mid nineteenth century

'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: two story brick building with painted ironwork and veranda

181 Sturt Street was the home of Mahomet Allum, an Afghani herbalist and healer. It was later the office for Romani International Australia and the Australian Romani School of Gypsy Culture and Language.

Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1880s, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth 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: A large, two-storey building with a tall clock tower in one corner is brilliantly lit at night. A small number of people on the street below look at the building

Adelaide General Post Office

The classically styled freestone Adelaide General Post Office was constructed in the late nineteenth century and housed both the post and telegraph offices which connected Australia with the world

Historical Place | By Dr Julie Collins, University of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: two minarets front a mosque partially obscured behind a high wall and trees

Adelaide Mosque

For over a century the Adelaide Mosque has provided a centre for prayer, community and celebration.

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: large building with small cross on roof

Archbishop's House

Archbishop’s House, formerly known as Bishop’s Palace, was built in 1845 as the residence for the Roman Catholic Bishop of Adelaide, Francis Murphy.

Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner, West Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: Black and white photograph of young man with a moustache

Pelzer, August

The person responsible for the greening of Adelaide in the first decades of the twentieth century.

Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

Image: Crowd of people holding signs marching along street

Beef Riot

In January 1931, during the Great Depression, more than 1000 unemployed men clashed with police in protest at the replacement of beef with mutton on their ration tickets

Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | North Terrace, Southwest corner | 1930s

Image: Ornate facade of a Gothic Revival-style building

Beehive Corner

Built in 1896, Beehive Corner with its Neo-Gothic facade has been a famous meeting spot since the early 20th century.

Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall | 1840s, 1890s, 1990s

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 two storey corner hotel with 1960s era cars parked on the street outside.

Brown Street

Brown Street, running from South Terrace to Grote Street, morphed into Morphett Street in 1967 but the area retains its out-of-the-way feel

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, early twenty–first century

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

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

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

Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel

The Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel stands on the site of Adelaide's oldest Greek Orthodox Church and remains an important centre for Greek cultural and community life in the city.

Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: Tall building with radio antennae on the roof

CML Building

On the prominent corner of King William Street and Hindley Street, the Colonial Mutual Life (CML) Building is one of Adelaide’s most iconic structures.

Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street, Rundle Mall | 1930s, 2010s, Great Depression

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

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

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

Dunmoochin

Dunmoochin, built around 1858, was the home of Irish emigrants John and Honora Griffin and their three children. It is an example of the many workers’ cottages built in the West End.

Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

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: 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

Image: View of shop fronts and cars along currie street

Hassell, Mr. George

A printer and publisher, Hassell was devoted to the immaculate ‘embellishment of books’.

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

Two story building with signage showing Chinese characters

Hellenic Club

The Hellenic Club on Morphett Street is one of several social venues established by the Greek community in Adelaide.

Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

In 1910 thousands of people lined the Torrens to see the carnival of lavishly decorated boats in the first Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | Parklands, River Torrens | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: Man removing his shoes for prayer

Islamic Festivals in 1890s Adelaide

The Adelaide Mosque, the oldest in Australia, has been the centre of Islamic festivals since the 1890s

Historical Event | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1890s

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: Crowd watching unveiling of monument

Light Square/ Wauwi

Originally intended as a recreational garden oasis from the surrounding city, Light Square, however, developed a reputation for prostitution, drinking and violence.

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

Image: bench top covered in large number of bottles of alcohol

Mars Bar

Adelaide’s longest running gay venue, located at 120 Gouger Street and known, until recently, as the Mars Bar, first opened in December 1976.

Historical Place | By Nikki Sullivan, Migration Museum | Southwest corner | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, mid twentieth century

Adelaidia