1. Image: View of Victoria Square showing motorcars, a motorbike rider and the electric trams navigating the flooded streets through Victoria Square in 1925

    Climate

    Climate was and still is an important factor in how and where South Australia first settled. 

    Historical Subject | By Peter Schwerdtfeger | 1800-1810, 1830s

  2. Image: four people with chickens

    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

  3. 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

  4. Colonel Light's Survey Marker Monument

    Colonel Light Survey Marker

    Colonel William Light’s survey marker from 1837 is to be incorporated in the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1920s

  5. Image: Painted self-portrait of a man in military uniform

    Light, Colonel William

    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

  6. 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

  7. Coopers Brewery

    Coopers Brewery has survived where many others have failed; it is now the only Australian-owned major brewing company.

    Historical Organisation | By Alison Painter | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Image: Several large brick chimneys are flanked by a number of buildings. A vague coastline is visible in the background

    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

  9. 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

  10. Image: silver cup with image of a woman on side

    Cup

    This cup was presented to the Art Gallery of South Australia by Queen Mary as part of Empire-wide celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935.

    Collection Item | North Terrace | 1830s

  11. 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

  12. Image: A small group of men work near the base of a large battleship turret with two cannons

    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

  13. Image: stone building

    Destitute Asylum

    Relief for the poor, the pregnant and the unemployed was a theme from the colony’s commencement

    Historical Place | By Mary-Louise Geyer | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1910s

  14. Image: handwritten card

    Devotional Card

    This devotional card, written by Queen Adelaide in 1841, quotes Psalms 100:5

    Collection Item | North Terrace | 1840s

  15. Image: A young Caucasian man rides a camel in the Australian outback. He is dressed in 1930s attire, including a fedora hat

    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

  16. Image: Black and white photograph of seated man in three quarter profile

    Everard, Dr. Charles

    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

  17. Image: single story stone building

    Dunmoochin

    Dunmoochin, built around 1858, was the home of Irish emigrants John and Honora Griffin and their three children. It is an example of the many workers’ cottages built in the West End. 

    Historical Place | By Vedrana Budimir, History Trust of South Australia | Southwest corner | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  18. Image: Black and white photograph of the Anlaby house front lawn. House features mullioned windows, and deep set veranda supported by doric columns

    Dutton Family

    Founders of 'Anlaby' station, featured in McLeod's Daughters, the Dutton brothers contributed to early mining ventures and pastoralism in the states Mid North

    Historical Subject | By Carol Fort & Wilfred Prest | 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1990s

  19. Image: a herd of sheep graze under gum and pine trees

    East Parklands

    Despite an inauspicious start as a dumping ground for waste, the East Parklands gradually developed as an attractive centre for recreation in the city. 

    Historical Place | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace, Rundle Street east, Southeast corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  20. Image: A long two-storey brick terrace building with three large double height arches and decorative gables. Along the street at the front a number of horse drawn carts are parked.

    East Terrace

    A street in an area of contrasts - the rich, the poor, society figures, outcasts, business, leisure, health and education are associated with East Terrace

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early twenty–first century

  21. Scott, Mr. Edward

    Edward Bates Scott migrated to New South Wales in 1838 from England, he later settled in the Murray Region, establishing a cattle station, becoming a magistrate, protector of Aboriginals, and finally a superintendent of a labour prison.

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

  22. Image: Black and white 1826 engraving of Edward Gibbon Wakefield

    Wakefield, Edward

    Edward Gibbon Wakefield was born into a family of English Quaker reformers.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s

  23. Image: Edward John Eyre, seated, looking off to the side, with a notebook

    Eyre, Edward

    Edward John Eyre (1815–1901) was English-born and educated for a military career but decided to travel to Australia instead. Arriving in Sydney in March 1833, Eyre soon displayed his flair for self-reliant leadership and adventure.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  24. Image: A group of women sit on either side of a long table arranging paper documents, a man walks by with a trolley stacked with papers.

    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

  25. Image: Young man operating machinery

    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

  26. Image: view of Adelaide in 1860

    Emigration Square

    Care for migrants, the unemployed and the destitute was evident from South Australia’s foundation days.

    Historical Place | By Kate Walsh | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s

  27. Image: large two story building with smaller third story and wrap around verandah

    Estcourt House

    Estcourt House has been a landmark along the seafront, in the area now known as Tennyson, since 1882.

    Historical Place | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  28. Image: A large building with a domed roof is lit up by hundreds of small globes running along its key architectural features, such as around windows and along roof lines.

    Exhibition Building and Grounds

    Now lost, the Exhibition Building once dominated North Terrace

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  29. Image: R.T. Maurice’s expedition party. Three Aboriginal men standing, two white men sitting, one dog on the floor. All the men wear suits.

    Exploration

    The early heroic phase of South Australia’s exploration by Europeans was plagued by difficulties.

    Historical Subject | By Philip Jones | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  30. Image: Black and white photograph of people on a beach, with boats in the water in the distance.

    Eyre Peninsula

    South Australia’s largest peninsula and best-defined region has a long history but to date no general historian.

    Historical Place | By Helen Bartley and Jill Roe | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

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