mid nineteenth century

Image: a large metal arched door with a sign reading: "H.M. Gaol Adelaide"

Adelaide Gaol

One of South Australia's earliest buildings and home to over 300 000 people from 1841 to 1988, Adelaide Gaol is one of Australia's longest operating prisons.

Historical Place | By Rhiannon Agutter, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: Exterior view of Gerard and Goodman Ltd Building

Gerard, Mr. Alfred

Electrical merchant Alfred Gerard was also a concerned humanitarian, and a worker for Aboriginal welfare.

Historical Person | By Jason Hollamby | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: horse drawn vehicles travel down a dirt road lined with terraced shops

Austral Hotel

Constructed from east to west in January 1880, Adelaide’s most distinctive commercial complex of14 shops and hotel, heading west along Rundle Street, was built for The South Australian Company.

Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: woman driving horse and buggy in park

Botanic Park

Botanic Park has blossomed as a place for informal family gatherings and a venue for public events

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, 2020s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact

Image: A large brick building with archway windows and a square turret at one end. Cars drive by on a busy street in the foreground

Central Market

The Central Market is a distinctively Adelaide institution, renowned for fine food and produce and a bustling cosmopolitan atmosphere

Historical Place | By Peter Bell | Central Market | 1860s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Two women in white dresses hand cigarettes to a group of five men in military uniforms and helmets

Cheer-Up Hut

It started in a tent and grew – meals, clothes, accommodation and recreation for servicemen on the move.

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: black and white photo of man in glasses, hat and suit

Dennis, Mr. Clarence

Dennis was a poet, journalist and satirist, renowned for The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, the bestselling book of Australian poetry.

Historical Person | By Valmai Hankel | North Terrace, Southeast corner | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

Dowie, Dr. John

Works by the renowned and unpretentious artist John Dowie enhance many public places

Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace, Parklands, Rundle Mall | 1910s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: a herd of sheep graze under gum and pine trees

East Parklands

Despite an inauspicious start as a dumping ground for waste, the East Parklands gradually developed as an attractive centre for recreation in the city.

Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace, Rundle Street east, Southeast corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: A large group of British migrants of various ages arrive at hostel entrance. A sign above the door reads SPF Hostel.

Elder Park migrant hostel

Right in the centre of the city, Elder Park was a first stopping point for many new migrants arriving in South Australia.

Historical Place | By Dr Karen Agutter, the University of Adelaide, & Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | Parklands | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A crowd of people in early twentieth century attire sit on the grass around a rotunda where a band plays

Elder Park.

From dumping ground to pleasure gardens

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2020s

Image: A 1950s vintage racing car drives around a corner and through the streets of a small rural town. A handful of small historic stone buildings are visible on either side of the road

Norman, Mr. Eldred

A racing car designer and driver, Eldred Norman was interested in all things mechanical.

Historical Person | By Jon G Chittleborough | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A man wearing mid-Victorian era attire poses for a photograph. He is seated and is wearing a suit and jacket with tails, and has a fob watch on a chain attached to his waistcoat.

Faulding, Mr. Francis

Faulding was a manufacturing chemist, prominent businessman, city councillor and church benefactor.

Historical Person | By Peter Donovan | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, mid nineteenth century

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with mutton-chop sideburns wearing clerical vestments

Farr, Dr. George

A clergyman and headmaster, Farr was a champion of gentlemanly behaviour, honesty and good sportsmanship.

Historical Person | By Robert Fisher | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Sym Choon, Miss Gladys

A pioneering businesswoman, Gladys Sym Choon was a well known member of South Australian society.

Historical Person | By Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Hundreds of schools students in black uniforms pose in lines outside a large symmetrical stone building with decorative brickwork between floors, two huge arched windows on the front gable ends and smaller windows on the sides.

Grote Street

Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Central Market continue to attract people to Grote Street

Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson and Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: view of trees surrounded by buildings

Located in the south-east of Adelaide on the Kaurna peoples land of Tandayangga (place of the Red Kangaroo Dreaming), Hurtle Square was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide.

Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Southeast corner | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: An obituary notice featuring a photographic portrait of a moustachioed middle-aged man wearing wire-rimmed spectacles

Hartley, Mr. John

Though stern and strict, educationist (and first Inspector-General of Schools) John Anderson Hartley favoured progressive and innovative ideas.

Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged woman in Victorian attire

Farr, Mrs. Julia

The plight of the girls in the Destitute Asylum spurred on social worker Julia Farr.

Historical Person | By Joan Clift | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: black and white photo of man in suit wearing white turban

Allum, Mahomet

Mahomet Allum was described in glowing testimonials as 'the wonder man' and by his adversaries as a 'quack'.

Historical Person | By Vedrana Budimir & Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Image: A portrait of a young woman wearing a nun’s habit. She is holding a bible and a crucifix

MacKillop, Mary

An educationist and co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mary MacKillop is now famous as Australia’s only Catholic saint.

Historical Person | By Sister Marie Foale | Central Market, North Terrace | 1900-1910, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

McLeod, Mr. Murdoch

A very industrious and conservative businessman, Murdoch McLeod was generous but modest and never flamboyant.

Historical Person | By Knoyle Cross | Central Market | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: A map depicting morphological features of the City of Adelaide and its surrounding landscape, with particular emphasis placed on the River Torrens and its associated features

River Torrens

The River Torrens has dominated the development of Adelaide and its metropolis, often in subtle or little recognised ways

Historical Place | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: black and white photo of street lined with three and four storey buildings

Rundle Street

Rundle Street has been a centre of shops and arcades, theatre and cafes, as well as acrimonious debate

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall, Rundle Street east | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A group of middle-aged Caucasian men dressed in early twentieth century suits and fedora hats stand in front of a brick building. A late-1920s model car is parked immediately behind the group

Holden, Sir Edward

Motor car manufacturer and industrialist Sir Edward Holden gave his name to a car, albeit posthumously.

Historical Person | By June Donovan | North Terrace, Southeast corner | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A man in stage make-up and costume dances on a stage with arms outstretched

Helpmann, Sir Robert

His versatility as actor, dancer, producer and choreographer, coupled with flamboyance and wit, made Sir Robert Helpmann a household name.

Historical Person | By Meg Denton | North Terrace, Parklands | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

Image: trees in from of a building with tall tower

Victoria Square/ Tarntanyangga

Victoria Square, named after Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) in 1836, is the central and most significant of Adelaide’s squares.

Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Central Market | Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Muirden, Mr. William

William Muirden founded the Muirden College for Business Training, and was known for the balanced symmetry and harmony of his nature.

Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | Southeast corner | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Image: Two boys sit in a ‘rocking boat’ at a playground. A swings-set is positioned immediately behind the boys

Wirraninthi/Park 23

Wirrarninthi/Park 23 is the site of a Kaurna food and medicine trail, a playground for children, and sporting facilities.

Historical Place | By Tennille Anderson, Linnell Hopkins, April Mears and Caitlin Videon, Australian Environmental History Course, Flinders University of South Australia and Jude Elton, History SA | Parklands, Southwest corner, West Terrace | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Adelaidia