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: 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  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. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Cawthorne, Charles

    Cawthorne was a dynamic music seller and concert manager, and is remembered as a genial raconteur.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | Rundle Street east | 1860s, 1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Image: A man wearing mid-Victorian era attire poses for a photograph. He is seated and is wearing a suit and jacket with tails, and has a fob watch on a chain attached to his waistcoat.

    Faulding, Mr. Francis

    Faulding was a manufacturing chemist, prominent businessman, city councillor and church benefactor.

    Historical Person | By Peter Donovan | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, mid nineteenth century

  21. 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

  22. Image: A lithograph of a middle-aged man in Victorian attire seated at a table and holding a book

    Angas , George

    This merchant, banker, landowner and philanthropist was generous but shrewd, and often tagged with the phrase ‘philanthropy plus ten per cent’.

    Historical Person | By John Healey | North Terrace | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  23. Image: A painted head-and-shoulders portrait of a young man with medium-length dark hair wearing early Victorian-era attire

    Angas , George

    Equal parts naturalist and artist, George French Angas depicted the South Australian landscape, Aboriginal inhabitants, and flora and fauna with meticulous accuracy.

    Historical Person | By John Healey | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s

  24. 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

  25. Jones, Mr. Hooper

    The music of unconventional musician and composer Hooper Josse Brewster Jones was as distinctive as his name.

    Historical Person | By Joyce Gibberd | North Terrace | early twentieth century, mid twentieth century

  26. Image: seated man in relaxed pose

    Fisher, Sir James

    Fisher became the first Mayor of Adelaide in 1840 and the first resident South Australian to be knighted in 1860

    Historical Person | By Allison Russell, History Trust of South Australia | Central Market | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s

  27. Image: A full-length photographic portrait of an elderly, bearded man sitting in a chair. The man is wearing a suit and holding a cane in his hands

    Martin, Mr. James

    A man of many parts, Martin was an inventor, politician, philanthropist, engineer and ‘The Father of Gawler’.

    Historical Person | By Derek Whitelock | North Terrace | 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

  28. Newspaper photo, head and shoulders of woman.

    Cooper, Mrs. Jessie

    Jessie Mary Cooper was the first woman elected to South Australia’s parliament. 

    Historical Person | By Dr Helen Jones | 1850s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  29. Wendt, Joachim

    Joachim Wendt was a Danish-born silversmith whose work included extravagant naturalism, Edwardian style, and restrained Regency taste.

    Historical Person | By Richard Phillips | North Terrace, Rundle Street east | 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

  30. Image: men and horse drawn carts in front of a huge pile of wheat sacks

    Dunn, Mr. John

    The father of Mount Barker, John Dunn lived a long and successful life as a miller, merchant and philanthropist in South Australia.

    Historical Person | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | 1800-1810, 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s

Pages