Places

Historical Relics Collection

A collection of nearly 400 objects related to the foundation and settlement of the British colony of South Australia.

Collection Level Description | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: a black and white copy of a watercolour painting which shows men, women and children in 1840s dress walking or riding in horse drawn carts towards a simple stone church with a single tower which is surrounded by cottages.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church is the earliest surviving Anglican Church building in South Australia, and one of Adelaide’s oldest standing structures.

Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: view of trees surrounded by buildings

Located in the south-east of Adelaide on the Kaurna peoples land of Tandayangga (place of the Red Kangaroo Dreaming), Hurtle Square was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide.

Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Southeast corner | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: view from above of man amongst large pipes

Improved sewerage system for Adelaide

In 1881 Adelaide became the first Australian capital city to be connected to a water-borne sewerage system.

Historical Subject | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: Front of large, two-storey historic building with columns bordering its front door

Institute Building

The oldest of North Terrace’s cultural buildings

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: An upper body portrait photograph of a man in an army uniform, and wearing an army hat with chin strap.

Hele, Sir Ivor

Ivor Henry Thomas Hele was an official war artist in North Africa, New Guinea and Korea; possibly Australia’s most important war artist.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Fisher, Sir James

Fisher became the first Mayor of Adelaide in 1840 and the first resident South Australian to be knighted in 1860

Historical Person | By Allison Russell, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

Image: A full-length photographic portrait of an elderly, bearded man sitting in a chair. The man is wearing a suit and holding a cane in his hands

Martin, Mr. James

A man of many parts, Martin was an inventor, politician, philanthropist, engineer and ‘The Father of Gawler’.

Historical Person | By Derek Whitelock | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

black and white image of a woman sitting at a desk with a book

Cashmore, Jennifer

Jennifer Cashmore was a trailblazer in South Australian politics.

Historical Person | By Amy Morrison & Larrie Strautmanis | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, 2020s

Image: round tin with clear lid and brown substance in bottom

Jerked Meat

This sample of jerky came from the successful expedition made by John McDouall Stuart across Australia from south to north in 1861 - 1862.

Collection Item | 1860s

Newspaper photo, head and shoulders of woman.

Cooper, Mrs. Jessie

Jessie Mary Cooper was the first woman elected to South Australia’s parliament.

Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1850s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Wendt, Joachim

Joachim Wendt was a Danish-born silversmith whose work included extravagant naturalism, Edwardian style, and restrained Regency taste.

Historical Person | By Richard Phillips | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Image: men and horse drawn carts in front of a huge pile of wheat sacks

Dunn, Mr. John

The father of Mount Barker, John Dunn lived a long and successful life as a miller, merchant and philanthropist in South Australia.

Historical Person | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain

The John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain commemorates the life of a senior judge, scholar and poet

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s

Image: A photographic portrait of a middle-aged man with a moustache and wire-rimmed spectacles

Black, John

Remembered as an eminent botanist, Black was also an accomplished linguist, who reprimanded his grandchildren in French and his dog in Spanish.

Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Image: Illustration of a bearded man leaning on a rifle and armed with two pistols attached to his belt, c.1855

Stuart, John McDouall

Explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was celebrated as a hero for leading the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

Historical Person | By Peter Bowyer | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

Statue of John McDouall Stuart, unveiled 4 June 1904

John McDouall Stuart statue

The statue of inland explorer John McDouall Stuart at the corner of Victoria Square and Flinders Street, Adelaide, commemorates his place in Australian history

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1960s

Image: Head shot of elderly man with beard and white hair.

Morphett, Sir John

John Morphett, namesake of the Adelaide suburb Morphettville, contributed widely to the cultural and economic support of early south Australia.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a long white beard and equally long hair. He is wearing what appear to be ecclesiastical vestments and a hat

Ridley, Mr. John

A miller and inventor of the harvesting device that bears his name, John Ridley revolutionized the wheat industry in South Australia.

Historical Person | By Jack Reddin | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly man dressed in late-nineteenth century attire and sporting a long white beard

Bagshaw, John

‘If worth doing, do it well’ was the motto of John Bagshaw, pioneering designer and manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man in a Victorian-era Catholic clergyman’s outfit. The man has long, dark wavy hair pulled back behind his head

Woods, Julian

Julian Woods was the co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and a creative priest, educationist and scientist.

Historical Person | By Sister Margaret Press | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

Image: silhouette of a woman's head with white question mark on top

Clampett , Mrs. Juliet

Juliet Clampett was Lady Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Lord Mayor) between 1973-1975.

Historical Person | By Steven Page, HerStory Project | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, Second World War

King William Street

Celebration, commemoration and protest happen amid the grand buildings that line Adelaide's main thoroughfare

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Knot

The shining steel and simple form of Knot typifies the work of sculptor Herbert (Bert) Flugelman.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: Collection of seven tin and stone cottages at Murtho, South Australia

Labour Settlements

Labour settlements were created during the 1890s to trial collective ownership, new farming technology and the high unemployment created by the Depression.

Historical Subject | By Brendan Moran | 1850s, 1890s