Places

Image: A large group of British migrants of various ages arrive at hostel entrance. A sign above the door reads SPF Hostel.

Elder Park migrant hostel

Right in the centre of the city, Elder Park was a first stopping point for many new migrants arriving in South Australia.

Historical Place | By Dr Karen Agutter, the University of Adelaide, & Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | Parklands | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A crowd of people in early twentieth century attire sit on the grass around a rotunda where a band plays

Elder Park.

From dumping ground to pleasure gardens

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2020s

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 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

Woolcock, Mrs. Elizabeth

Hanged at Adelaide Gaol on 30 December 1873, the 26-year-old Elizabeth Woolcock is the only woman to have been legally executed in South Australia

Historical Person | By Peter Bell | 1870s

Emigration Square

Care for migrants, the unemployed and the destitute was evident from South Australia’s foundation days.

Historical Place | By Kate Walsh | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s

Image: A large building with a domed roof is lit up by hundreds of small globes running along its key architectural features, such as around windows and along roof lines.

Exhibition Building and Grounds

Now lost, the Exhibition Building once dominated North Terrace

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

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

Find a Furby

Artist Laura Lamington is responsible for a Furby craze that has been sweeping across Adelaide since around 2017. Paste-ups of the lovable creature can be spotted everywhere around town.

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

First aerial ascent

American aeronaut Thomas Gale made South Australia’s first successful aerial ascent in June 1871

Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | North Terrace | 1870s

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Adelaide

Opened in 1957 for 360 people with a Sunday school for 300, the church has a marble porch and a 21.3m impressive entrance foyer

Historical Place | By Open House Adelaide | North Terrace | 1950s

Flinders St Baptist Church

Flinders Street Baptist Church opened on 26 April 1863.

Historical Place

Image: a round bordered illustration of a church with a single spire on it's right hand side

Flinders Street

From ‘City of Churches’ to the ‘City of Cars’, Flinders Street reflects changes in Adelaide

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, early twenty–first century

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: A man wearing mid-Victorian era attire poses for a photograph. He is seated and is wearing a suit and jacket with tails, and has a fob watch on a chain attached to his waistcoat.

Faulding, Mr. Francis

Faulding was a manufacturing chemist, prominent businessman, city councillor and church benefactor.

Historical Person | By Peter Donovan | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, mid nineteenth century

Image: Photograph of farmers and horses pulling a harvester

May, Mr. John

Frederick May was an engineer and manufacturer, and the archetypal 'quiet achiever' who missed out on major fame and success.

Historical Person | By Mark Boon | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Freemasonry

The first South Australian Freemasons lodge formed in England, before the colony of South Australia was settled.

Historical Subject | By David Hilliard | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Freemasons Grand Lodge

Completed in 1927 the Freemasons Grand Lodge, or Masonic Centre, is a well known landmark on North Terrace.

Historical Place | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1920s

Image: A lithograph of a middle-aged man in Victorian attire seated at a table and holding a book

Angas , George

This merchant, banker, landowner and philanthropist was generous but shrewd, and often tagged with the phrase ‘philanthropy plus ten per cent’.

Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man with medium-length dark hair wearing early Victorian-era attire

Angas , George

Equal parts naturalist and artist, George French Angas depicted the South Australian landscape, Aboriginal inhabitants, and flora and fauna with meticulous accuracy.

Historical Person | By John Healey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

Image: A group of girls perform exercises in a grassy ground surrounded by trees and playground equipment

Glover Playground

The creation of playgrounds was a manifestation of moves for healthier environments for young children living in cities and suburbs

Historical Place | By Peter Bell | East Terrace, South Terrace

Goodman Crescent- University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a commanding presence on North Terrace. It began in 1874 when South Australia was less than 40 years old, with a population of about 200,000 people.

Historical Place | By South Australian School for Vision Impaired (SASVI) | North Terrace