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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
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
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
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
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
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
An unconventional character who had an unconventional career
Historical Person | By Jennifer MT Carter | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Flexmore Hudson was a poet and teacher who produced Poetry, the second largest poetry magazine circulating in the English speaking world.
Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
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
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
Known to all as ‘Aunty Glad’, Elphick was a tireless worker for Aboriginal welfare.
Historical Person | By Lewis O'Brien & Professor Paul Hughes | North Terrace | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Gladys Gibson was an educationist, president of the National Council of Women, and by all accounts a loyal friend and loving family member.
Historical Person | By Joan Brewer (research by Philippa Fletcher) | North Terrace | 1960s, mid twentieth century
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
Harry Butler was a charismatic young aviator with a barnstorming style.
Historical Person | By Dr Robert Nicol | 1910s, 1920s
Henry Newman Barwell was a successful lawyer and politician who lent his name to a farm apprenticeship scheme.
Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1940s, early twentieth century
Discover the people who have shaped Adelaide
Explore the city's built environment and famous Parklands
Find the stories behind the city's public artworks, monuments and memorials
Browse some of the themes that contextualise the city's history
Learn about the organisations that have made the city tick
Find out what's drawn people into the city's streets
Explore some of the early maps, plans and panoramas that trace the development of the city
Discover the city's history through a rich collection of museum objects
Explore Adelaide by following a themed tour
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