1. Building Materials

    Diverse materials have been used for building houses, structures and other constructions in South Australia with distinctive local stone giving some districts their own identity

    Historical Subject | By Peter Bell

  2. Bulgarians in South Australia

    The first organised group of Bulgarian immigrants arrived in South Australia in November 1907. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  3. Cambodians in South Australia

    Between 1975 and 1979 thousands of Cambodians fled to neighbouring Thailand to seek refuge from Pol Pot’s regime. These numbers increased in 1979 following invasion by Vietnamese forces.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  4. Canadians in South Australia

    The first significant group of Canadians arrived in Australia after the 1837 rebellions in Canada and approximately 150 Canadians were transported to Australia as convicts, however, almost all of these men returned to Canada after serving their sentences.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  5. Childhood

    The history of childhood in South Australia has been characterised by the assimilation policies practised by the state and the Christian churches throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and also changes in infant mortality, and the introduction of compulsory schooling. 

    Historical Subject | By Ian Davey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century

  6. Chileans in South Australia

    From 1853 until 1857 Chilean muleteers were employed by the English and Australian Copper Company to transport copper ore and coal between Burra and Port Wakefield.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  7. Chinese in South Australia

    The first Chinese settler to arrive in South Australia is believed to be Tim Sang. Mr Sang arrived sometime between 1836 and 1840.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  8. 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. Closer Settlement

    Settlers believed that using land intensively maximised its value and civilised its occupants, and that holdings should be small to allow people to hold land

    Historical Subject | By Bill Gammage | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  10. Colonial Laws Validity Act

    The powers of colonial legislatures to create courts, alter local constitutions and authenticate laws were confirmed by the British statute.

    Historical Subject | By Peter Moore | 1860s, 1930s

  11. Conscription

    Universal military training, including ‘boy conscription’ for those as young as 12, was introduced via the Commonwealth Defence Act in 1911.

    Historical Subject | By Jenny Tilby Stock | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  12. 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

  13. Cornish

    South Australian mineral discoveries of the 1840s (especially at Kapunda and Burra in the Mid North) and extension of the farming frontier, were a magnet to the Cornish.

    Historical Subject | By Mel Davies | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Cornish in South Australian

    Cornish immigration to South Australia has long been associated with mining, but early Cornish settlers arrived before the first discovery of mineral deposits at Glen Osmond in 1841. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  15. Cricket

    Cricket’s mass appeal throughout South Australia reflects society’s development perhaps more than the state’s sporting prowess and its place in the national psyche

    Historical Subject | By Bernard Whimpress

  16. Croatians in South Australia

    A group of Croatians came to South Australia as a result of economic depression in the Medjumurje and Dalmacija regions between 1910 and 1913, and following political unrest in Croatia during 1922, however the most significant wave of Croatian immigrants arrived in South Australia after the Second World War.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  17. Cypriots in South Australia

    In the period between 1916 and 1929 a significant group of Cypriots arrived in South Australia

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  18. Czechs in South Australia

    The first known Czechs to come to South Australia were Roman Catholic missionaries from both Bohemia and Moravia. The first significant wave of Czech migrants came to Australia in the aftermath of the Second World War. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  19. Danish in South Australia

    It is thought that Danes were among the Scandinavians working in South Australian ports in the 1840s.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  20. Defence Science and Industry

    South Australia has been closely involved in the nation’s defence science and industry work for almost a century and continues to seek such opportunities

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

  21. Distance

    Geographical position and distance have strongly shaped the European history of South Australia.

    Historical Subject | By Geoffrey Blainey | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Dutch in South Australia

    Dutch migration to South Australia was limited before the Second World War. Approximately 120,000 Dutch nationals immigrated to Australia between 1947 and 1961. 

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  23. Earthquakes

    South Australia’s geology and topography can accentuate the concerns by some about earthquakes in the state, but most are tiny and occur irregularly

    Historical Subject | By David Love

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. Employment

    The South Australian government involved itself in the labour market from the outset. Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s plan aimed to secure an optimal balance of capital and labour, while assisted migrants who could not find private sector jobs were promised public employment.

    Historical Subject | By Tom Sheridan

  28. Engineers

    To convert the vision of Colonel William Light into the infrastructure of today has taken the expertise and ingenuity of many engineers whose names are often not well-known and whose only monument is their work.

    Historical Subject | By Gwenyth Moxham

  29. English in South Australia

    Since 1836 the majority of immigrants to South Australia have come from England.

    Historical Subject | By Migration Museum

  30. 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

Pages