1980s

Strange, Mr. Arthur

Kind-hearted and single-minded, 'Padre' Arthur Strange was the founder of the Helping Hand Centre.

Historical Person | By Rev. Keith Smith | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian woman dressed in an early twentieth century Girl Guides uniform with hat. She has light-coloured eyes and dark hair

Miethke, Ms. Adelaide

Prussian by descent, Adelaide Miethke was an educationist, and her School of the Air ‘bridged the lonely distance’ for outback children.

Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A middle-aged, clean-shaven Caucasian man in a 1950s vintage pin-striped suit sits at a desk and writes on a piece of paper. He appears to be deep in thought as he writes

Schulz, Dr. Adolf

Adolf Schulz was an educationist with a brilliant grasp of philosophy and psychology, and the first Principal of Adelaide Teachers’ College.

Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Image: A well-dressed man with a moustache poses for a photograph. His right arm rests on a table

Tolmer, Mr. Alexander

Alexander Tolmer was a Police Commissioner, initiator of the gold escorts, and by all accounts a colourful character with a thirst for action and adventure.

Historical Person | By Robert Clyne | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: A middle-aged clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles sits in a chair next to a desk. On the desk is a large pedal-powered radio, the handset of which is held by the man

Traeger, Mr. Alfred

Alf Traeger was friendly but self-effacing, and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the pedal wireless.

Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: Three elderly Caucasian men in late Victorian-era attire pose for a photograph outside a bluestone building. Two are seated while another stands.

Simpson, Mr. Alfred

Not content with being the nation’s biggest metal goods manufacturer, Alfred Muller Simpson was prominent in public life too.

Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

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: sepia image of seated man wearing hat

Watson, Prof. Archibald

An unconventional character who had an unconventional career

Historical Person | By Jennifer MT Carter | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

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: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man with dark hair. He is clean-shaven and wearing a 1930s-era suit and tie

Richardson, Dr. Arnold

An agricultural scientist and researcher, the genial Richardson was widely liked and admired.

Historical Person | By Yvonne Routledge | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

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

Image: Sepia photograph of bald man standing in front of a chair and table

Short, Augustus

The energetic Augustus Short, South Australia’s first Anglican bishop, laid firm foundations for the growth of the Anglican Church in the new colony.

Historical Person | By David Hilliard | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

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

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

Image: bearded man poses for portrait photograph

Finniss, Boyle

South Australia’s first premier was born at sea off the Cape of Good Hope and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s

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

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

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

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

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

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: woman in front of sculpture of herself

Mitchell, Ms. Roma

A trailblazing jurist, Dame Roma Mitchell pushed for numerous law reforms and became South Australia’s first female governor.

Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Moriarty, Mr. Daniel

Daniel Moriarty has been acclaimed as the greatest footballer between the two World Wars.

Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | East Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

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

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

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

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