1. Aboriginal Land Rights

    The 1834 British statute authorising the establishment of the colony of South Australia described the region as ‘waste and unoccupied’, making no mention of the Indigenous owners of the land.

    Historical Subject | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  2. Aboriginal Policy and Administration

    South Australia’s Foundation Act, passed by the British parliament in 1834, made no reference to the Aboriginal peoples who owned and occupied the land that was being annexed from the other side of the world.

    Historical Subject | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Algerians in South Australia

    African and Asian Algerians have immigrated to Australia since 1973.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

  4. Americans in South Australia

    The first Americans who arrived in South Australia were whalers and seal hunters. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1880s, late twentieth century, Second World War

  5. Archaeology

    Although originating with scientists and untrained laymen, archaeology has a distinguished record in South Australia. 

    Historical Subject | By DJ Mulvaney | 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  6. Architecture

    The distinctive architectural character of Adelaide and its suburbs has disappeared since 1980 - city high-rise offices and derivative styles in suburban housing are all-pervading

    Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Archives

    Archives in South Australia have grown and changed in the years since Professor Henderson's 1915 report to the South Australian government.

    Historical Subject | By Peter J Crush | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Argentinians in South Australia

    Argentinian immigration to South Australia began in the 1970s, and may be attributed to the decline of Argentina’s economy and standard of living. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

  9. Armenians in South Australia

    The Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia was founded in 1960.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, mid twentieth century

  10. Art Galleries

    Adelaide’s art galleries contribute to its reputation as a city of the arts. The South Australian Society of Arts, established in 1856 and the oldest Australian fine art society still in existence, had as one of its earliest objectives the setting up of a permanent gallery.

    Historical Subject | By Christine Finnimore | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Australian Rules Football

    The structure of local Aussie Rules football competitions has changed over time, just as the game itself has continued to evolve

    Historical Subject | By Bernard Whimpress | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Bangladeshis in South Australia

    The first Bengali immigrants came to South Australia to escape the 1971 civil war between West and East Pakistan.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1970s, late twentieth century

  13. Barr Smith Family

    Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915), the son of a Scottish clergyman and his wife Marjory, née Barr, migrated to Melbourne in 1854. Moving to Adelaide just as Thomas Elder’s brothers were leaving South Australia, he threw in his lot with Elder.

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Beaches

    With their carnivals and regattas, bathing-beauty competitions, amusements, sea and sand, beaches were one of the key gathering places for South Australians from the 1870s to the 1950s. 

    Historical Subject | By Marie Boland | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  15. Belgians in South Australia

    The first known Belgians arrived in South Australia after the Second World War as Displaced Persons (DPs) from refugee camps in Europe. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1960s, late twentieth century

  16. Bicycles

    From 'boneshakers' to penny-farthings to mountain bikes, bicycles have certainly changed since the 1860s.

    Historical Subject | By Dieuwke Jessop | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  17. Bonython Family

    Bonython Family is distinguished by a capacity for hard work, a leaning towards public service and significant benefaction to the institutions and people of Adelaide.

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort & Wilfred Prest | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Childhood

    The history of childhood in South Australia has been characterised by the assimilation policies practised by the state and the Christian churches throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and also changes in infant mortality, and the introduction of compulsory schooling. 

    Historical Subject | By Ian Davey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

  19. Closer Settlement

    Settlers believed that using land intensively maximised its value and civilised its occupants, and that holdings should be small to allow people to hold land

    Historical Subject | By Bill Gammage | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Conscription

    Universal military training, including ‘boy conscription’ for those as young as 12, was introduced via the Commonwealth Defence Act in 1911.

    Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  21. Copper Industry

    Copper brought unexpected wealth to the new colony and was an economic mainstay for 70 years, with a resurgence since the 1980s at Olympic Dam

    Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  22. Cornish

    South Australian mineral discoveries of the 1840s (especially at Kapunda and Burra in the Mid North) and extension of the farming frontier, were a magnet to the Cornish.

    Historical Subject | By Mel Davies | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  23. Defence Science and Industry

    South Australia has been closely involved in the nation’s defence science and industry work for almost a century and continues to seek such opportunities

    Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  24. Distance

    Geographical position and distance have strongly shaped the European history of South Australia.

    Historical Subject | By Geoffrey Blainey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  25. Elections

    Elections to select members of parliament or local councillors are an important part of the democratic system. Who is allowed to vote is determined by the franchise, and who may stand for election by other provisions of electoral law.

    Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  26. Electricity

    Although amateur scientists had tinkered with it, electricity was not put to public use in South Australia until the arrival in 1855 of Charles Todd, who pioneered electrical telegraphic communications and introduced the notion of using electricity for street lighting.

    Historical Subject | By Rob Linn | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  27. Exhibitions

    Exhibitions have been major occasions in the lives of many South Australians. 

    Historical Subject | By Stephanie Schrapel | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  28. Feminism

    Feminism is a politics concerned with advocating rights and opportunities for women; especially any extension of women’s social, economic and geographical spheres of activity, and with celebrating women’s achievements, humour and creativity. As a social and political movement in Australia, feminism emerged in the late nineteenth century in what was termed the ‘Woman Movement.’ Its central concern was the achievement of votes for women.

    Historical Subject | By Susan Magarey | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  29. Film

    In October 1896, within one year of the Lumière brothers’ first public screening of film in Paris, the first public film screening in South Australia occurred at the Theatre Royal in Hindley Street

    Historical Subject | By Dylan Walker | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

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