1. Adelaide Festival of the Arts

    This festival is widely recognised as one of the great international arts festivals, while its accompanying Writers’ Week is the largest literary event of its kind.

     

    Historical Event | By Lance Campbell | 1960s, 1970s, 1990s, 2000-2010

  2. Image: Christmas card front showing steamship

    Allinga Menu

    Menu produced for the Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. SS Allinga for Christmas 1901. 

    Collection Item | 1900-1910

  3. Image: silver cup with image of a woman on side

    Cup

    This cup was presented to the Art Gallery of South Australia by Queen Mary as part of Empire-wide celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935.

    Collection Item | North Terrace | 1830s

  4. Duncan Case

    George Ian Ogilvie Duncan, a lecturer in law at the University of Adelaide, drowned on 10 May after being thrown into the River Torrens. Rumours spread that officers from the vice squad engaged in ‘poofter bashing’ had killed Duncan.

    Historical Event | By Tim Reeves | River Torrens | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

  5. Image: Box showing image of rockets with the label 'jet plane'

    Fire Cracker Box

    Packaging and remnats from firecrackers stocked at Gordon Sym Choon's Union Street shop. 

    Collection Item | Rundle Street east | 1960s, 1970s

  6. Women arranging flowers on the ground with buildings in the background

    Flower Day

    Every year between 1938 and 1975 Adelaidians showed pride in their city by beautifying it with mass displays of flowers on National Flower Day.

    Historical Event | By John Davis | North Terrace | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s

  7. Image: row boat decorated with flowers

    Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

    In 1910 thousands of people lined the Torrens to see the carnival of lavishly decorated boats in the first Henley-on-Torrens Regatta

    Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | Parklands, River Torrens | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  8. Image: drawing of the Exchange Hotel

    Hindley Street riot

    Violence and election irregularities marred the process when, in 1855, South Australians got their first chance to elect politicians drawn from, and responsible to, the people.

    Historical Event | By Corinne Ball, Migration Museum | Hindley Street | 1850s

  9. Image: bronze medal with striped ribbon

    Medal

    Honorary medal awarded to Antonio Giordano by the World Federation of Italian Press Abroad.

    Collection Item | 1970s

  10. Image: cane chairs and table

    Miniature Furniture Set

    Miniature furniture brought across the seas for Australian children. 

    Collection Item | 1900-1910

  11. Image: wooden box with two open drawers

    Paint Box

    This paint box is believed to have belonged to soldier, public servant and explorer, Captain Charles Sturt.

    Collection Item | 1800-1810, 1830s, 1840s

  12. Image: men and women in 1970s era clothes march down a city street with pink and black balloons and signs reading "gay pride" and "homosexual liberation"

    Proud Parade

    Adelaide’s very first Gay Pride March took place on Saturday 15 September 1973. 

    Historical Event | By Will Sergeant | Central Market, River Torrens, Rundle Mall, Rundle Street east | 1970s

  13. Image: Blue and gold embroidered smoking cap

    Smoking Cap

    Smoking cap owned and worn by John McDouall Stuart.

    Collection Item | 1850s

  14. Image: printing press

    Stanhope Press

    The Stanhope press brought to Holdfast Bay in 1836 was used to print the Proclamation of South Australia. 

    Collection Item | 1830s

  15. Image: survey chain

    Survey Chain

    Survey chain used by Isaac Guley in surveying the City of Adelaide with Colonel Light.

    Collection Item | Central Market, East Terrace, Hindley Street, North Terrace, Northwest corner, Parklands, River Torrens, Rundle Mall, Rundle Street east, Southeast corner, Southwest corner | 1830s

  16. Image: Proclamation sign

    The first reading of the proclamation

    The December 1836 proclamation at Holdfast Bay is South Australia’s best known historical event, despite it often being misunderstood

    Historical Event | By Margaret Anderson, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s

  17. Image: gold chain with opal

    The Lady Mayoress' Chain

    Collection Item | 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

  18. Governor Richard MacDonnell

    The opening of Parliament 1857

    Crowds gathered on 22 April 1857 to watch Governor Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell open South Australia’s first fully elected parliament.

    Historical Event | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1850s

  19. Image: A small circular badge with painted wattle flowers with text above them which says for our own

    Wattle Day

    1 September in Australia is Wattle Day, though not widely known, some have argued it should replace Australia Day.

    Historical Event | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1900-1910, 1910s, early twentieth century, early twenty–first century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century