Timeline of South Australian history
Encyclopedia
Pre 1836
- 18,000 BC: Evidence of flint mining activity and rock art in the Koonalda Cave on the Nullarbor PlainNullarbor PlainThe Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
. - 1627: First recorded European sighting of the South Australian coast.
- 1802: South Australian coastline mapped by Matthew FlindersMatthew FlindersCaptain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
and Nicolas BaudinNicolas BaudinNicolas-Thomas Baudin was a French explorer, cartographer, naturalist and hydrographer.Baudin was born a commoner in Saint-Martin-de-Ré on the Île de Ré. At the age of fifteen he joined the merchant navy, and at twenty joined the French East India Company...
. - 1802 (Circa): Unofficial settlement of Kangaroo IslandKangaroo IslandKangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
by sealers. - 1830: Captain Charles SturtCharles SturtCaptain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,...
travels to the mouth of the Murray RiverMurray RiverThe Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
in a whale boat. - 1831: Captain Collet BarkerCollet BarkerCollet Barker was a British military officer and explorer. He explored areas of South Australia, Western Australia and Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory-History:Barker was born in Hackney, he lived in Newbury as a child...
explores the Adelaide PlainsAdelaide PlainsThe Adelaide Plains is the area in South Australia between the Mount Lofty Ranges on the east and Gulf St Vincent on the west. The plains are generally fertile with annual rainfall of about per year....
and climbs to the summit of Mount LoftyMount LoftyMount Lofty is the highest point in the Mount Lofty Ranges. It is located about 15km east of the centre of the city of Adelaide in South Australia and gives unrivalled panoramic views of the city and the Adelaide plains and foothills. It was first climbed by a European when explorer Collet Barker...
.
1830s
- 1836: South Australia proclaimedProclamation DayProclamation Day is the name of a number of official or unofficial holidays or other anniversaries which commemorate or mark an important proclamation. In some cases it may be the day of, or the anniversary of, the proclamation of a monarch's accession to the throne...
by Governor John HindmarshJohn HindmarshRear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
on 28 December at the Old Gum Tree, GlenelgGlenelg, South AustraliaGlenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
. - 1836: Site for AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
chosen by Colonel William LightWilliam LightColonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
beside the River TorrensRiver TorrensThe River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
. - 1837: Colonel Light completes survey of Adelaide city centreAdelaide city centreThe Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
and designs the city's grid layout. Allotments of 1 acre (0.404686 ha) are made. - 1837: First regional town, Gawler, is founded north of Adelaide.
- 1837: Adelaide's first hospital opens on North TerraceNorth Terrace, AdelaideNorth Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of the city of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east-west, along the northern edge of the CBD.-North Side of North Terrace:...
. - 1838: The first AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n police force is formed in Adelaide, the South Australia PoliceSouth Australia PoliceThe South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
. - 1838: OverlandersDrover (Australian)A drover in Australia is a person, typically an experienced stockman, who moves livestock, usually sheep or cattle, "on the hoof" over long distances. Reasons for droving may include: delivering animals to a new owner's property, taking animals to market, or moving animals during a drought in...
Joseph HawdonJoseph HawdonJoseph Hawdon was a pioneer settler and overlander of Australia and New Zealand.Hawdon was born at Wackerfield, Durham, England, the son of John Hawdon. At the suggestion of his brother elder brother John , he decided to travel to Australia, arriving in Sydney in November 1834...
and Charles BonneyCharles BonneyCharles Bonney was a pioneer and politician in Australia.-Early life:Bonney was the youngest son of the Rev. George Bonney, a fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and his wife Susanna, née Knight. He was born at Sandon, near Stafford, Staffordshire, England...
arrive in Adelaide from New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
with 300 head of cattle. - 1838: First German immigrants arrive and settle in Adelaide and surrounds.
- 1839: Colonel Light dies at ThebartonThebarton, South AustraliaThebarton is a suburb of the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is bounded by the River Torrens to the north, Port Road and Bonython Park to the east, Kintore Street to the south, and South Road to the west....
and is interred in Light SquareLight Square, AdelaideLight Square is one of five squares in the City of Adelaide. Located in the centre of the north-western quarter of the Adelaide city centre, the Square is named after the city's planner, Colonel William Light....
beneath a memorial. He is the only person buried within "the square mile". - 1839: The first road in South Australia, Port RoadPort Road, AdelaidePort Road is a major road in Adelaide, South Australia connecting the central business district with Port Adelaide. It is 12 km long and exceptionally wide, approximately 70 m. When first conceived upon the establishment of Adelaide, it was designed to be able to accommodate a standard road, a...
