1. Image: A man in a barrister wig and gown poses for a photograph. He is seated in a chair with his right profile facing the camera

    Napier, Sir Thomas

    Sir Mellis Napier was a Chief Justice of South Australia, and arguably a reactionary one. 

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  2. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a man in suit and tie sporting a large handlebar moustache. The frame surrounding the portrait identifies the man as Richard Chaffey Baker

    Baker, Sir Richard

    An influential conservative politician and a supporter of Federation, Sir Richard Baker was the first President of the Senate.

    Historical Person | By Rob van den Hoorn | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  3. Chapman, Sir Robert

    Sir Robert Chapman was an engineer with a gift for recognising the fundamentals of any problem.

    Historical Person | By Philip Fargher | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  4. Image: A lithographic portrait of a middle-aged balding man with a large, full beard. He is wearing mid-Victorian attire, including an overcoat, waistcoat, and pocket watch chain with fob

    Torrens, Sir Robert

    Land titles reformer Sir Robert Richard Torrens reformed, amended and even radicalised the land trade system.

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

  5. Image: Bronze statue of a man atop a granite pillar

    Sir Ross Smith Memorial

    The Sir Ross Smith Memorial commemorates the achievements of aviator Sir Ross Smith and the first flight from England to Australia. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1920s

  6. Sir Samuel Way statue

    Sir Samuel Way Memorial Statue

    A statue of Sir Samuel Way reflects his towering presence in legal, political and cultural circles in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  7. Bronze statue of Sir Thomas Elder by Alfred Drury, 1903 outside Elder Hall, University of Adelaide

    Sir Thomas Elder statue

    The sculpture of Elder is at the University of Adelaide, a major beneficiary of his philanthropy

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

  8. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven man in a dark, pinstriped suit

    Playford, Sir Thomas

    Premier for 26 years, Playford managed the industrialisation of South Australia while maintaining a conservative social agenda.

    Historical Person | By Gaye Brown | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  9. Image: A formal photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a balding, moustachioed middle-aged man in a suit and tie

    Crocker , Walter

    A true internationalist, Sir Walter Crocker was a diplomat and Australian ambassador to many countries, a writer, and a centenarian.

    Historical Person | By Ron Gibbs | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000-2010

  10. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged bearded man wearing a cravat and overcoat

    Hughes, Sir Walter

    A pastoralist and mine-owner once accused of fraud, Hughes stated shortly before his death: ‘I have been a sinner all my life’.

    Historical Person | By Patricia Sumerling | North Terrace | 1840s, mid nineteenth century

  11. Image: crowd of people around large bronze statue of seated man

    Sir Walter Watson Hughes statue

    The bronze figure of Sir Walter Watson Hughes by Francis Williamson stands on a massive block of red granite.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 2000-2010

  12. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-twentieth century suit and academic regalia

    Mitchell, Sir William

    Philosopher, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, and a teacher of economics, psychology and literature, Sir William Mitchell was nothing if not a polymath.

    Historical Person | By Dr W. Martin Davies | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

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

    Slovenians in South Australia

    The first Slovenians arrived in South Australia in 1946. They emigrated as Displaced Persons from camps in Italy, Austria and Germany after Marshal Tito established a communist government in Yugoslavia in 1945.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1940s, early twenty–first century, mid twentieth century

  14. Image: The statue of a horse and rider mounting the crest of a hill

    South African War Memorial

    The mounted trooper reining in his horse commemorates South Australians who served in the South African War (1899-1902).

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1930s, 2000-2010

  15. Image: group of planes in large hanger style building

    South Australian Aviation Museum

    The South Australian Aviation Museum is a purpose-built premises that houses historical aircraft, images and a library that are dedicated to aviation.

    Historical Place | By Mike Milln, South Australian Aviation Museum | 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  16. Green Dragon Hotel, 1939

    South Terrace

    Mansions at one end and cottages at the other, with businesses, welfare, medical and educational institutions in between, all overlooking the parklands

    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, 2000-2010

  17. Image: printing press

    Stanhope Press

    The Stanhope press brought to Holdfast Bay in 1836 was used to print the Proclamation of South Australia. 

    Collection Item | 1830s

  18. Image: a lithograph of a man in profile wearing a straw hat and smoking a cigar

    Street Naming Committee

    Colonial factions struggled over the names to bestow on Adelaide's streets

    Historical Organisation | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  19. 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

  20. Image: head and shoulders shot of woman looking at camera

    Benny, Susan

    The first female local government councillor in Australia, Benny was a Justice of the Peace, a businesswoman and a lobbyist for women’s equality.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. Image: top storey of red brick three-storey building, with three flags flying

    Tandanya

    Originally built in 1921 as a power station and office for the Adelaide Electric Supply Company, today this beautiful building houses Tandanya, Adelaide’s Aboriginal Cultural Institution 

    Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1920s

  24. Image: worn teddy bear with stuffing showing

    Teddy Bear

    A well-worn teddy who's not afraid to show the stuff he's made of. 

    Collection Item | 1910s, 1920s

  25. Image: bronze statue of a young naked boy in running pose

    The Athlete

    Once dubbed 'Adelaide's most active statue' the Athlete is now safely installed in the Lord Mayor's Courtyard. 

    Historical Thing | By Pat Stretton | Central Market, River Torrens, Southwest corner | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  26. The Eternal Question by Richard Kelly Tipping 1982, Light Square

    The Eternal Question

    Word artist Richard Tipping prompts us to consider big ideas in his sculpture ‘The Eternal Question’

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1940s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  27. Image: Proclamation sign

    The first reading of the proclamation

    The December 1836 proclamation at Holdfast Bay is South Australia’s best known historical event, despite it often being misunderstood

    Historical Event | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  28. Image: gold chain with opal

    The Lady Mayoress' Chain

    Collection Item | 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  29. Image: Printed document headed ’Proclamation’

    The Proclamation

    South Australia’s first vice-regal proclamation was read at Holdfast Bay on 28 December 1836

    Historical Subject | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  30. Image: two women looking at bombs

    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

Pages