mid nineteenth century

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

James, Mr. Jimmy

A masterly Aboriginal police tracker, James saved lives, gathered evidence and attained legendary status.

Historical Person | By Robert Holmes | North Terrace | 1970s, 1980s, mid twentieth century

Wendt, Joachim

Joachim Wendt was a Danish-born silversmith whose work included extravagant naturalism, Edwardian style, and restrained Regency taste.

Historical Person | By Richard Phillips | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

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

McPherson, Mr. John

A union official and social reformer who was not a socialist, John McPherson became the first leader of South Australia's Parliamentary Labor Party

Historical Person | By Nick Ganzis | East Terrace | 1880s, 1890s

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

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

Flynn, Mr. John

Founder of the Australian Inland Mission and Royal Flying Doctor Service, Flynn was a practical and restless innovator.

Historical Person | By Ron White | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged woman in Victorian attire

Farr, Mrs. Julia

The plight of the girls in the Destitute Asylum spurred on social worker Julia Farr.

Historical Person | By Joan Clift | North Terrace, Parklands | late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing a late-Victorian era suit (without tie). He is sporting a large, luxurious handlebar moustache

Wells, Lawrence

Explorer and surveyor Lawrence Wells survived gruelling expeditions but died after being struck by a railcar.

Historical Person | By Rod Cramer | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

Bragg, William

Lawrence Bragg jointly won the 1915 Nobel Prize for Physics with his father, William Bragg for their work in X-Ray Crystallography.

Historical Person | By Robert George | 1890s, early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Logic (Pinba)

Logic (Pinba), a convicted murderer, was described in the Advertiser of 12 December 1885 as ‘one of the most popular men in the colony’.

Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged man sitting in a chair in front of a large bookcase. He is wearing wire-rimmed spectacles, a suit and tie, and academic gown

Florey, Sir Howard

Hundreds of millions of people have lived longer and healthier lives, thanks to medical scientist, Nobel Prize winner and penicillin pioneer Lord Florey.

Historical Person | By Pat Stretton | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A photographic portrait of a moustachioed middle-aged Caucasian man wearing wire-rimmed spectacles and a mid-20th century suit and tie

Scammell, Mr. Luther

Manufacturing chemist Luther Scammell prepared compounds, saved a struggling business, and coined the name ‘Solyptol’.

Historical Person | By Peter Donovan | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Image: Upper body portrait photograph of a man wearing a suit

McEwin, Mr. Alexander

Lyell Alexander McEwin (1897–1988) received a frugal Mid North upbringing which taught him the motto, ‘waste not, want not’, that characterised his 40 years in the Legislative Council, 1934–75.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Image: black and white photo of man in suit wearing white turban

Allum, Mahomet

Mahomet Allum was described in glowing testimonials as 'the wonder man' and by his adversaries as a 'quack'.

Historical Person | By Vedrana Budimir & Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Image: A black and white image of Margaret Graham

Graham, Ms. Margaret

Margaret Graham was an outspoken and forthright nursing sister and army matron with a strong sense of justice.

Historical Person | By Joan Durdin | North Terrace | 1890s, early twentieth century

Image: A young Caucasian woman in a full-length Edwardian-era dress paints a still life on an easel. The painting features a couple of vases holding flowers

Preston, Mrs. Margaret

A highly influential painter and printmaker, Margaret Preston was once described as 'a natural enemy of the dull'.

Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Deeply affected by the isolation and loneliness of her early married life, Mary Jane Warnes strived to improve conditions for her fellow countrywomen by founding the South Australian Country Women’s Association.

Historical Person | By Nancy Robinson Flannery | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Lee, Mary

Suffragist and social reformer Mary Lee was jubilant when, in 1894, South Australia became the first Australian colony to grant women the vote.

Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

Image: A portrait of a young woman wearing a nun’s habit. She is holding a bible and a crucifix

MacKillop, Mary

An educationist and co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mary MacKillop is now famous as Australia’s only Catholic saint.

Historical Person | By Sister Marie Foale | Central Market, North Terrace | 1900-1910, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Moorhouse, Dr. Matthew

Matthew Moorhouse, a medical practitioner, arrived in South Australia from Staffordshire, England, in June 1839 to take up appointment as the colony’s first permanent protector of Aboriginals.

Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Mills, Ms. May

Educationist and sports administrator May Mills believed 'the wholesome development of a nation' depended on sport.

Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

Anderson, M.C.

MC ‘Thistle’ Anderson was a Scottish born actress turned writer. Best known for her pamphlet Arcadian Adelaide; she also published poems and short stories.

Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Methodist Church

Several of the brands of Methodism introduced to colonial South Australia merged in 1977 to become the Uniting Church.

Historical Organisation | By Arnold D Hunt | Hindley Street | 1830s, 1840s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Baby Evangeline Gabriel being being weighed by a nurse 1908

Mothers' and Babies' Health Association

Could the problem of infant mortality be dealt with by giving expert advice to mothers? The Mothers’ and Babies’ Health Association certainly thought so.

Historical Organisation | By Judith Raftery | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

McLeod, Mr. Murdoch

A very industrious and conservative businessman, Murdoch McLeod was generous but modest and never flamboyant.

Historical Person | By Knoyle Cross | Central Market | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

National Council of Women of South Australia

The National Council of Women of South Australia argued for pensions for widows with children, raising the marriage age for girls from 12 and other reforms.

Historical Organisation | By Pat Stretton | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century