Places

Colonel Light Survey Marker

Colonel William Light’s survey marker from 1837 is to be incorporated in the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1920s

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

Image: woman in front of sculpture of herself

Mitchell, Ms. Roma

A trailblazing jurist, Dame Roma Mitchell pushed for numerous law reforms and became South Australia’s first female governor.

Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: A young Caucasian woman poses for a photograph in her 1940s vintage bridal gown

Litchfield, Mrs. Ruby

As befitting a dedicated community worker and charity organizer, her simple philosophy was benign: ‘’To live and let live.’’

Historical Person | By Jo Peoples | North Terrace | 2000-2010, late twentieth 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

Dallwitz, Mr. David

David Dallwitz was an accomplished musician and artist, whose work in both fields covered a wide variety of forms.

Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A small group of Caucasian men, women and children dressed in late Victorian attire ride in a carriage-like vehicle along a town road. The vehicle has four spoked wheels and what appears to be an engine. A moustachioed middle-aged man operates it

Shearer, Mr. David

Though a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, David Shearer also designed an early car, constructed an observatory, and was a keen artist.

Historical Person | By Don Beaty | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Aboriginal man. He is clean-shaven, sporting a short haircut and is wearing a suit jacket and tie

Unaipon, David

David Unaipon was an Aboriginal leader, writer, gatherer of legends, and inventor who was referred to in the press as 'the Black Leonardo'.

Historical Person | By Philip Jones | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Destitute Asylum

Relief for the poor, the pregnant and the unemployed was a theme from the colony’s commencement

Historical Place | By Mary-Louise Geyer | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1910s

Image: A middle-aged Caucasian woman sits in a wheelchair and is wearing a fur stole and horn-rimmed glasses. Around her are seated three younger Caucasian women in formal dress

Taylor, Ms. Doris

Doris Taylor was the founder and organizer of Meals on Wheels, despite spending most of her life in a wheelchair.

Historical Person | By Michael Cudmore | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Dr John Dowie AM bust

Different, but a good likeness

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s

Dowie, Dr. John

Works by the renowned and unpretentious artist John Dowie enhance many public places

Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace, Parklands, Rundle Mall | 1910s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: a man sits cross legged on a chair, holding a newspaper

Elder Family of Scots merchants and ship owners saw the infant South Australia as an opportunity to expand their business interests. Alexander Lang Elder (1815–1885), the pioneer, arrived in 1839 and established a trading business.

Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: The interior of a large hall with a hammerbeam roof and tiered seating on two levels.

Elder Hall

The simple exterior of Elder Hall belies the richness of its interior and the resonance of its organ

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 2000-2010

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

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

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

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

Women arranging flowers on the ground with buildings in the background

Flower Day

Every year between 1938 and 1975 Adelaidians showed pride in their city by beautifying it with mass displays of flowers on National Flower Day.

Historical Event | By John Davis | North Terrace | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

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: Head and torso shot of a middle aged man wearing round rimmed glasses

Henderson, George

George Henderson figured prominently in South Australia’s cultural, educational and social life.

Historical Person | By Wilfrid Prest | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1920s, 1940s

Mayo, Mr. George

George Elton Mayo was an extraordinarily versatile pioneer in human relations, management studies and psychoanalysis.

Historical Person | By Dr Oliver Mayo | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Image: Black and white photograph of Indigenous woman

Elphick MBE, Gladys

Known to all as ‘Aunty Glad’, Elphick was a tireless worker for Aboriginal welfare.

Historical Person | By Lewis O'Brien & Professor Paul Hughes | North Terrace | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

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