Mid North and Clare Valley

Image: Christmas card front showing steamship

Adelaide Steamship Company

Collection held by the South Australian Maritime Museum relating to Australia’s largest shipping company and one of South Australia’s most successful business ventures.

Collection Level Description | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

Americans in South Australia

The first Americans who arrived in South Australia were whalers and seal hunters.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1880s, late twentieth century, Second World War

Image: Archaeological excavation, Queen’s Theatre

Archaeology

Although originating with scientists and untrained laymen, archaeology has a distinguished record in South Australia.

Historical Subject | By DJ Mulvaney | 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

Image: Building front view from across street

Architecture

The distinctive architectural character of Adelaide and its suburbs has disappeared since 1980 - city high-rise offices and derivative styles in suburban housing are all-pervading

Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Black and white photograph of the front of a building. Palm trees stand on either side of the front of the building. The building reads "ART GALLERY"

Adelaide’s art galleries contribute to its reputation as a city of the arts. The South Australian Society of Arts, established in 1856 and the oldest Australian fine art society still in existence, had as one of its earliest objectives the setting up of a permanent gallery.

Historical Subject | By Christine Finnimore | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Auditor-General

Independent auditing of Government is established in the position of the colonies first auditor general

Historical Subject | By Brendan Moran | 1830s, 1840s, 1930s

Australian Rules Football

The structure of local Aussie Rules football competitions has changed over time, just as the game itself has continued to evolve

Historical Subject | By Bernard Whimpress | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Beaches

With their carnivals and regattas, bathing-beauty competitions, amusements, sea and sand, beaches were one of the key gathering places for South Australians from the 1870s to the 1950s.

Historical Subject | By Marie Boland | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

Belarusians in South Australia

The first significant wave of Belarusians arrived in South Australia as Displaced Persons (DPs) when Belarus anti-communist fighters, members of Belarusian Youth Union, military Belarusian (anti-Russian) units, pro-German Belarusian government organizations and others were in conflict with the Soviet Red Army.

Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1940s, mid twentieth century

Image: man in a top hat and suit riding a velocipede with wooden wheels

Bicycles

From 'boneshakers' to penny-farthings to mountain bikes, bicycles have certainly changed since the 1860s.

Historical Subject | By Dieuwke Jessop | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

West End Brewery fronting the south side of Hindley Street, Adelaide, 1925

Breweries and beer

How did Lion and Coopers come to be South Australia’s only major brewers of beer today?

Historical Subject | By Alison Painter | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Closer Settlement

Settlers believed that using land intensively maximised its value and civilised its occupants, and that holdings should be small to allow people to hold land

Historical Subject | By Bill Gammage | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Colonial Laws Validity Act

The powers of colonial legislatures to create courts, alter local constitutions and authenticate laws were confirmed by the British statute.

Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1860s, 1930s

Image: Several large brick chimneys are flanked by a number of buildings. A vague coastline is visible in the background

Copper Industry

Copper brought unexpected wealth to the new colony and was an economic mainstay for 70 years, with a resurgence since the 1980s at Olympic Dam

Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: A small group of men work near the base of a large battleship turret with two cannons

Defence Science and Industry

South Australia has been closely involved in the nation’s defence science and industry work for almost a century and continues to seek such opportunities

Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

Image: A group of women sit on either side of a long table arranging paper documents, a man walks by with a trolley stacked with papers.

Elections

Elections to select members of parliament or local councillors are an important part of the democratic system. Who is allowed to vote is determined by the franchise, and who may stand for election by other provisions of electoral law.

Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Electricity

Although amateur scientists had tinkered with it, electricity was not put to public use in South Australia until the arrival in 1855 of Charles Todd, who pioneered electrical telegraphic communications and introduced the notion of using electricity for street lighting.

Historical Subject | By Rob Linn | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Group of elderly women sitting in a room wearing hats

Feminism

Feminism is a politics concerned with advocating rights and opportunities for women; especially any extension of women’s social, economic and geographical spheres of activity, and with celebrating women’s achievements, humour and creativity. As a social and political movement in Australia, feminism emerged in the late nineteenth century in what was termed the ‘Woman Movement.’ Its central concern was the achievement of votes for women.

Historical Subject | By Susan Magarey | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century