Mid North and Clare Valley

Strange, Mr. Arthur

Kind-hearted and single-minded, 'Padre' Arthur Strange was the founder of the Helping Hand Centre.

Historical Person | By Rev. Keith Smith | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

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

Image: A middle-aged, clean-shaven Caucasian man in a 1950s vintage pin-striped suit sits at a desk and writes on a piece of paper. He appears to be deep in thought as he writes

Schulz, Dr. Adolf

Adolf Schulz was an educationist with a brilliant grasp of philosophy and psychology, and the first Principal of Adelaide Teachers’ College.

Historical Person | By Anna Stirling Pope | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Ramsay, Mr. Alexander

As general manager of the South Australian Housing Trust, Alexander Maurice Ramsay was energetic and compassionate.

Historical Person | By Dr Susan Marsden | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

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

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

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

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

Auditor-General

Independent auditing of Government is established in the position of the colonies first auditor general

Historical Subject | By Brendan Moran | 1830s, 1840s, 1930s

Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a middle-aged man with mutton-chop sideburns and dressed in Victorian-era attire

Kavel, Mr. August

An austere but tolerant Lutheran migrant leader, August Kavel contributed significantly to South Australia’s rich legacy of German culture.

Historical Person | By David Schubert | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s

Beaches

With their carnivals and regattas, bathing-beauty competitions, amusements, sea and sand, beaches were one of the key gathering places for South Australians from the 1870s to the 1950s.

Historical Subject | By Marie Boland | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

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

Image: bearded man poses for portrait photograph

Finniss, Boyle

South Australia’s first premier was born at sea off the Cape of Good Hope and educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1880s

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

Image: Two clean-shaven Caucasian men dressed in mid-twentieth century suits pose for a photograph. The man standing at left is young and has dark hair. The other, also standing, is elderly with white hair and is wearing thick-framed glasses

Fenner, Dr. Charles

Charles Fenner’s often unheralded contributions to South Australian life were noteworthy.

Historical Person | By CR Twidale, University of Adelaide | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

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

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

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

Image: Painted self-portrait of a man in military uniform

Light, Colonel William

Remembered as the founder of the City of Adelaide, Light was South Australia’s first surveyor-general.

Historical Person | By Dr Robert Nicol | North Terrace | 1830s

Image: woman in front of sculpture of herself

Mitchell, Ms. Roma

A trailblazing jurist, Dame Roma Mitchell pushed for numerous law reforms and became South Australia’s first female governor.

Historical Person | By Nic Klaassen | North Terrace | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Moriarty, Mr. Daniel

Daniel Moriarty has been acclaimed as the greatest footballer between the two World Wars.

Historical Person | By Prof John Daly | East Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s

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

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

Dunstan AC QC, Donald

As premier, Dunstan’s agenda of social and political reform transformed South Australia.

Historical Person | By The Hon Dr John Bannon, AO | North Terrace | 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, late twentieth century

Image: A middle-aged Caucasian woman sits in a wheelchair and is wearing a fur stole and horn-rimmed glasses. Around her are seated three younger Caucasian women in formal dress

Taylor, Ms. Doris

Doris Taylor was the founder and organizer of Meals on Wheels, despite spending most of her life in a wheelchair.

Historical Person | By Michael Cudmore | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s

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

Dowie, Dr. John

Works by the renowned and unpretentious artist John Dowie enhance many public places

Historical Person | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace, Parklands, Rundle Mall | 1910s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: Black and white 1826 engraving of Edward Gibbon Wakefield

Wakefield, Edward

Edward Gibbon Wakefield was born into a family of English Quaker reformers.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s

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

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: 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

Adelaidia