Things

Image: a man sits cross legged on a chair, holding a newspaper

Elder Family

Elder Family of Scots merchants and ship owners saw the infant South Australia as an opportunity to expand their business interests. Alexander Lang Elder (1815–1885), the pioneer, arrived in 1839 and established a trading business.

Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: The interior of a large hall with a hammerbeam roof and tiered seating on two levels.

Elder Hall

The simple exterior of Elder Hall belies the richness of its interior and the resonance of its organ

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 2000-2010

Elder Park Rotunda

Celebrated at its opening in 1882, and again a century later, the rotunda remains a focus point for events in Elder Park.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1880s, 1980s

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 large building with a domed roof is lit up by hundreds of small globes running along its key architectural features, such as around windows and along roof lines.

Exhibition Building and Grounds

Now lost, the Exhibition Building once dominated North Terrace

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

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

Find a Furby

Artist Laura Lamington is responsible for a Furby craze that has been sweeping across Adelaide since around 2017. Paste-ups of the lovable creature can be spotted everywhere around town.

Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

Fish for the Slate Pool Walkway

Within Catherine Truman’s work, Fish for the Slate Pool Walkway, the tentative nature of life is captured brilliantly from the depths of Truman’s imagination.

Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1990s

Fountain- Art Gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia is one of several major cultural institutions that line North Terace between Kintore Avenue and Frome Road.

Historical Thing | By South Australian School for Vision Impaired (SASVI) | North Terrace

Fountain- Brookman Building

This fountain is outside the University of SA Brookman Building.

Historical Thing | By South Australian School for Vision Impaired (SASVI) | North Terrace

Image: The body of a tug boat upside down in the process of being constructed, numerous people, ropes and ladders surround the boat

Perry, Mr. Frank

Frank Tennyson Perry (1887–1965) was born in Gawler and educated at Prince Alfred College before joining his uncle’s engineering business in 1903.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: Photograph of farmers and horses pulling a harvester

May, Mr. John

Frederick May was an engineer and manufacturer, and the archetypal 'quiet achiever' who missed out on major fame and success.

Historical Person | By Mark Boon | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: two brown canvas bags with references to Bob Marley, Aboriginal communities, AC DC, and peace signs

Frome Road and Rundle Street Mural

Originally painted by Carol Ruff and Barbary O'Brien in 1984 and modified by Driller Jet Armstrong in 1998.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 1980s, 1990s

Mayo, Mr. George

George Elton Mayo was an extraordinarily versatile pioneer in human relations, management studies and psychoanalysis.

Historical Person | By Dr Oliver Mayo | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Image: Black and white photograph showing front of large, white two-storey building

Government House

One of Adelaide’s oldest buildings, Government House welcomes thousands of visitors each year

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000-2010

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: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an incredibly attractive young woman with light-coloured eyes and an ear-length 1920s haircut

Mayo, Dr. Helen

Medical practitioner Helen Mayo combined energy and a strong social conscience in her promotion of child health services.

Historical Person | By Decie Denholm | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A group of men and children stand outside a two storey terrace building the ground floor of which is serving as a drapery store with fabric sitting in baskets on the street, coats hanging along the storefront and hats in the window.

Hindley Street

An eclectic mix since foundation, Hindley Street has seen it all

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

Historical Relics Collection

A collection of nearly 400 objects related to the foundation and settlement of the British colony of South Australia.

Collection Level Description | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: a black and white copy of a watercolour painting which shows men, women and children in 1840s dress walking or riding in horse drawn carts towards a simple stone church with a single tower which is surrounded by cottages.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church is the earliest surviving Anglican Church building in South Australia, and one of Adelaide’s oldest standing structures.

Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: view from above of man amongst large pipes

Improved sewerage system for Adelaide

In 1881 Adelaide became the first Australian capital city to be connected to a water-borne sewerage system.

Historical Subject | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: Front of large, two-storey historic building with columns bordering its front door

Institute Building

The oldest of North Terrace’s cultural buildings

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

Marble drinking fountain with lawn in the background

J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain

The J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain was erected in Creswell Gardens on 7 September 1929. It is made of Angaston marble and signifies the achievements of John Cole Reedman, an Australian sports legend.

Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1920s