2010s

Image: black words on a white surface as part of a poetry/art mural on a wall

'Street Art Poetry Project' Location 3

Mark Niehus' four-part series cemented his status as a prominent poet and artist in Adelaide.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

Image: bronze sculpture of man and woman in uniform

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial

Australia’s first memorial to recognise the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was unveiled in Adelaide on 10 November 2013.

Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | early twenty–first century

Image: flag with black top, red bottom and large yellow circle in the middle

Aboriginal flag

The Aboriginal flag flies high over its birthplace, Tarntanyangga/Victoria Square, a symbol of Aboriginal pride, rights and identity.

Historical Thing | By Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

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

Alice

Who, or what, is following Alice in Rymill Park?

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1950s, 1960s

Image: 3D sculpture of Kangaroo grass against black gridded wall

Bent Street Mural

Tony Rosella and Ash Rundle's environmentally and historically inspired artwork on the South Australian Police Building on Grenfell Street.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

Dardanelles Memorial

The first Anzac memorial was once an obelisk in a grove of wattles

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, 2000-2010, 2010s, First World War

Dr John Dowie AM bust

Different, but a good likeness

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s

Find a Furby

Artist Laura Lamington is responsible for a Furby craze that has been sweeping across Adelaide since around 2017. Paste-ups of the lovable creature can be spotted everywhere around town.

Historical Thing | By Cindy Crook, History Trust of South Australia | 2010s

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

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

John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain

The John Jefferson Bray Memorial Fountain commemorates the life of a senior judge, scholar and poet

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Southeast corner | 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s

Statue of John McDouall Stuart, unveiled 4 June 1904

John McDouall Stuart statue

The statue of inland explorer John McDouall Stuart at the corner of Victoria Square and Flinders Street, Adelaide, commemorates his place in Australian history

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton and Mandy Paul, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1850s, 1860s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1960s

Knot

The shining steel and simple form of Knot typifies the work of sculptor Herbert (Bert) Flugelman.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Image: stone fountain shaped like bathtub in front of stone buildings

Lavington Bonython fountain

Affectionately known as the ‘Bonython bath’, this fountain stood outside the South Australian Museum from 1965 to 2005

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s

Lord Florey bust

Adelaide-born Lord Florey won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945 for his part in making the infection-fighting penicillin available

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1920s, 1940s, 1960s

Image: zoom on blue and purple mural of rhinoceros' face, positioned on a brick wall

Mike Maka Mural

Mike Maka’s mural features a tired rhinocerous carrying the city of Adelaide on its back.

Historical Thing | By Hannah Stewart, History Trust of South Australia | Rundle Street east | 2010s

Image: Narisha Cash's Ngadlu Padninthi Kamanka mural (2017)

Ngadlu Padninthi Kamangka (We Walk Together) mural

Narisha Cash's mural acknowledges and celebrates the Kaurna people as the traditional owners and custodians of Adelaide and the Adelaide plains.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Barron, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s, Aboriginal Country pre-contact, early twenty–first century

Crumpled bronze bag on plinth with grass and plants nearby

Paper Bag

Michelle Nikou's bronze sculpture stands in almost comic contrast with the plinths that populate North Terrace further west.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Barron, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 2010s, early twenty–first century

Image: a long, narrow tourist boat with a canvas roof is moored at a concrete dock with a metal railing.

Popeye

'Popeye the Sailor' was a popular cartoon at the cinema in the 1930s when Gordon Watts introduced a tourist pleasure craft on the River Torrens

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | River Torrens | 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000-2010

Image: statue of standing queen in royal robes and crown

Queen Victoria Monument

Since 1894 Queen Victoria has looked imperiously over the bustle of Victoria Square

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1950s, 1960s

Reclining Connected Forms

This 1969 bronze sculpture is one of the few pieces by the renowned British artist to be found in Australia.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Barron, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1960s, late twentieth century

Image: bronze statue of smiling man leaning back with hands in pockets

Roy Rene Statue

The life size sculpture of Roy 'Mo' Rene on Hindley Street invites intimacy with his casual pose and expression of comic amusement.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Hindley Street | 2010s

Image: sculpture of man on donkey carrying another man

Simpson and his Donkey

The iconic figure of of 'Simpson and his Donkey' looks over War Memorial Drive from the Angas Garden.

Historical Thing | By Catherine Manning, History Trust of South Australia | Parklands | 2010s

Sir Lawrence Bragg bust

The bust of Sir Lawrence Bragg commemorates a South Australian Nobel Laureate

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1970s, 2000-2010, 2010s

Sir Mark Oliphant bust

The bust of Sir Mark Oliphant on North Terrace honours an eminent scientist and the state’s first South Australian-born governor.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1900-1910, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, Second World War

The bronze bust of Sir Mellis Napier, sculpted by eminent South Australian artist John Dowie, commemorates his distinguished community service, including to the law and legal profession in South Australia

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | North Terrace | 1880s, 1890s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s