1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with mutton-chop sideburns and dressed in Victorian-era attire

    Kavel, Mr. August

    An austere but tolerant Lutheran migrant leader, August Kavel contributed significantly to South Australia’s rich legacy of German culture.

    Historical Person | By David Schubert | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in mid-nineteenth century attire. He is clean-shaven and wearing a dark neck cravat

    Sturt, Captain Charles

    A soldier and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt was first to chart the River Murray.

    Historical Person | By Valerie Sitters | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  7. Catherine Helen Spence, 1900

    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

  8. Duguid, Dr. Charles

    Charles Duguid was a medical practitioner and champion of the underdog who spent many of his 102 years as a worker for Aboriginal advancement.

    Historical Person | By Stewart Cockburn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Hayes, Mr. Colin

    Colin Sidney Hayes (1924–1999) was an expert handler and judge of horses, and an astute businessman. 

    Historical Person | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  10. Hayes, Mr. Colin

    Hayes is remembered as possibly the greatest racehorse trainer and thoroughbred breeder in the history of Australian racing.

    Historical Person | By Dennis Markham | North Terrace | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Image: A young Caucasian woman poses for a photograph in her 1940s vintage bridal gown

    Litchfield, Mrs. Ruby

    As befitting a dedicated community worker and charity organizer, her simple philosophy was benign: ‘’To live and let live.’’

    Historical Person | By Jo Peoples | North Terrace | 2000-2010, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Dallwitz, Mr. David

    David Dallwitz was an accomplished musician and artist, whose work in both fields covered a wide variety of forms.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  13. McGuire, Mr. Dominic

    Dominic Paul McGuire made a name for himself as a successful author, and became a political ambassador for Australia. 

    Historical Person | By Katharine Massam | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Image: black and white headshot of man

    Dunstan AC QC, Donald

    As premier, Dunstan’s agenda of social and political reform transformed South Australia.

    Historical Person | By The Hon Dr John Bannon, AO | North Terrace | 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, late twentieth century

  15. 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

  16. Image: A lithograph of a middle-aged man in Victorian attire seated at a table and holding a book

    Angas , George

    This merchant, banker, landowner and philanthropist was generous but shrewd, and often tagged with the phrase ‘philanthropy plus ten per cent’.

    Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  17. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man with medium-length dark hair wearing early Victorian-era attire

    Angas , George

    Equal parts naturalist and artist, George French Angas depicted the South Australian landscape, Aboriginal inhabitants, and flora and fauna with meticulous accuracy.

    Historical Person | By John Healey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  18. Image: portrait of woman

    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

  19. Salisbury , Harold

    Harold Hubert Salisbury (1915–1991), a career policeman and winner of the Queen’s Police medal in 1970, was recruited from Yorkshire to be South Australia’s police commissioner in 1972. In 1978 the ‘Salisbury Affair’ polarised South Australia’s community (roughly along party-political lines) and remains controversial.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1970s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Image: seated man in relaxed pose

    Fisher, Sir James

    Fisher became the first Mayor of Adelaide in 1840 and the first resident South Australian to be knighted in 1860

    Historical Person | By Allison Russell, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  21. Image: A full-length photographic portrait of an elderly, bearded man sitting in a chair. The man is wearing a suit and holding a cane in his hands

    Martin, Mr. James

    A man of many parts, Martin was an inventor, politician, philanthropist, engineer and ‘The Father of Gawler’.

    Historical Person | By Derek Whitelock | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  22. Image: men and horse drawn carts in front of a huge pile of wheat sacks

    Dunn, Mr. John

    The father of Mount Barker, John Dunn lived a long and successful life as a miller, merchant and philanthropist in South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  23. Image: Illustration of a bearded man leaning on a rifle and armed with two pistols attached to his belt, c.1855

    Stuart, John McDouall

    Explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was celebrated as a hero for leading the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

    Historical Person | By Peter Bowyer | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  24. Image: Black and white photograph of two men in suits. They are standing around a just unwrapped painting of a ship

    Tregenza, John

    John Tregenza's work has helped the South Australian public appreciate just how interesting and important their own history can be.

    Historical Person | By Wilfrid Prest | late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  25. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a long white beard and equally long hair. He is wearing what appear to be ecclesiastical vestments and a hat

    Ridley, Mr. John

    A miller and inventor of the harvesting device that bears his name, John Ridley revolutionized the wheat industry in South Australia. 

    Historical Person | By Jack Reddin | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s

  26. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly man dressed in late-nineteenth century attire and sporting a long white beard

    Bagshaw, John

    ‘If worth doing, do it well’ was the motto of John Bagshaw, pioneering designer and manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

    Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  27. Image: side view of man in suit, seated

    Bragg, William

    Lawrence Bragg jointly won the 1915 Nobel Prize for Physics with his father, William Bragg for their work in X-Ray Crystallography.

    Historical Person | By Robert George | 1890s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  28. Image: A photographic portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a white goatee. He is wearing a Stetson hat and a dark-coloured overcoat

    Smith, Mr. Richard

    Richard Bowyer Smith and his brother Clarence could both rightfully claim distinction as the inventors of the stump-jump plough. 

    Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  29. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-19th century coat and bowtie. Three medals are pinned to the left breast of his coat

    Schomburgk, Dr. Richard

    A botanist, horticulturist and the director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Richard Schomburgk was honoured locally as 'the people’s pet'. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Pauline Payne | North Terrace, Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  30. Image: Black and white photograph of a man seated backwards on chair with arms crossed on seat back and an open book on the table beside him

    Gill, Samuel Thomas

    Artist Samuel Thomas Gill produced a lively visual record of early South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | Hindley Street, North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

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