1. 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

  2. Bronze sculpture, Catherine Helen Spence by Ieva Porcius, 1986

    Catherine Helen Spence statue

    The powerful sculpture of Catherine Helen Spence in Light Square, Adelaide celebrates the life and work of a formidable South Australian.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1980s

  3. 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

  4. Image: parade of floats watched by crowds lining street

    Centenary Celebrations 1936

    From sporting events to flower festivals and patriotic displays presented by thousands of children, South Australia's Centenary Celebrations emphasised the positive.

    Historical Event | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1930s

  5. 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

  6. The Kingston Ministry, c1896

    Charles Cameron Kingston Memorial

    A remarkable and feisty South Australian attorney-general and premier, a father of federation and the first Australian Minster for Trade and Customs is commemorated by this statue

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Image: Two women in white dresses hand cigarettes to a group of five men in military uniforms and helmets

    Cheer-Up Hut

    It started in a tent and grew – meals, clothes, accommodation and recreation for servicemen on the move.

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  11. Christmas Pageant

    One of the largest pageants in the world, come one, come all to Adelaide’s famous Christmas Pageant!

    Historical Event | By Anne Burrows | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  12. Image: black and white head shot of a woman

    Clara Bartholomaeus

    In researching First World War knitting I came across the story of Clara Bartholomaeus, the secretary of the Soldiers Aid Society in Burra during the war. 

    User Story | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, First World War, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  13. Image: Tall building with radio antennae on the roof

    CML Building

    On the prominent corner of King William Street and Hindley Street, the Colonial Mutual Life (CML) Building is one of Adelaide’s most iconic structures.

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street, Rundle Mall | 1930s, 2010s, Great Depression

  14. Coast Disease

    An unconventional character with an unconventional career

    Historical Subject | By Roger Cross | 1930s

  15. Colonel Light statue

    Colonel William Light’s statue on Montefiore Hill pointing towards the centre of Adelaide has come to symbolise the city that Light laid out.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, early twenty–first century

  16. Image: The memorial to Colonel Light without its spire

    Colonel William Light Grave and Monument

    Colonel William Light’s grave remains in Light Square, while Light's Monument there has been replaced and embellished over time

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  17. Colonial Laws Validity Act

    The powers of colonial legislatures to create courts, alter local constitutions and authenticate laws were confirmed by the British statute.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1860s, 1930s

  18. Image: An aerial photograph of a complex of large, multi-storey brick buildings and corrugated metal structures located next to a river. Two sailing ships are moored alongside a wharf associated with the complex

    Colonial Sugar Refinery, Glanville

    The Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) complex was constructed in 1891 on the Glanville side of the Port River, immediately opposite Port Adelaide.

    Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  19. Image: sepia shot of building facade, with three men at the entrance, one by the side, and a horse-drawn carriage

    Crown and Anchor Hotel

    The current hotspot for alternative and grunge music has a colourful criminal history

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  20. Image: A colour lithograph of a nineteenth-century sailing ship moored in a river surrounded by mangroves. Two arched buildings can be seen on the water line to the right of the composition, and manned row boats and sailboats are visible on the water.

    Customs Houses of Port Adelaide

    From its earliest days, the South Australian government applied customs duty (charges levied on all foreign and domestic imported goods) as a means of raising money to keep the colony financially s

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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. Image: stone cross in park land

    Dardanelles Memorial

    The first Anzac memorial was once an obelisk in a grove of wattles

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 2000-2010, 2010s, First World War

  24. Dallwitz, Mr. David

    David Dallwitz was an accomplished musician and artist, whose work in both fields covered a wide variety of forms.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. Image: black and white headshot of man

    Dunstan AC QC, Donald

    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

  29. 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

  30. 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

Pages