mid nineteenth century

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

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

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

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

Image: Man removing his shoes for prayer

Islamic Festivals in 1890s Adelaide

The Adelaide Mosque, the oldest in Australia, has been the centre of Islamic festivals since the 1890s

Historical Event | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1890s

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

James, Mr. Jimmy

A masterly Aboriginal police tracker, James saved lives, gathered evidence and attained legendary status.

Historical Person | By Robert Holmes | North Terrace | 1970s, 1980s, mid twentieth century

Wendt, Joachim

Joachim Wendt was a Danish-born silversmith whose work included extravagant naturalism, Edwardian style, and restrained Regency taste.

Historical Person | By Richard Phillips | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

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

McPherson, Mr. John

A union official and social reformer who was not a socialist, John McPherson became the first leader of South Australia's Parliamentary Labor Party

Historical Person | By Nick Ganzis | East Terrace | 1880s, 1890s

Image: An obituary notice featuring a photographic portrait of a moustachioed middle-aged man wearing wire-rimmed spectacles

Hartley, Mr. John

Though stern and strict, educationist (and first Inspector-General of Schools) John Anderson Hartley favoured progressive and innovative ideas.

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

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

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

Flynn, Mr. John

Founder of the Australian Inland Mission and Royal Flying Doctor Service, Flynn was a practical and restless innovator.

Historical Person | By Ron White | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain

The John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain commemorates the life of a senior judge, scholar and poet

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s

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

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

Wainwright, John

John William Wainwright (1880–1948) was born in Naracoorte in the South East, studied accountancy at night and became South Australia’s auditor-general, 1934–45.

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

Jordanians in South Australia

Most Jordanian South Australians have come to the state since the Second World War.

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

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

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

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

Image: several caucasian children sit around a wooden table playing with plasticine

Kindergartens

Based on the philosophy and understanding of child development of the German educator and philosopher Friedrich Froebel, kindergartens in South Australia began for both educational and humanitarian reasons.

Historical Subject | By Dr Helen Jones | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Statue of King Edward VII on North Terrace, showing original placement on roadway, 1920

King Edward VII Memorial

Creating and installing King Edward VII’s statute took eight months longer than the period of his reign

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s

Adelaidia