugliness of stobie poles is periodically denounced, as also the mortal damage which they can and do inflict on the occupants of any vehicle unlucky enough to strike one at speed.

Historical Thing | By Patricia Sumerling and Wilfrid Prest | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Susan Grace Benny Plaque

The first female local government councillor in Australia, Benny was a Justice of the Peace, a businesswoman and a lobbyist for women’s equality.

Historical Thing | By Laura Sherwood, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2000-2010

Image: street view of buildings with horse and cart

The Adelaide Club

Modelled on the gentlemen’s clubs that proliferated in London from the eighteenth century, the Adelaide Club resembles bodies established at about the same time in the capital cities of the other Australian colonies.

Historical Organisation | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: bronze statue of a young naked boy in running pose

The Athlete

Once dubbed 'Adelaide's most active statue' the Athlete is now safely installed in the Lord Mayor's Courtyard.

Historical Thing | By Pat Stretton | Central Market, River Torrens, Southwest corner | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

The Eternal Question

Word artist Richard Tipping prompts us to consider big ideas in his sculpture ‘The Eternal Question’

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1940s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: bronze sculpture of family group with suitcase

The Immigrants

The Immigrants sculpture has been climbed on, sat on, stood next to and embraced by many people who have walked through the gates of the Migration Museum since 2006.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | North Terrace | 2000-2010

Image: man sitting on rocky outcrop overlooking township

Strehlow, Theodor

Theodor George Henry Strehlow (1908–1978) was brought up by his parents, Carl and Frieda Strehlow at the Hermannsburg Mission near Alice Springs. His work as linguist and ethnologist contributed extensively to white understanding of Aboriginal culture and music, but provoked ongoing dispute between settler and Indigenous cultures.

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

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

Image: two people walking through underground brick-walled rooms

Tunnels of Adelaide

Adelaide tunnel tales are a perennial favourite in the popular press, and are cheerfully perpetuated by tour operators and publicans everywhere.

Historical Thing | By Deb Morgan | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: group stand in front of a tavern building with four women standing on a balcony in the tavern

United Trades and Labor Council

Carpenters, tailors, bakers, carriers, cordwainers and coachmakers had formed unions within ten years of European settlement of South Australia, and by the 1870s there were thousands of union members in the colony.

Historical Organisation | By Tom Sheridan | 1890s, 1910s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Urban Cow Studios

Previously situated on Frome Road, near the corner of North Terrace, the Urban Cow Studio has been operating in Adelaide for around 25 years.

Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War had a significant impact on South Australian political life, and the course and character of opposition aroused by the war and conscription for it were different in Adelaide than in other capital cities.

Historical Event | By Malcolm Saunders | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Voyagers

The lives and cultures of ‘Afghan’ cameleers are recognised in Whitmore Square

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1860s, 1870s, 2000-2010

War Memorial

Architect Louis Laybourne-Smith and sculptor George Rayner Hoff created a memorial that conveys the impact of the First World War

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 2000-2010

Image: A small circular badge with painted wattle flowers with text above them which says for our own

Wattle Day

1 September in Australia is Wattle Day, though not widely known, some have argued it should replace Australia Day.

Historical Event | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1900-1910, 1910s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged bearded man in a suit. He has a full head of hair and is looking to the left

Mortlock, Mr. William

William Mortlock was a pastoralist and a generous and popular, if not necessarily brilliant, parliamentarian.

Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man with a bushy salt-and-pepper beard and receding ear-length hair. He is wearing a late-Victorian suit with bowtie

Randell, Mr. William

William Randell was a pioneer of River Murray paddle-steamers, and was responsible for both designing and piloting them.

Historical Person | By John Tolley | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Yerrakartarta

At the time of its installation in 1995, Yerrakartarta was the largest public commission of Aboriginal artwork in Australia.

Historical Thing | North Terrace | 1990s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, late twentieth century

Image: silhouette of a woman's head with white question mark on top

Fisher, Mrs. Elizabeth

Mrs Elizabeth Fisher was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide from 1840-1842, and again from 1852-1854.

Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1790s, 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s

Wilson, Mrs. Martha

Mrs Martha Wilson was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1842-1843.

Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1840s, 1850s

Hall, Mrs. Jane

Jane Hall was the Lady Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1854-1855.

Historical Person | By Steven Page, HerStory Project | 1840s, 1850s

Lazarus, Mrs. Julia

Julia Lazarus was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1855-1858.

Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Sabben, Mrs. Marianne

Marianne Sabben was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1858-1859.

Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Wright, Mrs. Agnes

Agnes Wright was Mayoress in 1859.