1. Begg, Percy

    Literally born in a tent, Percy Begg became a pioneer orthodontist whose innovations benefit patients to this day.

    Historical Person | By Dr John Jenner | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  2. Nelson, Mr. Peter

    A resolute cyclist, Peter Nelson was married to Marjorie Jackson Nelson and died of leukaemia at a young age.

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  3. Dawson, Mr. Peter

    A singer of both bush ballads and classics, Dawson was the first to record ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  4. Philanthropy

    ‘South Australia’, wrote the early twentieth-century author of The Cyclopedia of South Australia, ‘owes its existence to a movement which had its origins in philanthropy’. 

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

  5. Picture Puzzle Blocks

    Picture blocks were a forerunner of the jigsaw puzzle. 

    Collection Item | late nineteenth century

  6. Pirie Street

    Pirie Street has been home to cottages, churches, commerce and clubs

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  7. Pirie Street Methodist Church

    Pirie Street Methodist Church was the ‘cathedral church’ of Methodism in Adelaide.

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | late nineteenth century

  8. Playford Family

    A Baptist minister and Waterloo veteran with a dragoon’s pension, South Australia’s first Thomas Playford arrived in 1844 to claim an inherited original town acre. Thomas’s eldest son, Thomas Playford (1837–1915), was a successful orchardist at Drysdale, Norton Summit, in the Adelaide Hills. Thomas’s grandson, Tom Playford (1896–1981), also went into parliament, becoming Australia’s longest-serving premier.

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Booboorowie, Mr. Poltpalingada

    From the 1880s Tommy Walker, or Poltpalingada Booboorowie, was a leading figure among the community of Aboriginal people who lived on the fringes of white Adelaide society.

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

  10. Popeye

    'Popeye the Sailor' was a popular cartoon at the cinema in the 1930s when Gordon Watts introduced a tourist pleasure craft on the River Torrens

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  11. Population

    South Australia’s demography is in many ways the most distinctive of all Australia’s states, but the wealth of historical population data available for both the colony and state remains under-analysed.

    Historical Subject | By Graeme Hugo | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Presbyterian Church

    The Presbyterian Church has a long history in South Australia, owing much to the early Scotish community.

    Historical Organisation | By John Love | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  13. Prisons

    Although South Australia was proclaimed a free settlement, colonial officials soon found they needed a gaol to house lawbreakers. 

    Historical Subject | By Patricia Sumerling | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Probation

    In South Australia probation encapsulated several kinds of opportunity, not only for those prosecuted but also for the criminal justice system and society

    Historical Subject | By Jon Telfer | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  15. Bragg, Prof. William

    Professor William Bragg had an extraordinarily active scientific career in Adelaide. 

    Historical Person | By John Patterson | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  16. Public Libraries

    South Australia was unique among the Australian colonies in that the South Australian Literary and Scientific Association assembled a subscription library before the settlers left Britain.

    Historical Place | By Carl Bridge and Michael Talbot | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  17. Pubs

    JM Freeland characterises Australian pubs as among ‘the most socially significant, historically valuable, architecturally interesting and colourful features of Australian society’ (Freeland 1977, p. 1). South Australia’s pubs are no exception. 

    Historical Subject | By Patricia Sumerling | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Queen's College

    Designed in 1892, Queen’s School became one of South Australia’s leading private schools.

    Historical Place | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  19. Radicalism

    Radicalism has been inherent in South Australian history from its founding as a free settlement.  Based upon the English radical liberal thought of its founders, the State's reputation grew as a progressive colony and the first to entirely separate church from state.

    Historical Subject | By Brendan Moran | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s

  20. Reconciliation Touchstone

    The red granite sculpture captures the plaster imprints of 64 handshakes made at a Reconciliation Week ceremony in 2006. 

    Historical Thing | By Catherine Barron, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2000-2010, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early twenty–first century

  21. Refugees

    In general refugees have enriched and diversified South Australia’s religions, universities and schools, food, the arts, newspapers, clubs and sports.

    Historical Subject | By Kate Walsh | 1830s, 1840s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Retail Trade

    In the early years of European settlement the distinction between retail trade, wholesale trade and importing in South Australia was unclear, with many businesses combining all three functions.

    Historical Subject | By Martin P Shanahan | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  23. Rex Theatre

    Opening in 1933, inheriting the place of a cinema which had existed on the spot since 1910, the Rex Theatre was a popular cinema on Rundle Street that was demolished in 1961.

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  24. Hanson, Sir Richard

    Sir Richard Davies Hanson was a lawyer, politician, theologian and author who helped write in significant aspects of South Australia's Constitution

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | mid nineteenth century

  25. River Torrens

    The River Torrens has dominated the development of Adelaide and its metropolis, often in subtle or little recognised ways

    Historical Place | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  26. Smith, Robert

    Robert Barr Smith had a genius for business. He was also a generous philanthropist, though his modesty dictated that much of the funding was dispensed anonymously.

    Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  27. Robert Burns Memorial

    One of many around the world, this statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns was unveiled in 1894

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1930s, 1940s, 1990s

  28. Sharpe, Mr. Ronald

    An outstanding baseballer and baseball writer, Ron Sharpe was also no slouch as a cricketer.

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  29. Rene, Roy

    Roy Rene, known most prominently for his character of Mo McCackie, has been generally hailed as one of Australia’s best comic performers. 

    Historical Person | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

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