, is opened. - 1839: Edward John EyreEdward John EyreEdward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
begins his explorations of the Flinders RangesFlinders RangesFlinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
and beyond.
1840s
- 1840: The first portion of Government HouseGovernment House, AdelaideGovernment House, located in Adelaide on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road, is the official residence of the Governor of South Australia.-History:The original 'Government Hut' was a thatched hut constructed by the seamen of the HMS Buffalo...
is completed, becoming the first in Australia. - 1840: Royal Adelaide ShowRoyal Adelaide ShowThe Royal Adelaide Show also known as the Royal Show or simply The Show, is an annual agricultural show/fair held in Adelaide, South Australia that begins on the first Friday in September, or the last Friday in August, and runs for 9 days. It is held at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, located in...
held for the first time. - 1840: The Corporation of AdelaideCity of AdelaideThe City of Adelaide is a local government area in the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. It covers the original Adelaide city centre settlement, , North Adelaide, and the Adelaide Park Lands which surround North Adelaide and the city centre.Established in 1840, the organisation now...
is founded as the first municipal authority in Australia. - 1840: All 26 survivors of the shipwreck Maria are murdered by AboriginalsIndigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
in mysterious circumstances along the Coorong. - 1841: Construction of Adelaide GaolAdelaide GaolAdelaide Gaol was an Australian prison located in Thebarton, South Australia, Australia. The gaol was the first permanent one in South Australia and operated from 1841 until 1988...
begins. - 1841: Adelaide HospitalRoyal Adelaide HospitalThe Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
(later Royal) opened. - 1842: Copper is discovered at Kapunda.
- 1843: The first Legislative CouncilSouth Australian Legislative CouncilThe Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
building opens on North Terrace. - 1844: The colonial GovernmentGovernment of South AustraliaThe form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
takes control of the Corporation of Adelaide. - 1845: Copper is discovered at BurraBurra, South AustraliaBurra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
. - 1845: Port Pirie founded on the upper Spencer GulfSpencer GulfThe Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
. - 1846: John Ainsworth HorrocksJohn Ainsworth HorrocksJohn Ainsworth Horrocks was one of the first settlers in the Clare Valley in 1839. He established the town of Penwortham in South Australia. Horrocks is unfortunately known more for his death, when he was accidentally shot in a hunting accident...
dies while exploring land to the northwest of Lake TorrensLake TorrensLake Torrens is a salt lake in central South Australia. It is located in the Lake Torrens National Park....
. - 1847: St Peter's CollegeSt Peter's College, AdelaideSt Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
established. - 1848: Pulteney Grammar SchoolPulteney Grammar SchoolPulteney Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, day school, located on South Terrace in Adelaide, South Australia.- History :...
established.
1850s
- 1850: The forerunner to Harris ScarfeHarris ScarfeHarris Scarfe Department Stores was founded in Adelaide, South Australia in 1849. At its peak, Adelaide was home to several major South Australian department stores , of which Harris Scarfe is the sole...
, G. P. Harris and J. C. Lanyon, opened on Hindley StreetHindley Street, AdelaideHindley Street is located in the West End of the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street and West Terrace. The street was named after British parliamentarian and social reformist, Charles Hindley....
. - 1852: The Corporation of Adelaide is reconstituted. First transport of gold overland arrived in Adelaide.
- 1854: The township of Port AugustaPort Augusta, South Australia-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
at the head of Spencer GulfSpencer GulfThe Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
is surveyed. - 1854: The township of Gambierton, later Mount GambierMount Gambier, South AustraliaMount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
is founded in the South East. - 1856: The South Australian Institute, from which the State LibraryState Library of South AustraliaThe State Library of South Australia, located on North Terrace, Adelaide, is the official library of the Australian state of South Australia. It is the largest public research library in the state with a collection focus on South Australian information, and general reference material for...
, State MuseumSouth Australian MuseumThe South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856. It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.-History:...
and Art GalleryArt Gallery of South AustraliaThe Art Gallery of South Australia , located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is the premier visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of over 35,000 works of art, making it, after the National Gallery of Victoria, the largest state...
derived, is founded. - 1856: First telegraph line and steam railway between Adelaide and Port Adelaide opened.
- 1856: South Australia becomes one of the first places in the world to enact the Secret BallotSecret ballotThe secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
. - 1857: Adelaide Botanic Gardens opened at today's site in the Parklands at the corner of North and East Terraces.
- 1858: Melbourne-Adelaide telegraph line opened.
- 1858: The first edition of The Advertiser newspaper is published.
- 1859: A jetty of more the 350 metres in length is constructed at GlenelgGlenelg, South AustraliaGlenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
. - 1859: Shipwreck of SS Admella off Carpenter Rocks in the South East. 89 dead. Worst maritime disaster to this day.
