1. Catherine Helen Spence, 1900

    Spence, Catherine Helen

    Writer and social reformer Catherine Helen Spence was also the first woman to write a novel about Australia.

    Historical Person | By Susan Magarey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  2. Bronze sculpture, Catherine Helen Spence by Ieva Porcius, 1986

    Catherine Helen Spence statue

    The powerful sculpture of Catherine Helen Spence in Light Square, Adelaide celebrates the life and work of a formidable South Australian.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1980s

  3. Image: three cars parked outside stone church

    Chalmers Church Free Church of Scotland

    The second oldest remaining church in Adelaide, Scots Church is still in use today.

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, early twentieth century

  4. The Kingston Ministry, c1896

    Charles Cameron Kingston Memorial

    A remarkable and feisty South Australian attorney-general and premier, a father of federation and the first Australian Minster for Trade and Customs is commemorated by this statue

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  5. Image: black and white photograph of a seated man, dressed in black and holding a cane

    Kingston PC QC, Charles

    Though dogged by scandal, Charles Kingston was a lawyer, parliamentarian and Federalist who steered many reforms through the South Australian Parliament and helped draft Australia’s Constitution.

    Historical Person | By The Hon Dr John Bannon, AO | North Terrace, Northwest corner, Southwest corner | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  6. Cawthorne, Charles

    Cawthorne was a dynamic music seller and concert manager, and is remembered as a genial raconteur.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Rundle Street east | 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s

  7. Hayes, Mr. Colin

    Hayes is remembered as possibly the greatest racehorse trainer and thoroughbred breeder in the history of Australian racing.

    Historical Person | By Dennis Markham | North Terrace | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Colonel Light statue

    Colonel William Light’s statue on Montefiore Hill pointing towards the centre of Adelaide has come to symbolise the city that Light laid out.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, early twenty–first century

  9. 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

  10. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a woman with ear-length dark hair and wearing 1920s attire

    Davey, Dr. Constance

    Though hampered by a physical disability, Davey became a psychologist and educationist who worked untiringly for social justice.

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Image: sepia shot of building facade, with three men at the entrance, one by the side, and a horse-drawn carriage

    Crown and Anchor Hotel

    The current hotspot for alternative and grunge music has a colourful criminal history

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  12. Image: black and white photograph of a man sitting in garden

    Fowler, David

    Merchant David Fowler built a successful grocery business, famous for jams, confectionery and preserved fruit.

    Historical Person | By John Walker | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Image: stone building

    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

  16. Image: handwritten card

    Devotional Card

    This devotional card, written by Queen Adelaide in 1841, quotes Psalms 100:5

    Collection Item | North Terrace | 1840s

  17. Image: single story stone building

    Dunmoochin

    Dunmoochin, built around 1858, was the home of Irish emigrants John and Honora Griffin and their three children. It is an example of the many workers’ cottages built in the West End. 

    Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  18. Image: Street with market entrance

    East End Market

    The East End Market was Adelaide’s first formal fruit and vegetable market. 

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  19. Image: a herd of sheep graze under gum and pine trees

    East Parklands

    Despite an inauspicious start as a dumping ground for waste, the East Parklands gradually developed as an attractive centre for recreation in the city. 

    Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace, Rundle Street east, Southeast corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  20. Image: A long two-storey brick terrace building with three large double height arches and decorative gables. Along the street at the front a number of horse drawn carts are parked.

    East Terrace

    A street in an area of contrasts - the rich, the poor, society figures, outcasts, business, leisure, health and education are associated with East Terrace

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early twenty–first century

  21. Image: portrait of a man in black and white

    Wright, Edmund

    Some of Adelaide’s finest nineteenth-century buildings were designed by this architect.

    Historical Person | By Robyn Taylor | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

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

    Elder Family

    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

  23. 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

  24. Elder Park rotunda, 2008

    Elder Park Rotunda

    Celebrated at its opening in 1882, and again a century later, the rotunda remains a focus point for events in Elder Park.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1880s, 1980s

  25. 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

  26. Image: view of Adelaide in 1860

    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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

Pages