1. Mawson, Sir Douglas

    Sir Douglas Mawson became famous as an Antarctic explorer, but the geology of South Australia was his life’s work.

    Historical Person | By Dr Simon Cameron | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  2. Bronze bust of Douglas Mawson by Adelaide sculptor John Dowie, 1981

    Sir Douglas Mawson bust

    The spirit of Antarctic explorer and professor of geology, Sir Douglas Mawson, is captured in the bust by John Dowie

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1980s

  3. Image: A group of middle-aged Caucasian men dressed in early twentieth century suits and fedora hats stand in front of a brick building. A late-1920s model car is parked immediately behind the group

    Holden, Sir Edward

    Motor car manufacturer and industrialist Sir Edward Holden gave his name to a car, albeit posthumously.

    Historical Person | By June Donovan | North Terrace, Southeast corner | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  4. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing a late-Victorian era suit and sporting a very large handlebar moustache

    Stirling, Sir Edward

    Sir Edward Stirling was (among other things) a surgeon, scientist, educationist, curator, lecturer and parliamentarian; in short, a Renaissance Man.

    Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  5. Image: a bearded man in three quarter profile and wearing a hat and sword sits at his writing desk.

    Smith, Sir Edwin

    Sir Edwin Thomas Smith was a brewer, parliamentarian and, thanks to his philanthropy, Adelaide’s favourite millionaire.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  6. Image: drawing of a man in profile wearing a top hat

    Kingston, Sir George

    By turns architect, engineer, surveyor and parliamentarian, Sir George Kingston was also Speaker of the House of Assembly for almost two decades.

    Historical Person | By Dr Simon Cameron | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  7. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a clean-shaven man wearing a turtleneck sweater and tweed jacket

    Heysen, Sir Wilhelm

    Sir Hans Heysen was a masterly artist, the immortaliser of the gum tree on canvas, and a dedicated conservationist.

    Historical Person | By Peter Heysen | North Terrace | 1960s, early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  8. Ayers, Sir Henry

    A businessman, banker and parliamentarian, Henry Ayers was astute, hard-headed and politically adroit.

    Historical Person | By Robyn Taylor | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  9. Image: Pencil sketch of the upper torso of an elderly man wearing a suit and academic robes

    Newland, Sir Henry

    Sir Henry Newland gained an international reputation as a pioneer plastic surgeon.

    Historical Person | By Ian L.D. Forbes | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  10. Cleland, Sir John

    Pathologist, naturalist and ardent conservationist, Professor Cleland, as he preferred to be known, contributed across many fields.

    Historical Person | By Dr Jane Southcott | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  11. Bonython, Sir John

    Sir Langdon Bonython was a progressive liberal whose long life encompassed being a parliamentarian, newspaper proprietor and philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Warren Bonython | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  12. Image: Bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg

    Sir Lawrence Bragg bust

    The bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg commemorates a South Australian Nobel Laureate

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1970s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  13. Dumas, Sir Frederick

    At the end of his long life, newspaperman Sir Lloyd Dumas described himself as simply ‘the luckiest man in the world’.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Image: Bust of Sir Mark Oliphant

    Sir Mark Oliphant bust

    The bust of Sir Mark Oliphant on North Terrace honours an eminent scientist and the state’s first South Australian-born governor.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Second World War

  15. Image: A man in a barrister wig and gown poses for a photograph. He is seated in a chair with his right profile facing the camera

    Napier, Sir Thomas

    Sir Mellis Napier was a Chief Justice of South Australia, and arguably a reactionary one. 

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  16. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a man in suit and tie sporting a large handlebar moustache. The frame surrounding the portrait identifies the man as Richard Chaffey Baker

    Baker, Sir Richard

    An influential conservative politician and a supporter of Federation, Sir Richard Baker was the first President of the Senate.

    Historical Person | By Rob van den Hoorn | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  17. Chapman, Sir Robert

    Sir Robert Chapman was an engineer with a gift for recognising the fundamentals of any problem.

    Historical Person | By Philip Fargher | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s

  18. 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

  19. Jacobs, Sir Roland

    Jacobs was a businessman, but also a warm and generous philanthropist with no interest in personal wealth.

    Historical Person | By The Hon S.J. Jacobs | North Terrace | 1970s, early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  20. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a bearded middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a judicial wig and vestments. He is also wearing wire-rimmed spectacles and looking to his left

    Way, Sir Samuel

    A Chief Justice of South Australia, Sir Samuel Way was polished, cultured and proud.

    Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  21. Sir Samuel Way statue

    Sir Samuel Way Memorial Statue

    A statue of Sir Samuel Way reflects his towering presence in legal, political and cultural circles in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  22. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a white-haired man with goatee. He is wearing a suit and is standing with his arms crossed

    Kidman, Sir Sidney

    Abstemious but easy-going, Sir Sidney Kidman was a pastoralist and philanthropist who made friends easily.

    Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  23. 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

  24. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven man in a dark, pinstriped suit

    Playford, Sir Thomas

    Premier for 26 years, Playford managed the industrialisation of South Australia while maintaining a conservative social agenda.

    Historical Person | By Gaye Brown | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  25. Image: crowd of people around large bronze statue of seated man

    Sir Walter Watson Hughes statue

    The bronze figure of Sir Walter Watson Hughes by Francis Williamson stands on a massive block of red granite.

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1900-1910, 2000-2010

  26. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man wearing a mid-twentieth century suit and academic regalia

    Mitchell, Sir William

    Philosopher, Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, and a teacher of economics, psychology and literature, Sir William Mitchell was nothing if not a polymath.

    Historical Person | By Dr W. Martin Davies | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  27. Image: The statue of a horse and rider mounting the crest of a hill

    South African War Memorial

    The mounted trooper reining in his horse commemorates South Australians who served in the South African War (1899-1902).

    Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1930s, 2000-2010

  28. Image: facade of a building with cars parked in front of it

    South Australian Hotel

    This hotel on North Terrace was first licenced as a public house in 1878 and was closed and demolished in 1971. To many, ‘The South’, the city’s three-storey grand hotel, was Adelaide.

    Historical Place | By Patricia Sumerling | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  29. Image: head and shoulders shot of woman looking at camera

    Benny, Susan

    The first female local government councillor in Australia, Benny was a Justice of the Peace, a businesswoman and a lobbyist for women’s equality.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  30. Image: top storey of red brick three-storey building, with three flags flying

    Tandanya

    Originally built in 1921 as a power station and office for the Adelaide Electric Supply Company, today this beautiful building houses Tandanya, Adelaide’s Aboriginal Cultural Institution 

    Historical Place | By James Hunter, History Trust of South Australia | East Terrace | 1920s

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