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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
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
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
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
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
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
Remembered as the founder of the City of Adelaide, Light was South Australia’s first surveyor-general.
Historical Person | By Dr Robert Nicol | North Terrace | 1830s
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
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
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
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
Edward Gibbon Wakefield was born into a family of English Quaker reformers.
Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s
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
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
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
Ian Mudie was a poet, publisher, educator, and lecturer. He was involved with the Australia First movement, the Jindyworobaks, and helped to organise Writers' Week. He was also editor-in-chief of Rigby publishers for five years.
Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
Ivor Henry Thomas Hele was an official war artist in North Africa, New Guinea and Korea; possibly Australia’s most important war artist.
Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
The founder of soil science in Australia, James Prescott was active at every level of education.
Historical Person | By Prof Emeritus John Prescott | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
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
Lady Bonython grew from ‘Baby Mayoress’ into a community worker and supporter of numerous charities, especially those benefiting women and children
Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
Jessie Mary Cooper was the first woman elected to South Australia’s parliament.
Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1850s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
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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