1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

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

    Irish in South Australia

    Irish immigrants have settled throughout the state of South Australia

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

  9. Image: seated man in relaxed pose

    Fisher, Sir James

    Fisher became the first Mayor of Adelaide in 1840 and the first resident South Australian to be knighted in 1860

    Historical Person | By Allison Russell, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  10. Image: A full-length photographic portrait of an elderly, bearded man sitting in a chair. The man is wearing a suit and holding a cane in his hands

    Martin, Mr. James

    A man of many parts, Martin was an inventor, politician, philanthropist, engineer and ‘The Father of Gawler’.

    Historical Person | By Derek Whitelock | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

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

    Jewish in South Australia

    Jews are descendants of a nomadic people who lived in the Middle East in ancient times, or adherents of the Jewish religion.

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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Image: men and horse drawn carts in front of a huge pile of wheat sacks

    Dunn, Mr. John

    The father of Mount Barker, John Dunn lived a long and successful life as a miller, merchant and philanthropist in South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  15. Image: Illustration of a bearded man leaning on a rifle and armed with two pistols attached to his belt, c.1855

    Stuart, John McDouall

    Explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was celebrated as a hero for leading the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

    Historical Person | By Peter Bowyer | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  16. Statue of John McDouall Stuart, unveiled 4 June 1904

    John McDouall Stuart statue

    The statue of inland explorer John McDouall Stuart at the corner of Victoria Square and Flinders Street, Adelaide, commemorates his place in Australian history

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 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. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a long white beard and equally long hair. He is wearing what appear to be ecclesiastical vestments and a hat

    Ridley, Mr. John

    A miller and inventor of the harvesting device that bears his name, John Ridley revolutionized the wheat industry in South Australia. 

    Historical Person | By Jack Reddin | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s

  19. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly man dressed in late-nineteenth century attire and sporting a long white beard

    Bagshaw, John

    ‘If worth doing, do it well’ was the motto of John Bagshaw, pioneering designer and manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

    Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  20. 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

  21. Kaurna language team 2013

    Kaurna language (Kaurna warra)

    Kaurna, the original language of Adelaide and the Adelaide Plains, is once again being heard.

    Historical Subject | By Rob Amery | Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  22. Ivarityi

    Kaurna People

    The original people of the Adelaide Plains are still here - and once again speaking the Kaurna language.

    Historical Subject | By Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien & Mandy Paul | Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  23. King William Street looking south from North Terrace

    King William Street

    Celebration, commemoration and protest happen amid the grand buildings that line Adelaide's main thoroughfare

    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, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  24. Kingston Map

    The Kingston Map of Adelaide of shows building development and the variety of construction just six years after colonial occupation of the site.

    Maps and Panoramas | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1840s

  25. Image: Seven bewigged and robed supreme court judges, seated and posing for photograph, 1915

    Legal Profession

    The evolving profession in South Australia retained some centuries-old practices.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1980s

  26. Image: Old document in browning ink with large wax seal attached at bottom

    Letters Patent

    South Australia's founding document is once again the source of intense political and legal debate.

    Historical Subject | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  27. Australian Light Horse Memorial, 2010

    Light Horse Memorial

    Remembering South Australian Light Horsemen who served in Egypt and Palestine and at Gallipoli

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, Boer War, early twenty–first century

  28. Image: Crowd watching unveiling of monument

    Light Square/ Wauwi

    Originally intended as a recreational garden oasis from the surrounding city, Light Square, however, developed a reputation for prostitution, drinking and violence.

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

  29. Image: sepia city map

    Light’s Plan of Adelaide, 1840

    Light’s Plan of Adelaide as printed in 1840 gives the names of people who first bought land in the city and the title numbers of the town acres that they purchased.

    Maps and Panoramas | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s

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

    Lithuanians in South Australia

    Lithuanian migrants came to South Australia as early as the 1840s, numbers expanded significantly following the Second World War. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1840s, 1930s, mid twentieth century

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