1. Image: A small group of people stand within the smouldering remains of a building. Charred wooden uprights and collapsed corrugated metal sheeting are all that remains of the structure

    'Great Fires' of Port Adelaide

    Port Adelaide has been ravaged by fire several times in its history, but three blazes in particular, in 1847, 1857 and 1885, were particularly devastating and are known as the Port's 'Great Fires'

    Historical Subject | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1840s, 1850s, 1880s

  2. Image: A group of men in Edwardian attire pose for a photograph. One of the men is wearing a large mayoral collar

    Adelaide City Council

    The Adelaide City Council has a history spanning over 170 years of service to its citizens.

    Historical Organisation | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  3. Image: a large metal arched door with a sign reading: "H.M. Gaol Adelaide"

    Adelaide Gaol

    One of South Australia's earliest buildings and home to over 300 000 people from 1841 to 1988, Adelaide Gaol is one of Australia's longest operating prisons.

    Historical Place | By Rhiannon Agutter, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  4. Image: Young boy standing outside among collection of farm machinery

    Agriculture

    South Australian agriculture began in 1837 with activity in Adelaide Plains, the Fleurieu Peninsula, Barossa Valley and Clare.

    Historical Subject | By John C Radcliffe | 1830s, 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  5. Image: A well-dressed man with a moustache poses for a photograph. His right arm rests on a table

    Tolmer, Mr. Alexander

    Alexander Tolmer was a Police Commissioner, initiator of the gold escorts, and by all accounts a colourful character with a thirst for action and adventure.

    Historical Person | By Robert Clyne | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  6. Image: Three elderly Caucasian men in late Victorian-era attire pose for a photograph outside a bluestone building. Two are seated while another stands.

    Simpson, Mr. Alfred

    Not content with being the nation’s biggest metal goods manufacturer, Alfred Muller Simpson was prominent in public life too.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  7. Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick

    Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick’s father was Patrick Alexander (also known as Alexander) Kirkpatrick and his grandfather was 

    User Story | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  8. Image: cathedral

    Anglican Church

    An important shaper of South Australian society, particularly in religious circles, education, welfare, the professions and politics.

    Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  9. Auditor-General

    Independent auditing of Government is established in the position of the colonies first auditor general

    Historical Subject | By Brendan Moran | 1830s, 1840s, 1930s

  10. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with mutton-chop sideburns and dressed in Victorian-era attire

    Kavel, Mr. August

    An austere but tolerant Lutheran migrant leader, August Kavel contributed significantly to South Australia’s rich legacy of German culture.

    Historical Person | By David Schubert | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s

  11. Image: Sepia photograph of bald man standing in front of a chair and table

    Short, Augustus

    The energetic Augustus Short, South Australia’s first Anglican bishop, laid firm foundations for the growth of the Anglican Church in the new colony.

    Historical Person | By David Hilliard | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  12. Image: Two men working in large shed space with wine barrels

    B Seppelt & Sons

    At the height of its activity in the 1890s, the wine company of B Seppelt & Sons was the largest in Australia. In 2007 an Australian consortium called The Seppeltsfield Estate Trust bought the Seppeltsfield winery with a view to maintaining its winemaking traditions and reputation for hospitality. 

    Historical Organisation | By Angela Heuzenroeder | 1820s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  13. Image: George Fife Angas

    Baptist Church

    Baptists are a much higher proportion of regular churchgoers than the rest of the state’s population

    Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | 1830s, 1840s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Image: Pencil sketch of ship

    Barque South Australian

    A former mail transport and Royal Navy vessel, the barque South Australian was integral to the early colonisation of South Australia...and became the colony's first documented shipwreck.

    Historical Thing | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  15. Image: Ornate facade of a Gothic Revival-style building

    Beehive Corner

    Built in 1896, Beehive Corner with its Neo-Gothic facade has been a famous meeting spot since the early 20th century.

    Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Mall | 1840s, 1890s, 1990s

  16. Image: bearded man poses for portrait photograph

    Finniss, Boyle

     South Australia’s first premier was born at sea off the Cape of Good Hope and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. 

    Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s

  17. Image: A rectangular single-storey building a short distance from a riverbank. A man stands in the front doorway, while other men, including an Aboriginal man with spears, stand nearby.

    British Hotel (Port Adelaide)

    Port Adelaide’s British Hotel is the longest continuously licensed hostelry in the Port, and also the only remaining pub on North Parade.

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

  18. Image: a two storey corner hotel with 1960s era cars parked on the street outside.

    Brown Street

    Brown Street, running from South Terrace to Grote Street, morphed into Morphett Street in 1967 but the area retains its out-of-the-way feel

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

  19. Image: Whaling Station

    Bushrangers

    No bushrangers to threaten the utopian dream, but criminal activity led to Australia’s first police force

    Historical Subject | By Robert Clyne | 1830s

  20. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in mid-nineteenth century attire. He is clean-shaven and wearing a dark neck cravat

    Sturt, Captain Charles

    A soldier and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt was first to chart the River Murray.

    Historical Person | By Valerie Sitters | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  21. Image: stone statue of man with hand up to shade his eyes while gazing out

    Captain Charles Sturt Memorial

    Leaning forward and shielding his eyes from the sun, this bronze figure of Sturt looks over Victoria Square, not the land he explored

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  22. Catherine Helen Spence, 1900

    Spence, Catherine Helen

    Writer and social reformer Catherine Helen Spence was also the first woman to write a novel about Australia.

    Historical Person | By Susan Magarey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  23. Image: three cars parked outside stone church

    Chalmers Church Free Church of Scotland

    The second oldest remaining church in Adelaide, Scots Church is still in use today.

    Historical Place | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, early twentieth century

  24. Christian Churches

    Its small number of independent evangelical congregations has dwindled to only the one remaining in rural South Australia.

    Historical Organisation | By David Hilliard | 1840s, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

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