1. Image: Proclamation sign

    The first reading of the proclamation

    The December 1836 proclamation at Holdfast Bay is South Australia’s best known historical event, despite it often being misunderstood

    Historical Event | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  2. Image: bronze sculpture of family group with suitcase

    The Immigrants

    The Immigrants sculpture has been climbed on, sat on, stood next to and embraced by many people who have walked through the gates of the Migration Museum since 2006.

    Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | North Terrace | 2000-2010

  3. Image: gold chain with opal

    The Lady Mayoress' Chain

    Collection Item | 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  4. Image: pencil drawing of people in front of large stone building

    The Prince Albert Hotel

    The Prince Albert Hotel, built in 1852, was associated with the Dreyer family, who originally migrated from Germany. It operated as a family business between 1852 and 1976.

    Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia

  5. Image: Printed document headed ’Proclamation’

    The Proclamation

    South Australia’s first vice-regal proclamation was read at Holdfast Bay on 28 December 1836

    Historical Subject | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  6. image: memorial of large granite stone split in two

    The Space Between

    Simple stone stands as a reminder of a painful past history. 

    Historical Place | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | Parklands

  7. Image: A long, well-lit room containing several shelves of books on one side and six reading tables on the other

    The University of Adelaide

    Reflecting the province's progressive founding ideals, the University of Adelaide on North Terrace was South Australia's first university, established in 1874. 

    Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace

  8. Image: Front view of a theatre building with cars driving in the foreground and people on the street

    Theatre

    South Australia’s theatrical beginnings were commercial and entrepreneurial: trade as much as art drove public houses and performance together.

    Historical Subject | By Gus Worby | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Image: stacks of wine bottles and large wine barrels with signs reading Hardy's

    Hardy, Thomas

    Thomas Hardy lectured and wrote on the wine business and olive growing, was a member of the Phylloxera Board, Wine Growers’ Association, South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society and the Chamber of Manufactures, judged local horticultural shows, published regularly in the local press and wrote two books, Notes on Vineyards in America and Europe (1885) and A Vigneron Abroad, Trip to South Africa (1899).

    Historical Person | By Dr Geoffrey Bishop | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  10. Image: Photographic portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in the clothing of a Christian minister. He is sitting in an high-backed chair and has his right hand resting on a book--possibly a bible

    Stow, Thomas

    Founder of the Congregational Church in South Australia, Thomas Stow was a strenuous minister and a dedicated opponent of state aid to religion.

    Historical Person | By Brian Jones | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  11. Image: Black and white photo of an old observatory building.

    Time

    Within a year of settlement, Adelaide's residents were synchronising their timepieces by a bell rung in North Terrace near West Terrace at local noon.

    Historical Subject | By Bill Stacy | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing a light-coloured, late-Victorian era suit and sporting a very large handlebar moustache

    Smith, Mr. Tom

    A proverbial chip off the old block, Tom Elder Barr Smith was an astute businessman and generous philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  13. Image: Building front view

    Torrens Building

    Built in 1881, this heritage-listed building on Victoria Square has long captured the public's imagination with tales of secret tunnels.

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1870s, 1880s

  14. Image: Bronze plaque

    Torrens Lake Fountain

    The Torrens Lake Fountain commemorates the first time South Australia was visited by a reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1950s

  15. Image: building surrounded by open ground near railway

    Torrens Parade Ground and Training Depot

    During both world wars the Parade Ground served as a mustering point and enlistment centre. The distinctive white building, known simply as the Torrens Training Depot, was built in 1936.

    Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia

  16. Torrens Title

    The Torrens title system for land ownership was inaugurated in South Australia  has led the world in the computerisation of real property title information.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  17. Image: People walking and others fishing with hand rods from a wooden jetty

    Tourism

    The South Australian Tourism Commission, established in 1993, focuses on marketing South Australia as a tourist destination to interstate and overseas markets.

    Historical Subject | By Lyn Leader-Elliot | North Terrace, Parklands | 1880s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  18. Image: Red metal bike with three wheels

    Tricycle

    Tricycle, painted red and white.

    Collection Item | 1950s

  19. Image: two people walking through underground brick-walled rooms

    Tunnels of Adelaide

    Adelaide tunnel tales are a perennial favourite in the popular press, and are cheerfully perpetuated by tour operators and publicans everywhere.

    Historical Thing | By Deb Morgan | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Image: group stand in front of a tavern building with four women standing on a balcony in the tavern

    United Trades and Labor Council

    Carpenters, tailors, bakers, carriers, cordwainers and coachmakers had formed unions within ten years of European settlement of South Australia, and by the 1870s there were thousands of union members in the colony.

    Historical Organisation | By Tom Sheridan | 1890s, 1910s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  21. Urban Cow Studios

    Previously situated on Frome Road, near the corner of North Terrace, the Urban Cow Studio has been operating in Adelaide for around 25 years.

    Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  22. Venere di Canova, 2013

    Venere di Canova

    A startled Venus caused consternation as Adelaide’s first public statue in 1892

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

  23. Image: A simple line drawing of a man in cricket batsman attire swinging a cricket bat

    Richardson, Mr. Victor

    The term 'all-round sportsman' might have been coined for Victor York Richardson, who excelled at cricket, football, baseball, lacrosse, tennis and basketball. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Bernard Whimpress | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  24. Image: large crowd of people in open building

    Victoria Park

    Victoria Park was the first official racetrack in South Australia.

    Historical Place | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia

  25. Victoria Park Racecourse

    The permanent establishment of what became popularly known as the 'Old Adelaide Racecourse' was exceptionally controversial 

    User Story | East Terrace | 1860s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  26. Image: trees in from of a building with tall tower

    Victoria Square/ Tarntanyangga

    Victoria Square, named after Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) in 1836, is the central and most significant of Adelaide’s squares.

    Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Central Market | 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

  27. Image: People in a field picking grapes

    Viticulture

    The growing of grape vines dates from the earliest years of European settlement in South Australia.

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

  28. Voyagers in Whitmore Square night photo

    Voyagers

    The lives and cultures of ‘Afghan’ cameleers are recognised in Whitmore Square

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1860s, 1870s, 2000-2010

  29. Bagot , Walter

    Bagot was an architect whose work, including Bonython Hall and the Barr Smith Library, displays his preference for classical and traditional designs.

    Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  30. Image: monument with crowds of people

    War Memorial

    Architect Louis Laybourne-Smith and sculptor George Rayner Hoff created a memorial that conveys the impact of the First World War

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 2000-2010

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