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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Charles Duguid was a medical practitioner and champion of the underdog who spent many of his 102 years as a worker for Aboriginal advancement.
Historical Person | By Stewart Cockburn | North Terrace | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
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
Colin Sidney Hayes (1924–1999) was an expert handler and judge of horses, and an astute businessman.
Historical Person | By Dirk van Dissel | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
Hayes is remembered as possibly the greatest racehorse trainer and thoroughbred breeder in the history of Australian racing.
Historical Person | By Dennis Markham | North Terrace | late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
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
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
As befitting a dedicated community worker and charity organizer, her simple philosophy was benign: ‘’To live and let live.’’
Historical Person | By Jo Peoples | North Terrace | 2000-2010, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
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
David Dallwitz was an accomplished musician and artist, whose work in both fields covered a wide variety of forms.
Historical Person | By Jane Hylton | North Terrace | 1930s, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
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
Dominic Paul McGuire made a name for himself as a successful author, and became a political ambassador for Australia.
Historical Person | By Katharine Massam | early twentieth century, late twentieth century, mid twentieth century
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
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
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
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
Edward Gibbon Wakefield was born into a family of English Quaker reformers.
Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1830s, 1850s
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
Flexmore Hudson was a poet and teacher who produced Poetry, the second largest poetry magazine circulating in the English speaking world.
Historical Person | By Anthony Laube | 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Frank Tennyson Perry (1887–1965) was born in Gawler and educated at Prince Alfred College before joining his uncle’s engineering business in 1903.
Historical Person | By Carol Fort | 1880s, 1890s, 1900-1910, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s
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
Discover the people who have shaped Adelaide
Explore the city's built environment and famous Parklands
Find the stories behind the city's public artworks, monuments and memorials
Browse some of the themes that contextualise the city's history
Learn about the organisations that have made the city tick
Find out what's drawn people into the city's streets
Explore some of the early maps, plans and panoramas that trace the development of the city
Discover the city's history through a rich collection of museum objects
Explore Adelaide by following a themed tour
Share your memories, stories and pictures with the Adelaidia community