1. Strange, Mr. Arthur

    Kind-hearted and single-minded, 'Padre' Arthur Strange was the founder of the Helping Hand Centre.

    Historical Person | By Rev. Keith Smith | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  2. Image: A middle-aged bearded man wearing late-Victorian attire and holding an umbrella and stove-pipe hat poses for a photograph

    Boas, Abraham

    Abraham Tobias Boas was the first rabbi in South Australia, but so inclusive he was also called ‘the best Christian in Adelaide’.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1920s

  3. Adelaide 1875

    This engraving of Adelaide created by South Australian artist Thomas Peirce is the earliest known ‘bird’s eye’ view of the city. 

    Maps and Panoramas | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1870s

  4. Adelaide 1876

    Zoom in to this aerial view of the City of Adelaide in 1876 for a wonderfully detailed, three dimensional picture of its buildings and surrounds. 

    Maps and Panoramas | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1870s

  5. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian woman dressed in an early twentieth century Girl Guides uniform with hat. She has light-coloured eyes and dark hair

    Miethke, Ms. Adelaide

    Prussian by descent, Adelaide Miethke was an educationist, and her School of the Air ‘bridged the lonely distance’ for outback children.

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  6. Image: A middle-aged, clean-shaven Caucasian man in a 1950s vintage pin-striped suit sits at a desk and writes on a piece of paper. He appears to be deep in thought as he writes

    Schulz, Dr. Adolf

    Adolf Schulz was an educationist with a brilliant grasp of philosophy and psychology, and the first Principal of Adelaide Teachers’ College.

    Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  7. Ramsay, Mr. Alexander

    As general manager of the South Australian Housing Trust, Alexander Maurice Ramsay was energetic and compassionate.

    Historical Person | By Dr Susan Marsden | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  8. 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

  9. Image: A middle-aged clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles sits in a chair next to a desk. On the desk is a large pedal-powered radio, the handset of which is held by the man

    Traeger, Mr. Alfred

    Alf Traeger was friendly but self-effacing, and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the pedal wireless. 

    Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  10. 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

  11. Image: sepia image of seated man wearing hat

    Watson, Prof. Archibald

    An unconventional character who had an unconventional career

    Historical Person | By Jennifer MT Carter | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  12. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man with dark hair. He is clean-shaven and wearing a 1930s-era suit and tie

    Richardson, Dr. Arnold

    An agricultural scientist and researcher, the genial Richardson was widely liked and admired.

    Historical Person | By Yvonne Routledge | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Image: Man in turban standing with saddled camel

    Dervish, Bejah

    Camel driver Bejah Dervish, highly-regarded for his part in the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition in 1896, became a familiar figure in South Australia’s far north.

    Historical Person | By Valmai Hankel | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  16. 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

  17. Image: A bearded young man wearing a heavy wool sweater stands outside a hut. His face shows evidence of frostbite

    Madigan, Mr. Cecil

    A geologist and explorer, Cecil Madigan crossed the Simpson Desert in the last classic Australian exploration adventure.

    Historical Person | By Michael Madigan | Hindley Street | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  18. Image: Two clean-shaven Caucasian men dressed in mid-twentieth century suits pose for a photograph. The man standing at left is young and has dark hair. The other, also standing, is elderly with white hair and is wearing thick-framed glasses

    Fenner, Dr. Charles

    Charles Fenner’s often unheralded contributions to South Australian life were noteworthy.

    Historical Person | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  19. 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

  20. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit-jacket, open-necked shirt and pith helmet

    Mountford, Mr. Charles

    Charles Mountford was an anthropologist, writer and photographer, and was dedicated to the promotion of Aboriginal art and mythology.

    Historical Person | By Philip Jones | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  21. Cawthorne, Charles

    Cawthorne was a dynamic music seller and concert manager, and is remembered as a genial raconteur.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Rundle Street east | 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s

  22. Image: woman in front of sculpture of herself

    Mitchell, Ms. Roma

    A trailblazing jurist, Dame Roma Mitchell pushed for numerous law reforms and became South Australia’s first female governor.

    Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  23. Image: Dan Moriarty

    Moriarty, Mr. Daniel

    Daniel Moriarty has been acclaimed as the greatest footballer between the two World Wars.

    Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | East Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  24. Image: black and white photograph of a man sitting in garden

    Fowler, David

    Merchant David Fowler built a successful grocery business, famous for jams, confectionery and preserved fruit.

    Historical Person | By John Walker | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  25. Image: A small group of Caucasian men, women and children dressed in late Victorian attire ride in a carriage-like vehicle along a town road. The vehicle has four spoked wheels and what appears to be an engine. A moustachioed middle-aged man operates it

    Shearer, Mr. David

    Though a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, David Shearer also designed an early car, constructed an observatory, and was a keen artist.

    Historical Person | By Don Beaty | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

  26. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Aboriginal man. He is clean-shaven, sporting a short haircut and is wearing a suit jacket and tie

    Unaipon, David

    David Unaipon was an Aboriginal leader, writer, gatherer of legends, and inventor who was referred to in the press as 'the Black Leonardo'.

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

  27. Image: A middle-aged Caucasian woman sits in a wheelchair and is wearing a fur stole and horn-rimmed glasses. Around her are seated three younger Caucasian women in formal dress

    Taylor, Ms. Doris

    Doris Taylor was the founder and organizer of Meals on Wheels, despite spending most of her life in a wheelchair.

    Historical Person | By Michael Cudmore | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  28. Image: Black and white photograph of seated man in three quarter profile

    Everard, Dr. Charles

    A physician by training, Charles Everard became a landholder, a farmer and a prominent colonist.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  29. Image: Elderly man with mustache poses in three quarter profile in front of artwork

    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

  30. Image: portrait of a man in black and white

    Wright, Edmund

    Some of Adelaide’s finest nineteenth-century buildings were designed by this architect.

    Historical Person | By Robyn Taylor | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Pages