1. Historical Societies

    While statewide historical societies formed in New South Wales in 1901, Victoria in 1909, Queensland in 1913 and Western Australia in 1926, South Australians lagged in founding societies to commemorate their own history.

    This did not mean that all ignored their past. Several founders of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch (1885), hoped that the society would devote much attention to the recording of history, and through their efforts the society fulfilled some functions of a state historical society.

    Historical Subject | By Kerrie Round | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  2. Image: shelves full of documents with person sitting on floor

    History and Historians

    Historians of South Australia have asked one question above all others: how is South Australia different?

    Historical Subject | By Robert Dare | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  3. Image: Protector at Heron Island, 2013

    HMCS Protector

    Built between 1882 and 1884, South Australia's only colonial warship was a veteran of three major conflicts and still exists today as a breakwater at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef

    Historical Thing | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 2010s, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century

  4. Image: pen and ink drawing of sailing ship

    HMS Buffalo

    The  Buffalo was the largest of the first nine ships to bring British settlers to South Australia, bringing Governor Hindmarsh to the newly established province. 

    Historical Thing | By Bob Sexton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  5. Image: a black and white copy of a watercolour painting which shows men, women and children in 1840s dress walking or riding in horse drawn carts towards a simple stone church with a single tower which is surrounded by cottages.

    Holy Trinity Church

    Holy Trinity Church is the earliest surviving Anglican Church building in South Australia, and one of Adelaide’s oldest standing structures.

    Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  6. Image: Black and white photo of horseracing in progress, crowd behind a fence

    Horseracing

    Reputed to be Australia’s third-largest industry, horseracing contributes to the national economy and state government revenues through direct employment and also through primary production, transport, tourism, media, entertainment and gambling.

    Historical Subject | By John Mannion | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Image: Housewives' Association members

    Housewives’ Association

    Quite an association in promoting issues affecting housewives, children and the home, addressing women’s issues and protecting the consumer

    Historical Organisation | By Ruth Donovan | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Image: view of trees surrounded by buildings

    Hurtle Square / Tangkaira

    Located in the south-east of Adelaide on the Kaurna peoples land of Tandayangga (place of the Red Kangaroo Dreaming), Hurtle Square was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide. 

    Historical Place | By Owen Hems | Southeast corner | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  9. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Indians in South Australia

    The first known Indian immigrants arrived in South Australia in the late 1830s

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | 2000-2010, late twentieth century

  10. Image: Women welding in factory

    Industrialisation

    For three decades or so from the late 1930s, largely coinciding with the premiership of Tom Playford, rapid industrialisation transformed the state of South Australia. 

    Historical Subject | By David C Rich | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  11. Image: Front of large, two-storey historic building with columns bordering its front door

    Institute Building

    The oldest of North Terrace’s cultural buildings

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  12. Invisible Farmer SA Collection

    The Invisible Farmer collection is created from contributions from community museums, history groups and individuals throughout South Australia.  It consists of both historical and contemporary objects and images that highlight the histories of women in agriculture mainly throughout the twentieth century and the late nineteenth century. 

    Collection Level Description | early twentieth century, late twentieth century

  13. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Iranians in South Australia

    According to oral history sources Kamran Eshraghian was the first known Iranian to settle in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum | late twentieth century

  14. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Irish in South Australia

    Irish immigrants have settled throughout the state of South Australia

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

  15. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Italians in South Australia

    Antonio Giannoni from Rimini was the first Italian to settle in South Australia

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

  16. Image: seated man in relaxed pose

    Fisher, Sir James

    Fisher became the first Mayor of Adelaide in 1840 and the first resident South Australian to be knighted in 1860

    Historical Person | By Allison Russell, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  17. Image: A full-length photographic portrait of an elderly, bearded man sitting in a chair. The man is wearing a suit and holding a cane in his hands

    Martin, Mr. James

    A man of many parts, Martin was an inventor, politician, philanthropist, engineer and ‘The Father of Gawler’.

    Historical Person | By Derek Whitelock | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  18. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Japanese in South Australia

    South Australia’s earliest contact with Japan was in 1876, when the South Australian government began negotiations to settle Japanese sugar cane farmers in the Northern Territory. The scheme was never realised.

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

  19. Image: crowds on jetty

    Jetties

    Integral to ease and safety for marine traffic and trade, jetties also have uses as promenades and for fishing

    Historical Subject | By Lesley Abell | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Blue background with yellow green and blue blow and dashed lines spiraling across the blue.

    Jewish in South Australia

    Jews are descendants of a nomadic people who lived in the Middle East in ancient times, or adherents of the Jewish religion.

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

  21. Image: Two large interconnected synagogue buildings, a man stands in the bare yard at the front of the building.

    Jewish People

    Small in number over time, Adelaide’s Jews have contributed significantly to the professions, especially medicine, and are well represented in academia, industry and commerce. 

    Historical Subject | By Bruce Rosen | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Image: Painting of the back of a man sitting on a chair at his desk. The man is balding. The painting is black and white.

    Menge, Johannes

    Johannes Menge, born in Steinau, Germany, was South Australia's first geologist.

    Historical Person | By Bernie O'Neil | 1790s, early nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

  23. Image: men and horse drawn carts in front of a huge pile of wheat sacks

    Dunn, Mr. John

    The father of Mount Barker, John Dunn lived a long and successful life as a miller, merchant and philanthropist in South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  24. Image: Photographic portrait of a man with wispy stubble and short slightly curly hair. He is wearing a suit jacket, shirt and small bow tie.

    Harvey, Mr. John

    John Harvey, politician and founder of Salisbury

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | mid nineteenth century

  25. Image: Illustration of a bearded man leaning on a rifle and armed with two pistols attached to his belt, c.1855

    Stuart, John McDouall

    Explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was celebrated as a hero for leading the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

    Historical Person | By Peter Bowyer | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  26. Statue of John McDouall Stuart, unveiled 4 June 1904

    John McDouall Stuart statue

    The statue of inland explorer John McDouall Stuart at the corner of Victoria Square and Flinders Street, Adelaide, commemorates his place in Australian history

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1960s

  27. Image: Black and white photograph of two men in suits. They are standing around a just unwrapped painting of a ship

    Tregenza, John

    John Tregenza's work has helped the South Australian public appreciate just how interesting and important their own history can be.

    Historical Person | By Wilfrid Prest | late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  28. Image: Head shot of elderly man with beard and white hair.

    Morphett, Sir John

    John Morphett, namesake of the Adelaide suburb Morphettville, contributed widely to the cultural and economic support of early south Australia.

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  29. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man with a long white beard and equally long hair. He is wearing what appear to be ecclesiastical vestments and a hat

    Ridley, Mr. John

    A miller and inventor of the harvesting device that bears his name, John Ridley revolutionized the wheat industry in South Australia. 

    Historical Person | By Jack Reddin | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s

  30. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly man dressed in late-nineteenth century attire and sporting a long white beard

    Bagshaw, John

    ‘If worth doing, do it well’ was the motto of John Bagshaw, pioneering designer and manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

    Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

Pages