mid nineteenth century

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

Indonesians in South Australia

Indonesians had contact with Australia before white settlement

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image: A photographic portrait of a middle-aged man with a moustache and wire-rimmed spectacles

Black, John

Remembered as an eminent botanist, Black was also an accomplished linguist, who reprimanded his grandchildren in French and his dog in Spanish.

Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

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

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

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

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

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

Koreans in South Australia

Most Korean South Australians are from the Republic of Korea (known as South Korea). They first began arriving in South Australia in the early 1970s.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

Adelaidia