The Migration Museum works towards the preservation, understanding and enjoyment of South Australia’s diverse cultures. It is a place to discover the many identities of the people of South Australia through the stories of individuals and communities.

In 1992 the Migration Museum published From Many Places. It has since undergone revision. The listings here have been compiled from ABS statistics, local community organisations and relevant historical sources. It is an evolving and ongoing project. 

  1. Image: group of stone buildings in outback

    Aboriginal Land Rights

    The 1834 British statute authorising the establishment of the colony of South Australia described the region as ‘waste and unoccupied’, making no mention of the Indigenous owners of the land.

    Historical Subject | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  2. Aboriginal Policy and Administration

    South Australia’s Foundation Act, passed by the British parliament in 1834, made no reference to the Aboriginal peoples who owned and occupied the land that was being annexed from the other side of the world.

    Historical Subject | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Image: Group of men standing in front of corrugated iron building

    Aboriginal Ration Depots

    The distribution of government rations to Aboriginal people, begun in the earliest days of European settlement, continued well into the twentieth century. 

    Historical Subject | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  4. Image: A group of men in Edwardian attire pose for a photograph. One of the men is wearing a large mayoral collar

    Adelaide City Council

    The Adelaide City Council has a history spanning over 170 years of service to its citizens.

    Historical Organisation | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  5. Image: paper tag printed with red background and steamship funnel

    Adelaide Steamship Company

    The Adelaide Steamship Company was Australia’s largest shipping company and one of South Australia’s most successful business ventures.

    Historical Organisation | By Lindl Lawton, South Australian Maritime Museum | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  6. Image: A man and his dog stand outside a bluestone building with red brick quoins around its windows and two red brick chimneys. The building also has a red tin roof, simple wooden verandah and a gable with decorative moulding painted in cream and taupe.

    Adelaide Workers’ Homes Inc.

    Providing housing for ‘industrious and deserving’ workers since 1899

    Historical Organisation | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southeast corner | 1890s, 1930s, 2010s

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

    Algerians in South Australia

    African and Asian Algerians have immigrated to Australia since 1973.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Conversion of police ordnance building to Archives Department

    Archives

    Archives in South Australia have grown and changed in the years since Professor Henderson's 1915 report to the South Australian government.

    Historical Subject | By Peter J Crush | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

    Argentinians in South Australia

    Argentinian immigration to South Australia began in the 1970s, and may be attributed to the decline of Argentina’s economy and standard of living. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

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

    Armenians in South Australia

    The Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia was founded in 1960.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, mid twentieth century

  14. 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"

    Art Galleries

    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

  15. 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

  16. Image: James S. Pearce

    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

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

    Austrians in South Australia

    The first Austrians to arrive in South Australia were two Jesuit priests, Fathers Aloysius Kranewitter and Maximilian Klinkowstroem on December 8, 1848. 

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

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

    Bangladeshis in South Australia

    The first Bengali immigrants came to South Australia to escape the 1971 civil war between West and East Pakistan.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

  19. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

    Barr Smith Family

    Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), the son of a Scottish clergyman and his wife Marjory, née Barr, migrated to Melbourne in 1854. Moving to Adelaide just as Thomas Elder’s brothers were leaving South Australia, he threw in his lot with Elder.

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Image: crowds on jetty

    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

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

    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

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

    Belgians in South Australia

    The first known Belgians arrived in South Australia after the Second World War as Displaced Persons (DPs) from refugee camps in Europe. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, late twentieth century

  23. 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

  24. Sir Langdon Bonython c.1900

    Bonython Family

    Bonython Family is distinguished by a capacity for hard work, a leaning towards public service and significant benefaction to the institutions and people of Adelaide.

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort & Wilfred Prest | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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

    Brazilians in South Australia

    Brazilians began arriving in Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  26. 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

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

    Bulgarians in South Australia

    The first organised group of Bulgarian immigrants arrived in South Australia in November 1907. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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    Cambodians in South Australia

    Between 1975 and 1979 thousands of Cambodians fled to neighbouring Thailand to seek refuge from Pol Pot’s regime. These numbers increased in 1979 following invasion by Vietnamese forces.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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

    Canadians in South Australia

    The first significant group of Canadians arrived in Australia after the 1837 rebellions in Canada and approximately 150 Canadians were transported to Australia as convicts, however, almost all of these men returned to Canada after serving their sentences.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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

    Chileans in South Australia

    From 1853 until 1857 Chilean muleteers were employed by the English and Australian Copper Company to transport copper ore and coal between Burra and Port Wakefield.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

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