mid nineteenth century

Childhood

The history of childhood in South Australia has been characterised by the assimilation policies practised by the state and the Christian churches throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and also changes in infant mortality, and the introduction of compulsory schooling.

Historical Subject | By Ian Davey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

Image: Exterior of Art Deco style church and associated book shop

Christian Science

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, traditionally regarded as unorthodox, has a wider influence than its numerically small size suggests

Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | North Terrace | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Closer Settlement

Settlers believed that using land intensively maximised its value and civilised its occupants, and that holdings should be small to allow people to hold land

Historical Subject | By Bill Gammage | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Colonel Light statue

Colonel William Light’s statue on Montefiore Hill pointing towards the centre of Adelaide has come to symbolise the city that Light laid out.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, early twenty–first century

Image: The memorial to Colonel Light without its spire

Colonel William Light Grave and Monument

Colonel William Light’s grave remains in Light Square, while Light's Monument there has been replaced and embellished over time

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910

Colonial Laws Validity Act

The powers of colonial legislatures to create courts, alter local constitutions and authenticate laws were confirmed by the British statute.

Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1860s, 1930s

Image: A cartoon drawing depicting a group of soldiers, and a sergeant who is trying to conscript a man

Conscription

Universal military training, including ‘boy conscription’ for those as young as 12, was introduced via the Commonwealth Defence Act in 1911.

Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Coopers Brewery

Coopers Brewery has survived where many others have failed; it is now the only Australian-owned major brewing company.

Historical Organisation | By Alison Painter | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Several large brick chimneys are flanked by a number of buildings. A vague coastline is visible in the background

Copper Industry

Copper brought unexpected wealth to the new colony and was an economic mainstay for 70 years, with a resurgence since the 1980s at Olympic Dam

Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

Cornish

South Australian mineral discoveries of the 1840s (especially at Kapunda and Burra in the Mid North) and extension of the farming frontier, were a magnet to the Cornish.

Historical Subject | By Mel Davies | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Dardanelles Memorial

The first Anzac memorial was once an obelisk in a grove of wattles

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 2000-2010, 2010s, First World War

Image: A small group of men work near the base of a large battleship turret with two cannons

Defence Science and Industry

South Australia has been closely involved in the nation’s defence science and industry work for almost a century and continues to seek such opportunities

Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Democratic Labor Party (DLP)

With little electoral support and no success in winning seats, the DLP’s role in South Australian politics was brief and ineffectual

Historical Organisation | By Dean Jaensch | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A young Caucasian man rides a camel in the Australian outback. He is dressed in 1930s attire, including a fedora hat

Distance

Geographical position and distance have strongly shaped the European history of South Australia.

Historical Subject | By Geoffrey Blainey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A group of women sit on either side of a long table arranging paper documents, a man walks by with a trolley stacked with papers.

Elections

Elections to select members of parliament or local councillors are an important part of the democratic system. Who is allowed to vote is determined by the franchise, and who may stand for election by other provisions of electoral law.

Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Electricity

Although amateur scientists had tinkered with it, electricity was not put to public use in South Australia until the arrival in 1855 of Charles Todd, who pioneered electrical telegraphic communications and introduced the notion of using electricity for street lighting.

Historical Subject | By Rob Linn | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Front view of a historic building with a small garden and trees at the front

Exhibitions

Exhibitions have been major occasions in the lives of many South Australians.

Historical Subject | By Stephanie Schrapel | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: R.T. Maurice’s expedition party. Three Aboriginal men standing, two white men sitting, one dog on the floor. All the men wear suits.

Exploration

The early heroic phase of South Australia’s exploration by Europeans was plagued by difficulties.

Historical Subject | By Philip Jones | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: Bronze statue of a mans upper body

Farnese Hercules

One of three statues given to Adelaide by WA Horn, Hercules was unveiled in October 1892 in Victoria Square.

Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan and Pat Stretton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Group of elderly women sitting in a room wearing hats

Feminism

Feminism is a politics concerned with advocating rights and opportunities for women; especially any extension of women’s social, economic and geographical spheres of activity, and with celebrating women’s achievements, humour and creativity. As a social and political movement in Australia, feminism emerged in the late nineteenth century in what was termed the ‘Woman Movement.’ Its central concern was the achievement of votes for women.

Historical Subject | By Susan Magarey | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: window display with range of chemist products

FH Faulding & Co.

From a humble origin to major international status within the pharmaceutical industry

Historical Organisation | By Peter Donovan | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Film

In October 1896, within one year of the Lumière brothers’ first public screening of film in Paris, the first public film screening in South Australia occurred at the Theatre Royal in Hindley Street

Historical Subject | By Dylan Walker | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: A tall gum tree stands near the bank of a river, which is visible in the distant background. The trunk of the tree is adorned with several small signs showing the year in which a major flood occurred and its water level height

Floods

Paradoxically, the only parts of South Australia to experience occasional serious disruption of by flooding are the far distant sparsely populated deserts around Lake Eyre

Historical Subject | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1970s, 2010s

Image: man stands next to building made of logs

Forestry

With few areas of high rainfall, South Australia lacks abundant native forests.

Historical Subject | By Rob Robinson and Peter Johnston | early twentieth century, Great Depression, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Franchise

The franchise has proved a lively issue in South Australia’s political history. Before representative government, wealthy men of property claimed that parliament should represent only those with a stake in the country, whereas many colonists sought popular representation.

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