1. River Murray

    The River Murray has been central to South Australia’s existence. Named in 1830 by Charles Sturt after Sir George Murray, British secretary of state for the colonies, the river runs 2576 kilometres from its watershed in the Australian Alps to the sea near Goolwa on the Fleurieu Peninsula, 650 kilometres of the river’s flow being within South Australia.

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

  2. Roads

    This is the story of how an efficient road system was created in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Bill Stacy | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Science

    Before and after the arrival of Europeans, Aboriginal peoples had a well-developed cultural understanding and practical knowledge of plants, animal behaviour, local geology and meteorological conditions. Information they provided was frequently vital to the success – and even survival – of early European navigators and explorers.

    Historical Subject | By Pauline Payne | Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  4. Serbians in South Australia

    Serbians migrated to South Australia from the 1940s - 1990s to escape various forms of prosecution and have since established a wide community. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1990s, early twentieth century, Second World War

  5. Singaporeans in South Australia

    Singaporean migration to South Australia has occured from the early nineteenth century, however, when the Restriction Act 1901 was relaxed in 1967 there has been a significant increase of people coming to South Australia. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  6. Six o'clock Swill

    From 1915 to 1967 bars and hotels in South Australia closed at 6pm in the evening.

    Historical Subject | By Michelle Toft, History Trust of South Australia | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Slovaks in South Australia

    The first known Slovak to arrive in Australia was Brother Jakub Longa, a Jesuit, who was sent to Australia in 1888 to help found an Aboriginal mission at Daly Waters in the Northern Territory

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 1880s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Social structure

    Social structure and class are more than income and wealth and involve status, religion and ethnicity too

    Historical Subject | By Margaret Allen | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  9. South Australian Liberal Party

    South Australia’s major non-Labor political party has gone from a record period of governing to years in the political wilderness.

    Historical Organisation | By Dean Jaensch | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  10. South Australian National Party

    The National Party: A changing party in a changing political, social and rural environment

    Historical Organisation | By Dean Jaensch | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Spiritualism

    Spiritualism began as a nineteenth-century radical cause and survives to the present as a spiritual option.

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

  12. Steam

    The steam engine became part of daily life, thanks to its industrial applications, powering modes of transport and agricultural machinery, and labour-saving utility

    Historical Subject | By Roger Cross | North Terrace, River Torrens, Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  13. Temperance

    The temperance movement saw the abolition of alcohol as a cure for society’s ills – and also believed it was an achievable goal.

    Historical Subject | By Judith Raftery | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  14. The Adelaide Club

    Modelled on the gentlemen’s clubs that proliferated in London from the eighteenth century, the Adelaide Club resembles bodies established at about the same time in the capital cities of the other Australian colonies.

    Historical Organisation | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  15. Theatre

    South Australia’s theatrical beginnings were commercial and entrepreneurial: trade as much as art drove public houses and performance together.

    Historical Subject | By Gus Worby | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  16. Time

    Within a year of settlement, Adelaide's residents were synchronising their timepieces by a bell rung in North Terrace near West Terrace at local noon.

    Historical Subject | By Bill Stacy | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  17. Ukrainians in South Australia

    The first significant wave of Ukrainians arrived in Australia during the years 1911 - 1915. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Unitarians

    Originally a liberal religious faith without dogma or creeds, Unitarians now emphasise the importance of free inquiry, tolerance of religious differences and individual spiritual exploration.

    Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  19. Vietnamese in South Australia

    Before 1975, the Vietnamese in Australia were either wives of ex-servicemen, students, or orphans who had come to Australia between 1969 and 1974. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Viticulture

    The growing of grape vines dates from the earliest years of European settlement in South Australia.

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

  21. Wealth

    In South Australia, the prime key to wealth has been land. From its inception as a European colony, ownership (or control) of land meant access to agricultural and mineral resources. For the Aboriginal peoples, dispossession meant devastation.

    Historical Subject | By Martin P Shanahan | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Wheat

    The story of wheat is more than the story of a versatile food grain. In South Australia, the history of the production, transport and marketing of wheat opens wider windows onto society, economics and politics.

    Historical Subject | By RFI Smith | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  23. Woman’s Christian Temperance Union

    Alcohol was only one facet of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s social reform agenda.

    Historical Organisation | By Margaret Allen | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  24. Women's Work Depot

    The Women's Work Depot sprang out of a First World War business, theTrench Comforts Shop, reforming in 1920 to sell goods made by women. 

    Historical Organisation | By Pat Stretton | Rundle Mall | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, early twentieth century

  25. Workers' Educational Association of South Australia

    Institutions transplanted to Australia were not always successful but the WEA, brought from England, survived an early period of adaptation before becoming a significant South Australian educational institution.

    Historical Organisation | By Denis Binnion | early twentieth century

  26. Yalumba Wine Co

    The oldest family-owned winery in Australia, founded in 1849 near Angaston in the Barossa Valley by the Smith family.

    Historical Organisation | By Angela Heuzenroeder | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  27. Young Men’s Christian Association and Young Women’s Christian Association

    Although their original evangelical impulse has diminished over time, the YMCA and the YWCA retain a liberal Christian ethos and promote healthy lifestyles

    Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  28. Zion Chapel

    This independent evangelical congregation existed in the city of Adelaide from 1855 to 1922. As one of Adelaide’s self-styled Christian churches, its members rejected denominational labels and took ‘no name but Christian’. 

    Historical Organisation | By RC Petersen | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Pages