Adelaide and suburbs

Image: A long two-storey brick terrace building with three large double height arches and decorative gables. Along the street at the front a number of horse drawn carts are parked.

East Terrace

A street in an area of contrasts - the rich, the poor, society figures, outcasts, business, leisure, health and education are associated with East Terrace

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

Image: portrait of a man in black and white

Wright, Edmund

Some of Adelaide’s finest nineteenth-century buildings were designed by this architect.

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

Edmund Wright House

Edmund Wright House was built in 1878 as the headquarters of the Bank of South Australia.

Historical Place | By Alexander Parsons, History Trust of South Australia | 1870s, 1970s

Edward Bates Scott migrated to New South Wales in 1838 from England, he later settled in the Murray Region, establishing a cattle station, becoming a magistrate, protector of Aboriginals, and finally a superintendent of a labour prison.

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

Image: Edward John Eyre, seated, looking off to the side, with a notebook

Eyre, Edward

Edward John Eyre (1815–1901) was English-born and educated for a military career but decided to travel to Australia instead. Arriving in Sydney in March 1833, Eyre soon displayed his flair for self-reliant leadership and adventure.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: a man sits cross legged on a chair, holding a newspaper

Elder Family

Elder Family of Scots merchants and ship owners saw the infant South Australia as an opportunity to expand their business interests. Alexander Lang Elder (1815–1885), the pioneer, arrived in 1839 and established a trading business.

Historical Subject | By Carol Fort | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Image: The interior of a large hall with a hammerbeam roof and tiered seating on two levels.

Elder Hall

The simple exterior of Elder Hall belies the richness of its interior and the resonance of its organ

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 2000-2010

Image: A large group of British migrants of various ages arrive at hostel entrance. A sign above the door reads SPF Hostel.

Elder Park migrant hostel

Right in the centre of the city, Elder Park was a first stopping point for many new migrants arriving in South Australia.

Historical Place | By Dr Karen Agutter, the University of Adelaide, & Catherine Manning, Migration Museum | Parklands | 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

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

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

Image: A 1950s vintage racing car drives around a corner and through the streets of a small rural town. A handful of small historic stone buildings are visible on either side of the road

Norman, Mr. Eldred

A racing car designer and driver, Eldred Norman was interested in all things mechanical.

Historical Person | By Jon G Chittleborough | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: A group of women sit on either side of a long table arranging paper documents, a man walks by with a trolley stacked with papers.

Elections

Elections to select members of parliament or local councillors are an important part of the democratic system. Who is allowed to vote is determined by the franchise, and who may stand for election by other provisions of electoral law.

Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Electricity

Although amateur scientists had tinkered with it, electricity was not put to public use in South Australia until the arrival in 1855 of Charles Todd, who pioneered electrical telegraphic communications and introduced the notion of using electricity for street lighting.

Historical Subject | By Rob Linn | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

Emigration Square

Care for migrants, the unemployed and the destitute was evident from South Australia’s foundation days.

Historical Place | By Kate Walsh | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s

Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian man wearing an early Edwardian suit. He is clean shaven and has light-coloured hair and eyes

Lewis, Mr. Essington

Essington Lewis was a hard-working industrialist who substantially developed and expanded B.H.P., and was Director-General of Munitions during the Second World War.

Historical Person | By Bob Lewis | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

Image: A large building with a domed roof is lit up by hundreds of small globes running along its key architectural features, such as around windows and along roof lines.

Exhibition Building and Grounds

Now lost, the Exhibition Building once dominated North Terrace

Historical Place | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

Image: Front view of a historic building with a small garden and trees at the front

Exhibitions

Exhibitions have been major occasions in the lives of many South Australians.

Historical Subject | By Stephanie Schrapel | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

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

Image: caucasian man with beard holding a cane poses for photograph in chair

Federation

Throughout the 1890s South Australia was at the forefront of the Federation movement that created the Commonwealth of Australia from six British colonies.

Historical Event | By John Bannon | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: Group of elderly women sitting in a room wearing hats

Feminism

Feminism is a politics concerned with advocating rights and opportunities for women; especially any extension of women’s social, economic and geographical spheres of activity, and with celebrating women’s achievements, humour and creativity. As a social and political movement in Australia, feminism emerged in the late nineteenth century in what was termed the ‘Woman Movement.’ Its central concern was the achievement of votes for women.

Historical Subject | By Susan Magarey | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century