mid nineteenth century

Image: A photographic collage containing the portraits of five Caucasian men in late Victorian-era attire. Four of the men are bearded, while the fifth sports a handlebar moustache. Two of the men are middle aged; the other three are younger

Hancock, Mr. Henry

Imposing mine Superintendent Henry Richard Hancock substantially reorganized and developed the “Monster Mine” at Moonta.

Historical Person | By Ros Paterson | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

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

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

Image: A group of middle-aged men in Edwardian attire pose for a photograph. The two men in the centre sit on chairs, while the other two stand on either side of the group

Kirkpatrick, Mr. Andrew

A union leader, parliamentarian and egalitarian, Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick pushed for equal rights for women.

Historical Person | By Nick Ganzis | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

Image: head and shoulders portrait of a man with a beard

Tennant, Mr. Andrew

Andrew Tennant was the son of a Scottish shepherd who became a pastoralist and counted mining and the Adelaide Steamship Co. among his business investments.

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

Image: women in dress with hat sitting down next to man in suit and top hat

Tennyson , Audrey

Audrey Tennyson (1854-1916), wife of South Australian governor Hallam Tennyson, took a particular interest in the conditions of South Australia’s poor and sick.

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

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

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

Benjamin Herschel Babbage (1815–1878), an English engineer who superintended construction of the first Port Adelaide railway line, was employed by the South Australian Government in 1851 to search for gold. He led two official expeditions (1856 and 1858) that found no gold but surveyed the Flinders Ranges and Far North and established the extent of Lakes Eyre and Torrens.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

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: stone statue of man with hand up to shade his eyes while gazing out

Captain Charles Sturt Memorial

Leaning forward and shielding his eyes from the sun, this bronze figure of Sturt looks over Victoria Square, not the land he explored

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s

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

Bronze sculpture, Catherine Helen Spence by Ieva Porcius, 1986

Catherine Helen Spence statue

The powerful sculpture of Catherine Helen Spence in Light Square, Adelaide celebrates the life and work of a formidable South Australian.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1920s, 1980s

Charles Cameron Kingston Memorial

A remarkable and feisty South Australian attorney-general and premier, a father of federation and the first Australian Minster for Trade and Customs is commemorated by this statue

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s

Colonel Light statue

Colonel William Light’s statue on Montefiore Hill pointing towards the centre of Adelaide has come to symbolise the city that Light laid out.

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | 1830s, 1840s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1930s, early twenty–first century

Image: The memorial to Colonel Light without its spire

Colonel William Light Grave and Monument

Colonel William Light’s grave remains in Light Square, while Light's Monument there has been replaced and embellished over time

Historical Thing | By Jude Elton, History Trust of South Australia | Northwest corner | 1830s, 1840s, 1870s, 1890s, 1900-1910

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

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

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

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

Scott, Mr. Edward

Edward Bates Scott migrated to New South Wales in 1838 from England, he later settled in the Murray Region, establishing a cattle station, becoming a magistrate, protector of Aboriginals, and finally a superintendent of a labour prison.

Historical Person | By Robert Foster | early nineteenth century, early twentieth century, late nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

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: Edward John Eyre, seated, looking off to the side, with a notebook

Eyre, Edward

Edward John Eyre (1815–1901) was English-born and educated for a military career but decided to travel to Australia instead. Arriving in Sydney in March 1833, Eyre soon displayed his flair for self-reliant leadership and adventure.

Historical Person | By Carol Fort | early nineteenth century, mid nineteenth century

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

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

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

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