1. Image: An image of Thistle Anderson

    Anderson, M.C.

    MC ‘Thistle’ Anderson was a Scottish born actress turned writer. Best known for her pamphlet Arcadian Adelaide; she also published poems and short stories. 

    Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  2. McLeod, Mr. Murdoch

    A very industrious and conservative businessman, Murdoch McLeod was generous but modest and never flamboyant. 

    Historical Person | By Knoyle Cross | Central Market | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  3. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man wearing a late-Victorian era suit and sporting a dark, handlebar moustache

    Nesbit, Mr. Edward

    Barrister, intellectual and proud hedonist, Paris Nesbit was an early starter who allegedly read Milton at three and translated Goethe at ten.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  4. 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

  5. Image: Black and white photograph of an Aboriginal man

    Booboorowie, Mr. Poltpalingada

    From the 1880s Tommy Walker, or Poltpalingada Booboorowie, was a leading figure among the community of Aboriginal people who lived on the fringes of white Adelaide society.

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

  6. 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

  7. Image: Black and white photographic portrait of a man with small round glasses and a large beard

    Hanson, Sir Richard

    Sir Richard Davies Hanson was a lawyer, politician, theologian and author who helped write in significant aspects of South Australia's Constitution

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | mid nineteenth century

  8. Image: An elderly man with a cane sits in a chair within a garden

    Smith, Robert

    Robert Barr Smith had a genius for business. He was also a generous philanthropist, though his modesty dictated that much of the funding was dispensed anonymously.

    Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  9. 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

  10. Image: elderly woman in nineteenth century costume

    Francisco, Mrs. Sarah

    Sarah Francisco was one of Port Adelaide’s most notorious residents during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

    Historical Person | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  11. Young, Sarah

    Sarah Jane (Jeanna) Young (née Foster) (1866–1955), inspired by Catherine Helen Spence, became secretary of the Effective Voting League (1897), wrote and lectured on proportional representation and, with Spence, campaigned for eight weeks in Sydney to have the Hare-Spence voting system adopted in Federal elections. She would later run for parliament and receive an OBE.

    Historical Person | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  12. 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

  13. Image: man standing in 19th century dress

    Todd, Sir Charles

    Sir Charles Todd was a leader in the fields of meteorology, astronomy and communications, and is best remembered for masterminding the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line.

    Historical Person | By John Jenkin | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

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

    Stirling, Sir Edward

    Sir Edward Stirling was (among other things) a surgeon, scientist, educationist, curator, lecturer and parliamentarian; in short, a Renaissance Man.

    Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  15. Image: a bearded man in three quarter profile and wearing a hat and sword sits at his writing desk.

    Smith, Sir Edwin

    Sir Edwin Thomas Smith was a brewer, parliamentarian and, thanks to his philanthropy, Adelaide’s favourite millionaire.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. Image: A man with a chin-beard and wearing mid-Victorian era attire poses for a photograph. He stands next to a bannister and is holding a stove-pipe hat

    Davenport, Sir Samuel

    Davenport was a liberal-minded and literate parliamentarian and a promoter of industry, especially in the fields of horticulture and viniculture

    Historical Person | By Dr Geoffrey Bishop | North Terrace | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  24. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a bearded middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a judicial wig and vestments. He is also wearing wire-rimmed spectacles and looking to his left

    Way, Sir Samuel

    A Chief Justice of South Australia, Sir Samuel Way was polished, cultured and proud.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  25. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a white-haired man with goatee. He is wearing a suit and is standing with his arms crossed

    Kidman, Sir Sidney

    Abstemious but easy-going, Sir Sidney Kidman was a pastoralist and philanthropist who made friends easily.

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  26. 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

  27. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged bearded man wearing a cravat and overcoat

    Hughes, Sir Walter

    A pastoralist and mine-owner once accused of fraud, Hughes stated shortly before his death: ‘I have been a sinner all my life’.

    Historical Person | By Patricia Sumerling | North Terrace | 1840s, mid nineteenth century

  28. 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

  29. Image: stacks of wine bottles and large wine barrels with signs reading Hardy's

    Hardy, Thomas

    Thomas Hardy lectured and wrote on the wine business and olive growing, was a member of the Phylloxera Board, Wine Growers’ Association, South Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Society and the Chamber of Manufactures, judged local horticultural shows, published regularly in the local press and wrote two books, Notes on Vineyards in America and Europe (1885) and A Vigneron Abroad, Trip to South Africa (1899).

    Historical Person | By Dr Geoffrey Bishop | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  30. 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

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