1. Image: A middle-aged clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing a suit and wire-rimmed spectacles sits in a chair next to a desk. On the desk is a large pedal-powered radio, the handset of which is held by the man

    Traeger, Mr. Alfred

    Alf Traeger was friendly but self-effacing, and is perhaps best known as the inventor of the pedal wireless. 

    Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

  2. Image: Archaeological excavation, Queen’s Theatre

    Archaeology

    Although originating with scientists and untrained laymen, archaeology has a distinguished record in South Australia. 

    Historical Subject | By DJ Mulvaney | 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  3. Image: Man in turban standing with saddled camel

    Dervish, Bejah

    Camel driver Bejah Dervish, highly-regarded for his part in the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition in 1896, became a familiar figure in South Australia’s far north.

    Historical Person | By Valmai Hankel | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

  4. Image: A painted portrait of a middle-aged Caucasian man in mid-nineteenth century attire. He is clean-shaven and wearing a dark neck cravat

    Sturt, Captain Charles

    A soldier and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt was first to chart the River Murray.

    Historical Person | By Valerie Sitters | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  5. Image: A bearded young man wearing a heavy wool sweater stands outside a hut. His face shows evidence of frostbite

    Madigan, Mr. Cecil

    A geologist and explorer, Cecil Madigan crossed the Simpson Desert in the last classic Australian exploration adventure.

    Historical Person | By Michael Madigan | Hindley Street | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

  6. Duguid, Dr. Charles

    Charles Duguid was a medical practitioner and champion of the underdog who spent many of his 102 years as a worker for Aboriginal advancement.

    Historical Person | By Stewart Cockburn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit-jacket, open-necked shirt and pith helmet

    Mountford, Mr. Charles

    Charles Mountford was an anthropologist, writer and photographer, and was dedicated to the promotion of Aboriginal art and mythology.

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

  8. Image: View of Victoria Square showing motorcars, a motorbike rider and the electric trams navigating the flooded streets through Victoria Square in 1925

    Climate

    Climate was and still is an important factor in how and where South Australia first settled. 

    Historical Subject | By Peter Schwerdtfeger | 1800-1810, 1830s

  9. Image: compass

    Compass

    This compass is believed to have been used by John William Billiatt on the successful 1861-1862 expedition with John McDouall Stuart across Australia, from Adelaide to Chambers Bay, east of the present site of Darwin.

    Collection Item | 1860s

  10. Image: Several large brick chimneys are flanked by a number of buildings. A vague coastline is visible in the background

    Copper Industry

    Copper brought unexpected wealth to the new colony and was an economic mainstay for 70 years, with a resurgence since the 1980s at Olympic Dam

    Historical Subject | By Peter Bell | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Image: compass

    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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. Image: Illustration of a bearded man leaning on a rifle and armed with two pistols attached to his belt, c.1855

    Stuart, John McDouall

    Explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was celebrated as a hero for leading the first European expedition to cross Australia from south to north.

    Historical Person | By Peter Bowyer | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Muslim Cameleer heritage

    My tribe (Kharoti) came to australia and brought camels in 1860. 

    User Story

  20. Image: Narisha Cash's Ngadlu Padninthi Kamanka mural (2017)

    Ngadlu Padninthi Kamangka (We Walk Together) mural

    Narisha Cash's mural acknowledges and celebrates the Kaurna people as the traditional owners and custodians of Adelaide and the Adelaide plains. 

    Historical Thing | By Catherine Barron, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early twenty–first century

  21. Image: A large group of Caucasian men and women in early Edwardian attire pose for a photograph in front of a large stone building. They are flanked by an Australian flag and British Union Jack

    Tindale, Dr. Norman

    Norman Tindale was a prodigious anthropologist and polymath who chronicled aboriginal culture, studied butterflies and moths, and broke Japanese wartime codes. 

    Historical Person | By Philip Jones | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  22. Image: wooden box with two open drawers

    Paint Box

    This paint box is believed to have belonged to soldier, public servant and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt.

    Collection Item | 1800-1810, 1830s, 1840s

  23. Image: tin cup

    Pannikin

    Pannikin used by William Keckwick on expedition with John McDouall Stuart.

    Collection Item | 1860s

  24. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Caucasian man wearing an early twentieth-century suit and wire-rimmed spectacles. He is balding, but has a full beard and bushy moustache

    Waite, Mr. Peter

    A pastoralist who built an empire on sheep and cattle runs, Peter Waite was also a major philanthropist.

    Historical Person | By Yvonne Routledge | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s

  25. Image: wooden post inscribed 'South Australia'

    Poeppel's Corner Post

    Wooden post used to mark the point where the boundaries of South Australia the Northern Territory and Queensland meet.

    Collection Item | 1870s, 1880s

  26. Image: stone building with steeple

    Presbyterian Church

    The Presbyterian Church has a long history in South Australia, owing much to the early Scotish community.

    Historical Organisation | By John Love | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  27. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young, clean-shaven Caucasian man wearing an early-20th century suit and wire-rimmed spectacles

    Price, Sir Archibald

    Working with this vivacious geographer, historian and educationist was said to be 'like hanging on the tail of a comet'. 

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

  28. Image: man standing in 19th century dress

    Todd, Sir Charles

    Sir Charles Todd was a leader in the fields of meteorology, astronomy and communications, and is best remembered for masterminding the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line.

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

  29. 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

  30. 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

Pages