Subjects

The Second World War

This major international conflict officially began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 3 September 1939. It lasted for six years, gradually increasing in scope and intensity as it blazed through Europe into Africa and Asia and on into Pacific Asia and the Americas.

Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | 1930s, 1940s

Theatre

South Australia’s theatrical beginnings were commercial and entrepreneurial: trade as much as art drove public houses and performance together.

Historical Subject | By Gus Worby | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: large fountain featuring human figures and birds lit up at night

Three Rivers Fountain

The Three Rivers fountain in Victoria Square commemorates the Royal Visit in 1963

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1960s, 2010s

Image: Black and white photo of an old observatory building.

Time

Within a year of settlement, Adelaide's residents were synchronising their timepieces by a bell rung in North Terrace near West Terrace at local noon.

Historical Subject | By Bill Stacy | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing a light-coloured, late-Victorian era suit and sporting a very large handlebar moustache

Smith, Mr. Tom

A proverbial chip off the old block, Tom Elder Barr Smith was an astute businessman and generous philanthropist.

Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Image: A photographic portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man with a full beard and head of hair. He is wearing an Edwardian-era suit and tie

Price, Mr. Thomas

As the first Labor premier of South Australia, Tom Price established a minimum wage and electrified the tramways.

Historical Person | By Nick Ganzis | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

Torrens Title

The Torrens title system for land ownership was inaugurated in South Australia has led the world in the computerisation of real property title information.

Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

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

Image: A green automobile with a steam engine and spoked wagon wheels on display in a museum

Transport

The evolution of public and private transport reflects the economic and social development Adelaide, particularly, and of South Australia generally

Historical Subject | By Peter Donovan

Turkish in South Australia

Geographic Origins

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

Ukrainians in South Australia

The first significant wave of Ukrainians arrived in Australia during the years 1911 - 1915.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Urban Cow Studios

Previously situated on Frome Road, near the corner of North Terrace, the Urban Cow Studio has been operating in Adelaide for around 25 years.

Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Uruguayans in South Australia

Uruguayans first came to Australia in significant numbers in the 1960s and 1970s.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A simple line drawing of a man in cricket batsman attire swinging a cricket bat

Richardson, Mr. Victor

The term 'all-round sportsman' might have been coined for Victor York Richardson, who excelled at cricket, football, baseball, lacrosse, tennis and basketball.

Historical Person | By Dr Bernard Whimpress | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Vietnamese in South Australia

Before 1975, the Vietnamese in Australia were either wives of ex-servicemen, students, or orphans who had come to Australia between 1969 and 1974.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Viticulture

The growing of grape vines dates from the earliest years of European settlement in South Australia.

Historical Subject | By Dr Geoffrey Bishop | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Bagot , Walter

Bagot was an architect whose work, including Bonython Hall and the Barr Smith Library, displays his preference for classical and traditional designs.

Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A small circular badge with painted wattle flowers with text above them which says for our own

Wattle Day

1 September in Australia is Wattle Day, though not widely known, some have argued it should replace Australia Day.

Historical Event | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1900-1910, 1910s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Man addresses crowd at rotunda on Wattle Day

Wattle Day League

The Wattle Day League was responsible for campaigning to establish 'Wattle Day', a national day of celebration, within Australia and helped raise funds on the home front to help support Australian soldiers fighting in the First World War.

Historical Organisation | By Jack Evans, History Trust of South Australia | 1900-1910, 1910s, First World War

Wealth

In South Australia, the prime key to wealth has been land. From its inception as a European colony, ownership (or control) of land meant access to agricultural and mineral resources. For the Aboriginal peoples, dispossession meant devastation.

Historical Subject | By Martin P Shanahan | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

West Parklands

A temporary camping ground for the early European settlers, the West Parklands developed to host most notably a cemetery and a school.

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

West Terrace

A major cemetery, a palace and an observatory have graced West Terrace along with its parklands border

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, 2000-2010, 2010s

Hay, William

William Gosse Hay was the son of a wealthy pastoralist, and a writer. Author of six novels which are stirring tales of noble heroes struggling to maintain moral honour in convict-era Tasmania. His unfinished work, ‘The Return of Robert Wasterton’, is set in 1890s Victor Harbor.

Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s