1. Sir Mellis Napier bust, 2013

    Sir Mellis Napier bust

    The bronze bust of Sir Mellis Napier, sculpted by eminent South Australian artist John Dowie, commemorates his distinguished community service, including to the law and legal profession in South Australia

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  2. Sir Samuel Way statue

    Sir Samuel Way Memorial Statue

    A statue of Sir Samuel Way reflects his towering presence in legal, political and cultural circles in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  3. Bronze statue of Sir Thomas Elder by Alfred Drury, 1903 outside Elder Hall, University of Adelaide

    Sir Thomas Elder statue

    The sculpture of Elder is at the University of Adelaide, a major beneficiary of his philanthropy

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

  4. Image: crowd of people around large bronze statue of seated man

    Sir Walter Watson Hughes statue

    The bronze figure of Sir Walter Watson Hughes by Francis Williamson stands on a massive block of red granite.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 2000-2010

  5. 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

  6. Image: group of planes in large hanger style building

    South Australian Aviation Museum

    The South Australian Aviation Museum is a purpose-built premises that houses historical aircraft, images and a library that are dedicated to aviation.

    Historical Place | By Mike Milln, South Australian Aviation Museum | 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  7. Green Dragon Hotel, 1939

    South Terrace

    Mansions at one end and cottages at the other, with businesses, welfare, medical and educational institutions in between, all overlooking the parklands

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

  8. Spheres, 2013

    Spheres

    Balancing and still among the bustle of Rundle Mall, Spheres is among Adelaide's favourite public artworks

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall | 1970s

  9. Image: Building front view

    State Herbarium

    Tram Barn A, which once housed part of the tram fleet, is now the State Herbarium, housing over one million plant specimens.

    Historical Place | By Open House Adelaide | 1900-1910

  10. Image: sepia shot of building facades

    Sym Choon Shops

    In 1925/26 Thomas Sym Choon bought his four children a shop each.

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  11. The Eternal Question by Richard Kelly Tipping 1982, Light Square

    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

  12. Image: two ships on still water

    The hulk 'Fitzjames'

    Between 1880 and 1891 the hulk Fitzjames, colloquially known as ‘Hell afloat’, served as a Reformatory for over 100 boys aged from 8 to 16 years of age. 

    Historical Thing | By Nikki Sullivan | 1880s, 1890s

  13. The Slide, 2013

    The Slide

    What fun! John Dowie’s work invigorates Rundle Mall

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall | 1970s

  14. Image: large fountain featuring human figures and birds lit up at night

    Three Rivers Fountain

    The Three Rivers fountain in Victoria Square commemorates the Royal Visit in 1963

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1960s, 2010s

  15. Image: Building front view

    Torrens Building

    Built in 1881, this heritage-listed building on Victoria Square has long captured the public's imagination with tales of secret tunnels.

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1870s, 1880s

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Venere di Canova, 2013

    Venere di Canova

    A startled Venus caused consternation as Adelaide’s first public statue in 1892

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

  19. Voyagers in Whitmore Square night photo

    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

  20. Image: carved grey granite horse trough memorial situated in the East parklands

    War Horse Memorial

    Remembering the role of horses in war.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1960s, early twenty–first century

  21. Image: monument with crowds of people

    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

  22. Image: parklands

    West Parklands

    A temporary camping ground for the early European settlers, the West Parklands developed to host most notably a cemetery and a school.

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

  23. Campden, West Terrace

    West Terrace

    A major cemetery, a palace and an observatory have graced West Terrace along with its parklands border

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

  24. Image: Bronze busts of two men's heads in garden next to footpath

    William Henry Bragg Bust

    This bust, sculpted in 2015 by South Australian artist Robert Hannaford, commemorates Professor William Bragg. 

    Historical Thing | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s

  25. Image: Darryl Pfitzner Malika's Yerrakartarta, 2018.

    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

Pages