1. Image: A middle-aged bearded man wearing late-Victorian attire and holding an umbrella and stove-pipe hat poses for a photograph

    Boas, Abraham

    Abraham Tobias Boas was the first rabbi in South Australia, but so inclusive he was also called ‘the best Christian in Adelaide’.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | 1860s, 1870s, 1890s, 1920s

  2. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a young Caucasian woman dressed in an early twentieth century Girl Guides uniform with hat. She has light-coloured eyes and dark hair

    Miethke, Ms. Adelaide

    Prussian by descent, Adelaide Miethke was an educationist, and her School of the Air ‘bridged the lonely distance’ for outback children.

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  3. Image: Christmas card front showing steamship

    Adelaide Steamship Company

    Collection held by the South Australian Maritime Museum relating to Australia’s largest shipping company and one of South Australia’s most successful business ventures.

    Collection Level Description | early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late nineteenth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  4. Image: A well-dressed man with a moustache poses for a photograph. His right arm rests on a table

    Tolmer, Mr. Alexander

    Alexander Tolmer was a Police Commissioner, initiator of the gold escorts, and by all accounts a colourful character with a thirst for action and adventure.

    Historical Person | By Robert Clyne | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  5. Image: Exterior view of Gerard and Goodman Ltd Building

    Gerard, Mr. Alfred

    Electrical merchant Alfred Gerard was also a concerned humanitarian, and a worker for Aboriginal welfare.

    Historical Person | By Jason Hollamby | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  6. Image: Black and white photograph of three trucks outside Alf Hannaford & Co store

    Hannaford, Mr. Alfred

    A manufacturer of agricultural machinery, Alfred Hannaford was also an inventor who devised a pickling machine.

    Historical Person | By John Miels | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  7. Image: Three elderly Caucasian men in late Victorian-era attire pose for a photograph outside a bluestone building. Two are seated while another stands.

    Simpson, Mr. Alfred

    Not content with being the nation’s biggest metal goods manufacturer, Alfred Muller Simpson was prominent in public life too.

    Historical Person | By Jim Loudon | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  8. Image: Sepia photograph of bald man standing in front of a chair and table

    Short, Augustus

    The energetic Augustus Short, South Australia’s first Anglican bishop, laid firm foundations for the growth of the Anglican Church in the new colony.

    Historical Person | By David Hilliard | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  9. Catherine Helen Spence, 1900

    Spence, Catherine Helen

    Writer and social reformer Catherine Helen Spence was also the first woman to write a novel about Australia.

    Historical Person | By Susan Magarey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  10. Image: black and white photograph of a seated man, dressed in black and holding a cane

    Kingston PC QC, Charles

    Though dogged by scandal, Charles Kingston was a lawyer, parliamentarian and Federalist who steered many reforms through the South Australian Parliament and helped draft Australia’s Constitution.

    Historical Person | By The Hon Dr John Bannon, AO | North Terrace, Northwest corner, Southwest corner | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910

  11. 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

  12. Image: black and white photo of man in glasses, hat and suit

    Dennis, Mr. Clarence

    Dennis was a poet, journalist and satirist, renowned for The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, the bestselling book of Australian poetry.

    Historical Person | By Valmai Hankel | North Terrace, Southeast corner | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century

  13. Hayes, Mr. Colin

    Colin Sidney Hayes (1924–1999) was an expert handler and judge of horses, and an astute businessman. 

    Historical Person | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  14. Hayes, Mr. Colin

    Hayes is remembered as possibly the greatest racehorse trainer and thoroughbred breeder in the history of Australian racing.

    Historical Person | By Dennis Markham | North Terrace | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  15. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of a woman with ear-length dark hair and wearing 1920s attire

    Davey, Dr. Constance

    Though hampered by a physical disability, Davey became a psychologist and educationist who worked untiringly for social justice.

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  16. Image: A young Caucasian woman poses for a photograph in her 1940s vintage bridal gown

    Litchfield, Mrs. Ruby

    As befitting a dedicated community worker and charity organizer, her simple philosophy was benign: ‘’To live and let live.’’

    Historical Person | By Jo Peoples | North Terrace | 2000-2010, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  17. Dallwitz, Mr. David

    David Dallwitz was an accomplished musician and artist, whose work in both fields covered a wide variety of forms.

    Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  18. Image: black and white photograph of a man sitting in garden

    Fowler, David

    Merchant David Fowler built a successful grocery business, famous for jams, confectionery and preserved fruit.

    Historical Person | By John Walker | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s

  19. Image: A small group of Caucasian men, women and children dressed in late Victorian attire ride in a carriage-like vehicle along a town road. The vehicle has four spoked wheels and what appears to be an engine. A moustachioed middle-aged man operates it

    Shearer, Mr. David

    Though a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, David Shearer also designed an early car, constructed an observatory, and was a keen artist.

    Historical Person | By Don Beaty | North Terrace | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s

  20. Image: A photographic head-and-shoulders portrait of an elderly Aboriginal man. He is clean-shaven, sporting a short haircut and is wearing a suit jacket and tie

    Unaipon, David

    David Unaipon was an Aboriginal leader, writer, gatherer of legends, and inventor who was referred to in the press as 'the Black Leonardo'.

    Historical Person | By Philip Jones | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

  21. McGuire, Mr. Dominic

    Dominic Paul McGuire made a name for himself as a successful author, and became a political ambassador for Australia. 

    Historical Person | By Katharine Massam | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  22. Image: Black and white photograph of seated man in three quarter profile

    Everard, Dr. Charles

    A physician by training, Charles Everard became a landholder, a farmer and a prominent colonist.

    Historical Person | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1830s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  23. Image: Woman dressed in graduation gown and mortarboard

    Davy, Dr. Ruby

    Ruby Claudia Emily Davy was one of Australia’s leading music teachers and the first woman in Australia to receive a Doctorate of Music.

    Historical Person | By Owen Hems | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  24. 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

  25. Image: seated woman with man and boy

    Woolcock, Mrs. Elizabeth

    Hanged at Adelaide Gaol on 30 December 1873, the 26-year-old Elizabeth Woolcock is the only woman to have been legally executed in South Australia

    Historical Person | By Peter Bell | 1870s

  26. 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

  27. Image: Photograph of farmers and horses pulling a harvester

    May, Mr. John

    Frederick May was an engineer and manufacturer, and the archetypal 'quiet achiever' who missed out on major fame and success.

    Historical Person | By Mark Boon | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  28. Image: View of shop fronts and cars along currie street

    Hassell, Mr. George

    A printer and publisher, Hassell was devoted to the immaculate ‘embellishment of books’.

    Historical Person | By Valmai Hankel | North Terrace, Northwest corner | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid twentieth century

  29. Image: Two bearded Caucasian men dressed in late nineteenth century clothing and stove-pipe hats ride on horseback near a bridge in a remote South Australian setting

    Hannaford, Mr. George

    George William Hannaford was born on 4 January 1852, the son of farmer George Williams Hannaford and his wife Ann (née Cornish) of ‘Hatchlands’ in Hartley Vale, near Gumeracha, South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Dr David Jones | North Terrace | 1860s, 1900-1910, late nineteenth century

  30. Gibson, Ms. Gladys

    Gladys Gibson was an educationist, president of the National Council of Women, and by all accounts a loyal friend and loving family member.

    Historical Person | By Joan Brewer (research by Philippa Fletcher) | North Terrace | 1960s, mid twentieth century

Pages