1. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man wearing an early twentieth-century suit and wire-rimmed spectacles. He is balding, but has a full beard and bushy moustache

    Waite, Mr. Peter

    A pastoralist who built an empire on sheep and cattle runs, Peter Waite was also a major philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Yvonne Routledge | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  2. Image: a long, narrow tourist boat with a canvas roof is moored at a concrete dock with a metal railing.

    Popeye

    'Popeye the Sailor' was a popular cartoon at the cinema in the 1930s when Gordon Watts introduced a tourist pleasure craft on the River Torrens

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  3. Image: A watercolour painting of a red lighthouse tower with a white lantern room. At the base of the tower is a wooden platform supported by numerous wooden piles. A man stands on the platform at far right

    Port Adelaide Lighthouse

    Installed in the 1860s as Port Adelaide's first fixed navigational beacon, and later used at South Neptune Island, the Port Adelaide Lighthouse today functions as an iconic museum display in the heart of the Port.

    Historical Thing | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  4. Image: Head and shoulder shot of bald man wearing suit

    Bragg, Prof. William

    Professor William Bragg had an extraordinarily active scientific career in Adelaide. 

    Historical Person | By John Patterson | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  5. Sharpe, Mr. Ronald

    An outstanding baseballer and baseball writer, Ron Sharpe was also no slouch as a cricketer.

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

  6. Image: Man in white makeup and black beard smiles widely

    Rene, Roy

    Roy Rene, known most prominently for his character of Mo McCackie, has been generally hailed as one of Australia’s best comic performers. 

    Historical Person | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  7. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing an early-20th century suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

    Price, Sir Archibald

    Working with this vivacious geographer, historian and educationist was said to be 'like hanging on the tail of a comet'. 

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

  8. Image: man in cricket whites walking onto oval

    Bradman, Sir Donald

    Being the only Australian cricketer to be knighted is just another testimony to The Don’s stature in the game of cricket

    Historical Person | By Bernard Whimpress | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  9. Bronze bust of Douglas Mawson by Adelaide sculptor John Dowie, 1981

    Sir Douglas Mawson bust

    The spirit of Antarctic explorer and professor of geology, Sir Douglas Mawson, is captured in the bust by John Dowie

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1980s

  10. Image: A moustachioed middle-aged man wearing a suit stands on a stage on which several dignitaries are seated

    Brookman, Sir George

    A wealthy businessman and quiet philanthropist, Sir George Brookman was a conservative who was described as ‘hard but fair’ by one of his descendants.

    Historical Person | By Ron Gibbs | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s

  11. Image: Pencil sketch of the upper torso of an elderly man wearing a suit and academic robes

    Newland, Sir Henry

    Sir Henry Newland gained an international reputation as a pioneer plastic surgeon.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  12. Cairns, Sir Hugh

    A pioneering neurosurgeon, Cairns worked extensively in the field of head injuries and was one of the first to promote the use of crash helmets for motor cyclists.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  13. Cleland, Sir John

    Pathologist, naturalist and ardent conservationist, Professor Cleland, as he preferred to be known, contributed across many fields.

    Historical Person | By Dr Jane Southcott | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  14. Melrose, Sir John

    Pastoralist and philanthropist Sir John Melrose continued to work with stock and managed properties – despite going blind. 

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

  15. Image: A moustachioed middle-aged Caucasian man in an Australian Army officer's uniform. He is wearing a hat and spectacles with oval lenses

    Wills, Sir Kenneth

    Businessman and soldier Sir Kenneth Wills was Controller of the Allied Intelligence Bureau during the Second World War.

    Historical Person | By William Wills | North Terrace | 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  16. Bonython, Sir John

    Sir Langdon Bonython was a progressive liberal whose long life encompassed being a parliamentarian, newspaper proprietor and philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Warren Bonython | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  17. Sir Mellis Napier bust, 2013

    Sir Mellis Napier bust

    The bronze bust of Sir Mellis Napier, sculpted by eminent South Australian artist John Dowie, commemorates his distinguished community service, including to the law and legal profession in South Australia

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  18. Image: A man in a barrister wig and gown poses for a photograph. He is seated in a chair with his right profile facing the camera

    Napier, Sir Thomas

    Sir Mellis Napier was a Chief Justice of South Australia, and arguably a reactionary one. 

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

  19. Chapman, Sir Robert

    Sir Robert Chapman was an engineer with a gift for recognising the fundamentals of any problem.

    Historical Person | By Philip Fargher | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  20. Image: Bronze statue of a man atop a granite pillar

    Sir Ross Smith Memorial

    The Sir Ross Smith Memorial commemorates the achievements of aviator Sir Ross Smith and the first flight from England to Australia. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1920s

  21. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven man in a dark, pinstriped suit

    Playford, Sir Thomas

    Premier for 26 years, Playford managed the industrialisation of South Australia while maintaining a conservative social agenda.

    Historical Person | By Gaye Brown | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  22. Image: A formal photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a balding, moustachioed middle-aged man in a suit and tie

    Crocker , Walter

    A true internationalist, Sir Walter Crocker was a diplomat and Australian ambassador to many countries, a writer, and a centenarian.

    Historical Person | By Ron Gibbs | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000-2010

  23. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-twentieth century suit and academic regalia

    Mitchell, Sir William

    Philosopher, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, and a teacher of economics, psychology and literature, Sir William Mitchell was nothing if not a polymath.

    Historical Person | By Dr W. Martin Davies | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  24. Image: A tugboat sits on stands in a dry-dock. A group of men sit facing the vessel in the foreground

    Steam Tug Yelta

    Once an integral component of Port Adelaide's fleet of working vessels, this sole-surviving example of an operational South Australian steam tug has been faithfully restored and now promotes the Port's maritime heritage

    Historical Thing | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  25. Image: head and shoulders shot of woman looking at camera

    Benny, Susan

    The first female local government councillor in Australia, Benny was a Justice of the Peace, a businesswoman and a lobbyist for women’s equality.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  26. The Eternal Question by Richard Kelly Tipping 1982, Light Square

    The Eternal Question

    Word artist Richard Tipping prompts us to consider big ideas in his sculpture ‘The Eternal Question’

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1940s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  27. Image: large white cross next to smaller white tablet

    The Smith Brothers' Grave

    The Smith brothers’ grave is situated in a prominent position adjoining the Bishop Short Memorial Garden alongside the century-old Chapel of the Resurrection at North Road Cemetery. 

    Historical Thing | By Helen Stein, Cemetery Historian | 1920s

  28. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing a light-coloured, late-Victorian era suit and sporting a very large handlebar moustache

    Smith, Mr. Tom

    A proverbial chip off the old block, Tom Elder Barr Smith was an astute businessman and generous philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  29. Image: Man stands leaning on heavily loaded truck perched on top of a sandhill

    Kruse, Mr. Esmond

    Tom Kruse became an outback legend for his long service as mailman on the Birdsville Track.

    Historical Person | By Matthew Lombard, National Motor Museum | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, 1990s

  30. Venere di Canova, 2013

    Venere di Canova

    A startled Venus caused consternation as Adelaide’s first public statue in 1892

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

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