1890s

'Afghan' jacket

The jacket was given to Mr Frederick Budge of Farina, South Australia, by a Muslim (‘Afghan’) trader he knew who went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, at some time in the 1890s.

Collection Item | Southwest corner | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: black words on a white surface as part of a poetry/art mural on a wall

'Street Art Poetry Project' Location 3

Mark Niehus' four-part series cemented his status as a prominent poet and artist in Adelaide.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

Image: flag with black top, red bottom and large yellow circle in the middle

Aboriginal flag

The Aboriginal flag flies high over its birthplace, Tarntanyangga/Victoria Square, a symbol of Aboriginal pride, rights and identity.

Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: 3D sculpture of Kangaroo grass against black gridded wall

Bent Street Mural

Tony Rosella and Ash Rundle's environmentally and historically inspired artwork on the South Australian Police Building on Grenfell Street.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

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

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

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

This compass is believed to have been used by John William Billiatt on the successful 1861-1862 expedition with John McDouall Stuart across Australia, from Adelaide to Chambers Bay, east of the present site of Darwin.

Collection Item | 1860s

Dardanelles Memorial

The first Anzac memorial was once an obelisk in a grove of wattles

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 2000-2010, 2010s, First World War

Dr John Dowie AM bust

Different, but a good likeness

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

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

Image: Bronze statue of a mans upper body

Farnese Hercules

One of three statues given to Adelaide by WA Horn, Hercules was unveiled in October 1892 in Victoria Square.

Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan and Pat Stretton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Find a Furby

Artist Laura Lamington is responsible for a Furby craze that has been sweeping across Adelaide since around 2017. Paste-ups of the lovable creature can be spotted everywhere around town.

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

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

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

Statue of King Edward VII on North Terrace, showing original placement on roadway, 1920

King Edward VII Memorial

Creating and installing King Edward VII’s statute took eight months longer than the period of his reign

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s

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: stone fountain shaped like bathtub in front of stone buildings

Lavington Bonython fountain

Affectionately known as the ‘Bonython bath’, this fountain stood outside the South Australian Museum from 1965 to 2005

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

Light Horse Memorial

Remembering South Australian Light Horsemen who served in Egypt and Palestine and at Gallipoli

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, Boer War, early twenty–first century

Lord Florey bust

Adelaide-born Lord Florey won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945 for his part in making the infection-fighting penicillin available

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1920s, 1940s, 1960s

Magarey Medal

An award for the ‘fairest and most brilliant player’ in South Australia’s major Australian Rules football competition

Historical Thing | By Bernard Whimpress | 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Mary Lee bust

‘My aim is to leave the world better for women’ – Mary Lee was an activist, suffragist and unionist

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1990s

Image: zoom on blue and purple mural of rhinoceros' face, positioned on a brick wall

Mike Maka Mural

Mike Maka’s mural features a tired rhinocerous carrying the city of Adelaide on its back.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 2010s

Black and white image of old museum display showing large wooden plinth with staircase on top.

Miniature Staircase- Newmarket Hotel

This scale model of the spiral staircase in the Newmarket Hotel is just 600 millimetres high, but represents months of careful craftwork. It was made by a young man named Walton Banks and exhibited at the Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition in 1887.

Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910