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Artist Samuel Thomas Gill produced a lively visual record of early South Australia.
Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | Hindley Street, North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s
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
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
Being the only Australian cricketer to be knighted is just another testimony to The Don’s stature in the game of cricket
Historical Person | By Bernard Whimpress | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
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
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
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
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
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
Pastoralist and philanthropist Sir John Melrose continued to work with stock and managed properties – despite going blind.
Historical Person | By Rob Linn | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s
Businessman and soldier Sir Kenneth Wills was Controller of the Allied Intelligence Bureau during the Second World War.
Historical Person | By William Wills | North Terrace | 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
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
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
Land titles reformer Sir Robert Richard Torrens reformed, amended and even radicalised the land trade system.
Historical Person | By Peter Moore | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s
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
A Chief Justice of South Australia, Sir Samuel Way was polished, cultured and proud.
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
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
A true internationalist, Sir Walter Crocker was a diplomat and Australian ambassador to many countries, a writer, and a centenarian.
Historical Person | By Ron Gibbs | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000-2010
Founder of the Congregational Church in South Australia, Thomas Stow was a strenuous minister and a dedicated opponent of state aid to religion.
Historical Person | By Brian Jones | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s
A proverbial chip off the old block, Tom Elder Barr Smith was an astute businessman and generous philanthropist.
Historical Person | By Pamela Oborn | North Terrace | 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s
Soldier, engineer and Adelaide Town Clerk William Veale is celebrated for revitalising the city's parklands.
Historical Person | By Robert Thornton | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
Short-lived explorer and surveyor William Christie Gosse was the first European to set eyes on Uluru.
Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s
William Mortlock was a pastoralist and a generous and popular, if not necessarily brilliant, parliamentarian.
Historical Person | By Rob Linn | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s
William Randell was a pioneer of River Murray paddle-steamers, and was responsible for both designing and piloting them.
Historical Person | By John Tolley | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s
Julia Lazarus was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1855-1858.
Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s
Marianne Sabben was Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1858-1859.
Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s
Agnes Wright was Mayoress in 1859.
Elizabeth Glandfield was the Mayoress of Adelaide from 1859-1862.
Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s
Mrs Sarah English was the Lady Mayoress of the City of Adelaide (married to the Mayor) from 1862-1863.
Historical Person | By Cheryl Williss, HerStory Project | 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s
Discover the people who have shaped Adelaide
Explore the city's built environment and famous Parklands
Find the stories behind the city's public artworks, monuments and memorials
Browse some of the themes that contextualise the city's history
Learn about the organisations that have made the city tick
Find out what's drawn people into the city's streets
Explore some of the early maps, plans and panoramas that trace the development of the city
Discover the city's history through a rich collection of museum objects
Explore Adelaide by following a themed tour
Share your memories, stories and pictures with the Adelaidia community