1860s
- 1860: Thorndon Park Reservoir supplied water through new reticulation system.
- 1861: East TerraceEast Terrace, AdelaideEast Terrace marks the eastern edge of the city centre of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is one of the main north-south thoroughfares through the east side of the city...
markets opened. - 1861: Copper discovered at MoontaMoonta, South AustraliaMoonta is a town located on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, 165 kilometres north-northwest of the state capital of Adelaide. It is one of three towns known as the Copper Coast or "Little Cornwall" for their shared copper mining history....
, on the Yorke PeninsulaYorke PeninsulaThe Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located north-west and west of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. It has geographic coordinates of...
. - 1863: First gas supplied to city.
- 1862: John McDouall StuartJohn McDouall StuartJohn McDouall Stuart was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this...
successfully crosses the continent from north to south on his sixth attempt. - 1865: Bank of AdelaideBank of AdelaideThe Bank of Adelaide was founded in 1865 in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It was incorporated by an act of the Parliament of South Australia. It was taken over in 1979 by ANZ, and merged into that organisation, after bailing out a subsidiary finance company that had lent too much to...
founded. - 1866: The Italianate Adelaide Town HallAdelaide Town HallAdelaide Town Hall is a landmark building on King William Street in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.-Description and history:Adelaide Town Hall was designed by Edmund Wright and Edward Woods, with construction commencing in 1863 and completed in 1866...
opened. - 1866: First oil exploration in Australia at Alfred Flat near Salt CreekSalt Creek, South AustraliaSalt Creek is a small settlement in South Australia, located along the Coorong, and is also the location of the Coorong National Park Information Centre.-Oil rig momument:...
, along the Coorong. - 1867: Prince AlfredAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and GothaAlfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...
, Duke of EdinburghDuke of EdinburghThe Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
, made first royal visit to Adelaide. - 1869: The City Market (later Central) opened on Grote StreetGrote Street, AdelaideGrote Street is a major street in the CBD of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It runs in an east-west direction, as a continuation of Wakefield Street where it crosses Victoria Square. It concludes at West Terrace; the road which continues is Sir Donald Bradman Drive...
. - 1869: Prince Alfred CollegePrince Alfred CollegePrince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
established.
1870s
- 1870: Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
established. - 1872: The General Post Office opened. Adelaide became first Australian capital linked to Imperial LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with completion of the Overland TelegraphAustralian Overland Telegraph LineThe Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 km telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta in South Australia. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the...
. - 1873: First cricket match played at Adelaide OvalAdelaide OvalThe Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
. - 1874: The Adelaide Oval is officially opened.
- 1874: The University of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideThe University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
founded. - 1875: Adelaide Steamship CompanyAdelaide Steamship CompanyThe Adelaide Steamship Company was formed by a group of South Australian businessmen in 1875. Their aim was to control the transport of goods between Adelaide and Melbourne and profit from the need for an efficient and comfortable passenger service...
founded. - 1876: Adelaide Children's HospitalWomen's and Children's Hospital, AdelaideThe Women's and Children's Hospital is located on King William Road in North Adelaide, Australia.It is one of the major hospitals in Adelaide and is a teaching hospital of the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Flinders University....
founded. - 1877: The Adelaide Bridge across the Torrens completed.
- 1877: Copper mines at Burra and Kapunda close.
- 1878: First horse-drawn tramsTrams in AdelaideUntil 1958, Trams in Adelaide formed a network spanning most of suburban Adelaide, with a history dating back to 1878. Adelaide ran horse trams from 1878 to 1914 and electric trams from 1909, but has primarily relied on buses for public transport since 1958...
in Australia commenced operations in the city. - 1879: Foundation stone of the University of Adelaide laid.
1880s
- 1880: Telephone introduced in South Australia.
- 1880: Fort GlanvilleFort Glanville Conservation ParkFort Glanville Conservation Park is a registered heritage conservation area in Semaphore South, South Australia, a seaside suburb of Adelaide, that incorporates a functional 19th century fort. The fort was built after more than 40 years of indecision over the defence of South Australia...
opens. - 1880: Reformatory Hulk Fitzjames commissioned and moored off Largs Bay.
- 1881: The Art Gallery of South AustraliaArt Gallery of South AustraliaThe Art Gallery of South Australia , located on the cultural boulevard of North Terrace in Adelaide, is the premier visual arts museum in the Australian state of South Australia. It has a collection of over 35,000 works of art, making it, after the National Gallery of Victoria, the largest state...
opened by Prince Albert VictorPrince Albert Victor, Duke of ClarencePrince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale was a member of the British Royal Family. He was the eldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales , and the grandson of the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria...
