1. 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

  2. Image: George Hall Plaque

    Hall, Mr. George

    In the days before Coca-Cola and Pepsi, George Hall was a forward-thinking manufacturer of soft drinks.

    Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  3. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with mutton-chop sideburns wearing clerical vestments

    Farr, Dr. George

    A clergyman and headmaster, Farr was a champion of gentlemanly behaviour, honesty and good sportsmanship.

    Historical Person | By Robert Fisher | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  4. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a bearded, middle-aged man wearing a suit with cravat and jewelled cravat pin

    Goyder, Mr. George

    A surveyor and conservationist, and incredibly prolific letter-writer, Goyder is mainly remembered for his famous ‘line of rainfall’.

    Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Image: Painting of the back of a man sitting on a chair at his desk. The man is balding. The painting is black and white.

    Menge, Johannes

    Johannes Menge, born in Steinau, Germany, was South Australia's first geologist.

    Historical Person | By Bernie O'Neil | 1790s, early nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  16. Bishop, John

    Instigator and first Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival, John Bishop was a musician, teacher and visionary.

    Historical Person | By Jo Peoples | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  17. Image: Black and white photograph of two men in suits. They are standing around a just unwrapped painting of a ship

    Tregenza, John

    John Tregenza's work has helped the South Australian public appreciate just how interesting and important their own history can be.

    Historical Person | By Wilfrid Prest | late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  18. Man sitting in small archive room with pictures behind him

    Vanagas, Mr. Jonas

    A quiet unassuming immigrant to Australia, Jonas Vanagas gave his free time to collect the history of Lobethal and the Lithuanian community.

    Historical Person | By Daina Pocius, Lithuanians in South Australia | 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, Second World War

  19. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged woman in Victorian attire

    Farr, Mrs. Julia

    The plight of the girls in the Destitute Asylum spurred on social worker Julia Farr.

    Historical Person | By Joan Clift | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  20. Image: photograph of Kate Cocks

    Cocks , Fanny

    Kate Cocks was both a welfare worker and the first woman police constable in the British Empire.

    Historical Person | By Dorothy Pyatt | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, 1950s

  21. Image: side view of man in suit, seated

    Bragg, William

    Lawrence Bragg jointly won the 1915 Nobel Prize for Physics with his father, William Bragg for their work in X-Ray Crystallography.

    Historical Person | By Robert George | 1890s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Logic (Pinba)

    Logic (Pinba), a convicted murderer, was described in the Advertiser of 12 December 1885 as ‘one of the most popular men in the colony’. 

    Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  23. Image: Upper body portrait photograph of a man wearing a suit

    McEwin, Mr. Alexander

    Lyell Alexander McEwin (1897–1988) received a frugal Mid North upbringing which taught him the motto, ‘waste not, want not’, that characterised his 40 years in the Legislative Council, 1934–75. 

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  24. Image: black and white photo of man in suit wearing white turban

    Allum, Mahomet

    Mahomet Allum was described in glowing testimonials as 'the wonder man' and by his adversaries as a 'quack'. 

    Historical Person | By Vedrana Budimir & Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  25. Jackson Nelson, Ms. Marjorie

    A phenomenally successful athlete, Marjorie Jackson Nelson went on to become a governor of South Australia

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | North Terrace | 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  26. Warnes, Mrs. Mary

    Deeply affected by the isolation and loneliness of her early married life, Mary Jane Warnes strived to improve conditions for her fellow countrywomen by founding the South Australian Country Women’s Association.

    Historical Person | By Nancy Robinson Flannery | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  27. Image: A portrait of a young woman wearing a nun’s habit. She is holding a bible and a crucifix

    MacKillop, Mary

    An educationist and co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mary MacKillop is now famous as Australia’s only Catholic saint.

    Historical Person | By Sister Marie Foale | Central Market, North Terrace | 1900-1910, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  28. Image: bearded man seated with book

    Moorhouse, Dr. Matthew

    Matthew Moorhouse, a medical practitioner, arrived in South Australia from Staffordshire, England, in June 1839 to take up appointment as the colony’s first permanent protector of Aboriginals. 

    Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  29. Mills, Ms. May

    Educationist and sports administrator May Mills believed 'the wholesome development of a nation' depended on sport. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  30. McLeod, Mr. Murdoch

    A very industrious and conservative businessman, Murdoch McLeod was generous but modest and never flamboyant. 

    Historical Person | By Knoyle Cross | Central Market | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Pages