1950s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a bearded, middle-aged man wearing a suit with cravat and jewelled cravat pin

Goyder, Mr. George

A surveyor and conservationist, and incredibly prolific letter-writer, Goyder is mainly remembered for his famous ‘line of rainfall’.

Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Giordano Collection

A collection held by the Migration Museum documenting the life of Antonio Giordano.

Collection Level Description | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: Black and white photograph of Indigenous woman

Elphick MBE, Gladys

Known to all as ‘Aunty Glad’, Elphick was a tireless worker for Aboriginal welfare.

Historical Person | By Lewis O'Brien & Professor Paul Hughes | North Terrace | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Gibson, Ms. Gladys

Gladys Gibson was an educationist, president of the National Council of Women, and by all accounts a loyal friend and loving family member.

Historical Person | By Joan Brewer (research by Philippa Fletcher) | North Terrace | 1960s, mid twentieth century

Image: Black and white photograph showing front of large, white two-storey building

Government House

One of Adelaide’s oldest buildings, Government House welcomes thousands of visitors each year

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

Grenfell Street Power Station

Now home to Tandanya, this building opened in 1901 as the Grenfell Street Power Station Building.

Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1900-1910

Image: Hundreds of schools students in black uniforms pose in lines outside a large symmetrical stone building with decorative brickwork between floors, two huge arched windows on the front gable ends and smaller windows on the sides.

Grote Street

Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Central Market continue to attract people to Grote Street

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

Hawker Vans

There is evidence that hawkers were active in Australia as early as the 1820s.

Historical Subject | By Michelle Toft, National Motor Museum | 1820s, 1830s, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Health

How healthy are South Australians? And what makes the differences?

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

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an incredibly attractive young woman with light-coloured eyes and an ear-length 1920s haircut

Mayo, Dr. Helen

Medical practitioner Helen Mayo combined energy and a strong social conscience in her promotion of child health services.

Historical Person | By Decie Denholm | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

In 1910 thousands of people lined the Torrens to see the carnival of lavishly decorated boats in the first Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | Parklands, River Torrens | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Butler, Henry

Harry Butler was a charismatic young aviator with a barnstorming style.

Historical Person | By Dr Robert Nicol | 1910s, 1920s

Image: portrait of man wearing tie and suit jacket

Barwell, Sir Henry

Henry Newman Barwell was a successful lawyer and politician who lent his name to a farm apprenticeship scheme.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1940s, early twentieth century

Image: A group of men and children stand outside a two storey terrace building the ground floor of which is serving as a drapery store with fabric sitting in baskets on the street, coats hanging along the storefront and hats in the window.

Hindley Street

An eclectic mix since foundation, Hindley Street has seen it all

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

Image: View of a group of children in garden with church in the background

Hindmarsh Square, located in the north-east of Adelaide, was one of the six squares designed by Colonel William Light in his 1837 plan of Adelaide. Originally designed as an oasis from the surrounding city, the Square would, however, see it’s size reduced and its lawns intersected by both Pulteney and Grenfell streets as transport and the city developed around it. Despite this, Hindmarsh Square continues to serve its intended purpose as an area of respite from its urban surrounding.

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

Historical Relics Collection

A collection of nearly 400 objects related to the foundation and settlement of the British colony of South Australia.

Collection Level Description | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

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

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

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

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

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

Mudie, Ian

Ian Mudie was a poet, publisher, educator, and lecturer. He was involved with the Australia First movement, the Jindyworobaks, and helped to organise Writers' Week. He was also editor-in-chief of Rigby publishers for five years.

Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s