1. Image: Sepia photograph of Greek Revival style building

    Museum of Economic Botany

    The Museum of Economic Botany features exhibits outlining the practical and economic use of plant materials. 


     

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1880s

  2. Image: tropical plants in a glasshouse, with stone grotto ornamentation

    Palm House

    Built in 1877 as a greenhouse for tropical plants, the Palm House was immediately hailed as the pride of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, and even of the city of Adelaide itself. It was the prized achievement of Dr Richard Schomburgk, the second and most renowned Director of the Botanic Garden. While it no longer houses tropical plants as originally intended, its restoration in the 1990s has meant that the Palm House is still a prominent part of the Botanic Garden experience.  It remains as the only known extant German-built glasshouse of the period anywhere in the world. 

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1870s

  3. Image: Princess Elizabeth Playground

    Parklands

    An ongoing source of enjoyment and controversy, the parklands are a unique and remarkably intact feature of Adelaide

    Historical Place | By Peter Bell | Parklands

  4. Image: painting of building with figures holding spears in foreground

    Pirltawardli

    Pirltawardli, (possum home) is the site of the first Christian mission to Aboriginal people in South Australia.

    Historical Place | By Rhondda Harris | Parklands | 1840s

  5. Image: a long, narrow tourist boat with a canvas roof is moored at a concrete dock with a metal railing.

    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

  6. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-19th century coat and bowtie. Three medals are pinned to the left breast of his coat

    Schomburgk, Dr. Richard

    A botanist, horticulturist and the director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Richard Schomburgk was honoured locally as 'the people’s pet'. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Pauline Payne | North Terrace, Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  7. Image: A map depicting morphological features of the City of Adelaide and its surrounding landscape, with particular emphasis placed on the River Torrens and its associated features

    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

  8. Image: Man in white makeup and black beard smiles widely

    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

  9. Image: The multimedia screen emits a rainbow of colors over nighttime pedestrians

    Rundle Lantern

    The Rundle Lantern is 100% green-powered and the light show is carbon neutral.

    Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 2000-2010

  10. Image: black and white photo of street lined with three and four storey buildings

    Rundle Street

    Rundle Street has been a centre of shops and arcades, theatre and cafes, as well as acrimonious debate

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall, Rundle Street east | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Image: Black and white photograph of a man seated backwards on chair with arms crossed on seat back and an open book on the table beside him

    Gill, Samuel Thomas

    Artist Samuel Thomas Gill produced a lively visual record of early South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | Hindley Street, North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  12. Image: Black and white photograph of man wearing formal clothes and livery collar

    Elder GCMG, Sir Thomas

    A pastoralist, philanthropist and businessman, Elder supported numerous outback expeditions and Adelaide institutions.

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace, Parklands | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  13. Image: survey chain

    Survey Chain

    Survey chain used by Isaac Guley in surveying the City of Adelaide with Colonel Light.

    Collection Item | Central Market, East Terrace, Hindley Street, North Terrace, Northwest corner, Parklands, River Torrens, Rundle Mall, Rundle Street east, Southeast corner, Southwest corner | 1830s

  14. Image: tea pot decorated with Chinese dragon

    Sym Choon Collection

    A collection of objects related to the Sym Choon family, reflecting their lives as first generation Australians with Chinese heritage.

    Collection Level Description | Rundle Street east | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  15. Image: sepia shot of building facades

    Sym Choon Shops

    In 1925/26 Thomas Sym Choon bought his four children a shop each.

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. Image: carved grey granite horse trough memorial situated in the East parklands

    War Horse Memorial

    Remembering the role of horses in war.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1960s, early twenty–first century

  22. Muirden, Mr. William

    William Muirden founded the Muirden College for Business Training, and was known for the balanced symmetry and harmony of his nature. 

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | Southeast corner | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  23. Image: Two boys sit in a ‘rocking boat’ at a playground. A swings-set is positioned immediately behind the boys

    Wirraninthi/Park 23

    Wirrarninthi/Park 23 is the site of a Kaurna food and medicine trail, a playground for children, and sporting facilities.

    Historical Place | By Tennille Anderson, Linnell Hopkins, April Mears and Caitlin Videon, Australian Environmental History Course, Flinders University of South Australia and Jude Elton, History SA | Parklands, Southwest corner, West Terrace | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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