1. Image: bronze sculpture of man and woman in uniform

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial

    Australia’s first memorial to recognise the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was unveiled in Adelaide on 10 November 2013.

    Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | early twenty–first century

  2. 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

  3. Image: Bronze statue of girl on sandstone plinth inscribed "ALICE for the children from Josephine and Norman Lewis 1962"

    Alice

    Who, or what, is following Alice in Rymill Park?

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1950s, 1960s

  4. Image: Black and white photograph of young man with a moustache

    Pelzer, August

    The person responsible for the greening of Adelaide in the first decades of the twentieth century.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  5. Image: woman driving horse and buggy in park

    Botanic Park

    Botanic Park has blossomed as a place for informal family gatherings and a venue for public events

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s, 2020s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact

  6. Image: stone cross in park land

    Dardanelles Memorial

    The first Anzac memorial was once an obelisk in a grove of wattles

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 2000-2010, 2010s, First World War

  7. Elder Park rotunda, 2008

    Elder Park Rotunda

    Celebrated at its opening in 1882, and again a century later, the rotunda remains a focus point for events in Elder Park.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1880s, 1980s

  8. Image: A crowd of people in early twentieth century attire sit on the grass around a rotunda where a band plays

    Elder Park.

    From dumping ground to pleasure gardens

    Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2020s

  9. Image: Bronze statue of a mans upper body

    Farnese Hercules

    One of three statues given to Adelaide by WA Horn, Hercules was unveiled in October 1892 in Victoria Square. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan and Pat Stretton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1890s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  10. Image: A tall gum tree stands near the bank of a river, which is visible in the distant background. The trunk of the tree is adorned with several small signs showing the year in which a major flood occurred and its water level height

    Floods

    Paradoxically, the only parts of South Australia to experience occasional serious disruption of by flooding are the far distant sparsely populated deserts around Lake Eyre

    Historical Subject | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1970s, 2010s

  11. Marble drinking fountain with lawn in the background

    J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain

    The J Reedman Memorial Drinking Fountain was erected in Creswell Gardens on 7 September 1929. It is made of Angaston marble and signifies the achievements of John Cole Reedman, an Australian sports legend.

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1920s

  12. Image: Bronze statue of female angel with leaves

    JH & GF Angas Memorial

    The Angas Memorial was completed in 1915 as a tribute to the memory of George Fife Angas and John Howard Angas, colonists who contributed to the foundation of South Australia.

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands

  13. Image: a long, narrow tourist boat with a canvas roof is moored at a concrete dock with a metal railing.

    Popeye

    'Popeye the Sailor' was a popular cartoon at the cinema in the 1930s when Gordon Watts introduced a tourist pleasure craft on the River Torrens

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  14. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-19th century coat and bowtie. Three medals are pinned to the left breast of his coat

    Schomburgk, Dr. Richard

    A botanist, horticulturist and the director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Richard Schomburgk was honoured locally as 'the people’s pet'. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Pauline Payne | North Terrace, Parklands | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  15. Image: A map depicting morphological features of the City of Adelaide and its surrounding landscape, with particular emphasis placed on the River Torrens and its associated features

    River Torrens

    The River Torrens has dominated the development of Adelaide and its metropolis, often in subtle or little recognised ways

    Historical Place | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | River Torrens | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  16. Image: sculpture of man on donkey carrying another man

    Simpson and his Donkey

    The iconic figure of of 'Simpson and his Donkey' looks over War Memorial Drive from the Angas Garden.

    Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 2010s

  17. Image: A man in stage make-up and costume dances on a stage with arms outstretched

    Helpmann, Sir Robert

    His versatility as actor, dancer, producer and choreographer, coupled with flamboyance and wit, made Sir Robert Helpmann a household name.

    Historical Person | By Meg Denton | North Terrace, Parklands | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Image: Bronze statue of a man atop a granite pillar

    Sir Ross Smith Memorial

    The Sir Ross Smith Memorial commemorates the achievements of aviator Sir Ross Smith and the first flight from England to Australia. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1920s

  19. Image: Black and white photograph of man wearing formal clothes and livery collar

    Elder GCMG, Sir Thomas

    A pastoralist, philanthropist and businessman, Elder supported numerous outback expeditions and Adelaide institutions.

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace, Parklands | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  20. Image: bronze statue of a young naked boy in running pose

    The Athlete

    Once dubbed 'Adelaide's most active statue' the Athlete is now safely installed in the Lord Mayor's Courtyard. 

    Historical Thing | By Pat Stretton | Central Market, River Torrens, Southwest corner | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  21. Image: Bronze plaque

    Torrens Lake Fountain

    The Torrens Lake Fountain commemorates the first time South Australia was visited by a reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II in 1954. 

    Historical Thing | By Madeleine Ryan, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1950s

  22. Victor Richardson Gates, Adelaide Oval, South Australia

    Victor Richardson Gates

    An outstanding all-round sportsman was provided with the rare honour of being memorialised during his lifetime

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, early twenty–first century

  23. Image: carved grey granite horse trough memorial situated in the East parklands

    War Horse Memorial

    Remembering the role of horses in war.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton & Bernard O'Neil, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1960s, early twenty–first century

  24. Image: Two boys sit in a ‘rocking boat’ at a playground. A swings-set is positioned immediately behind the boys

    Wirraninthi/Park 23

    Wirrarninthi/Park 23 is the site of a Kaurna food and medicine trail, a playground for children, and sporting facilities.

    Historical Place | By Tennille Anderson, Linnell Hopkins, April Mears and Caitlin Videon, Australian Environmental History Course, Flinders University of South Australia and Jude Elton, History SA | Parklands, Southwest corner, West Terrace | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century