1. 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

  2. Image: man stands next to building made of logs

    Forestry

    With few areas of high rainfall, South Australia lacks abundant native forests. 

    Historical Subject | By Rob Robinson and Peter Johnston | early twentieth century, Great Depression, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  3. 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

  4. Image: man in formal regalia

    Freemasonry

    The first South Australian Freemasons lodge formed in England, before the colony of South Australia was settled. 

    Historical Subject | By David Hilliard | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  5. Image: Head and torso shot of a middle aged man wearing round rimmed glasses

    Henderson, George

    George Henderson figured prominently in South Australia’s cultural, educational and social life. 

    Historical Person | By Wilfrid Prest | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1920s, 1940s

  6. 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

  7. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Ghanaian in South Australia

    African and Asian Ghanaians have immigrated to Australia since 1973, when the White Australia policy was abolished.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

  8. 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

  9. Image: portrait of woman

    Sym Choon, Miss Gladys

    A pioneering businesswoman, Gladys Sym Choon was a well known member of South Australian society.

    Historical Person | By Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  10. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Greeks in South Australia

    Greek arrivals in South Australia increased in the years after the First World War

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

  11. Salisbury , Harold

    Harold Hubert Salisbury (1915–1991), a career policeman and winner of the Queen’s Police medal in 1970, was recruited from Yorkshire to be South Australia’s police commissioner in 1972. In 1978 the ‘Salisbury Affair’ polarised South Australia’s community (roughly along party-political lines) and remains controversial.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1970s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Health

    How healthy are South Australians? And what makes the differences?

    Historical Subject | By Judith Raftery | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  13. 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

  14. Butler, Henry

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

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

  15. 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

  16. Image: blue plaque with logo and text

    Heritage Conservation

    Conserving built heritage incurs passionate debates about the development of society and the physical evidence of the evolution of the community

    Historical Subject | By Francesca Stropin | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  17. Image: Four men and a woman in university graduation attire sit on chairs and pose for a photograph

    Higher education

    Higher education has expanded to provide a range of benefits to all.

    Historical Subject | By Alison Mackinnon AM | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Historical Societies

    While statewide historical societies formed in New South Wales in 1901, Victoria in 1909, Queensland in 1913 and Western Australia in 1926, South Australians lagged in founding societies to commemorate their own history.

    This did not mean that all ignored their past. Several founders of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch (1885), hoped that the society would devote much attention to the recording of history, and through their efforts the society fulfilled some functions of a state historical society.

    Historical Subject | By Kerrie Round | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  19. 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

  20. Image: Black and white photo of horseracing in progress, crowd behind a fence

    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

  21. Image: Portrait photograph of Ian Mudie

    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

  22. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Indians in South Australia

    The first known Indian immigrants arrived in South Australia in the late 1830s

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 2000-2010, late twentieth century

  23. Image: Women welding in factory

    Industrialisation

    For three decades or so from the late 1930s, largely coinciding with the premiership of Tom Playford, rapid industrialisation transformed the state of South Australia. 

    Historical Subject | By David C Rich | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  24. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Iranians in South Australia

    According to oral history sources Kamran Eshraghian was the first known Iranian to settle in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

  25. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Italians in South Australia

    Antonio Giannoni from Rimini was the first Italian to settle in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Japanese in South Australia

    South Australia’s earliest contact with Japan was in 1876, when the South Australian government began negotiations to settle Japanese sugar cane farmers in the Northern Territory. The scheme was never realised.

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

  29. 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

  30. 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

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