. - 1881: Torrens Lake created following the construction of weir.
- 1881: Coopers BreweryCoopers BreweryCoopers Brewery is an Australian beer company. Its shares are primarily owned by the extended Cooper family, and the company's constitution and classes of shares makes it difficult to sell shares outside the family. Coopers is known for making a variety of high quality beers, the most famous of...
is established. - 1881: Drought ruins thousands of farmers on marginal land in the Mid NorthMid NorthThe Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern...
and Goyder's LineGoyder's LineGoyder's Line is a boundary line across South Australia corresponding to a rainfall boundary believed to indicate the edge of the area suitable for agriculture. North of Goyder's Line, the rainfall is not reliable enough, and the land is only suitable for grazing and not cropping. The line traces a...
is recognised as the limit to agricultural settlement. - 1882: First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced.
- 1882: The City Baths opened on King William RoadKing William Street, AdelaideKing William Street is the part of a major arterial road that traverses the CBD and centre of Adelaide . It was named by the Street Naming Committee on 23 May 1837 after King William IV, the then reigning monarch, who died within a month...
. - 1883: Adelaide Zoological GardensAdelaide ZooAdelaide Zoo is Australia's second oldest zoo, and the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated on a non-profit basis. It is located in the parklands just north of the city centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium...
opened. - 1884: Adelaide Trades and Labor Council inaugurated.
- 1884: Fort LargsFort Largs Police AcademyFort Largs is historic defence facility in the seaside suburb of Taperoo near Port Adelaide, approximately north west of Adelaide's centre. Today Fort Largs survives in greatly modified condition from its original state...
opens. - 1885: The Adelaide Arcade opens.
- 1885: Flinders Column erected at the Mount Lofty Summit.
- 1887: Express train services between Adelaide and Melbourne commence.
- 1887: Stock Exchange of Adelaide forms.
- 1889: School of Mines and IndustriesUniversity of South AustraliaThe University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
opens on North Terrace. - 1889: Lead smelters built at Port Pirie.
1890s
- 1891: The Central Australia Railway reaches OodnadattaOodnadatta, South AustraliaOodnadatta, South Australia, is a small town surrounded by an area of with cattle stations in arid pastoral rangelands close to the Simpson Desert, north of Adelaide and 112 m above sea level. It can be reached by an unsealed road from Coober Pedy or via the unsealed Oodnadatta Track from...
in the far north. - 1892: First public statue, Venus (Venere Di Canova), unveiled on North Terrace.
- 1894: The world's second Act granting women suffrage passed in Parliament HouseParliament House, AdelaideParliament House, on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road in Adelaide city centre, is the seat of the Parliament of South Australia. It was built to replace the adjacent and overcrowded Parliament House, now referred to as "Old Parliament House"...
on North Terrace. - 1896: Moving pictures shown for first time in South Australia at Theatre Royal on Hindley Street.
- 1896: Happy Valley ReservoirHappy Valley ReservoirConstructed when the total population of Adelaide numbered 315,200 the Happy Valley Reservoir now supplies over a half a million people, from Adelaide's southern extent to the city-centre.-Construction:...
opened. - 1897: Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention (Australia)In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings.-1891 convention:The 1891 Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There...
on Federation held in AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. - 1899: South Australian contingent leaves Adelaide for the Second Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. - 1899: State ReferendumReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on FederationFederationA federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
: South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes Yes (70.2%).
1900s
- 1900: First electricity station opened in South Australia at Grenfell StreetGrenfell Street, AdelaideGrenfell Street is a main road in the north-east quarter of the Adelaide city centre, in Adelaide, South Australia. The street runs west-east from King William Street to East Terrace. On the other side of King William Street, it continues as Currie Street...
. - 1901: Adelaide became a state capital upon the establishment of the Commonwealth of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 1 January. The Duke and Duchess of York visit. - 1901: Whyalla founded on the upper Spencer Gulf as a port for iron ore from the Middleback Ranges.
- 1904: Adelaide Fruit and Produce Exchange opens in the East EndEast End, AdelaideThe East End is a small part of the Adelaide central business district, close to East Terrace and North Terrace. This area is a popular office and retail district and has an increasing residential interest from the building of high-density luxury apartments in the area.The retail centre of the East...
. - 1904: State Flag of South AustraliaFlag of South AustraliaThe current state flag of South Australia, was officially adopted by the government of South Australia in 1904.The flag is based on the defaced British Blue Ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge is a gold disc featuring a Piping Shrike with its wings outstretched...
is officially adopted. - 1906: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
on Senate ElectionsAustralian referendum, 1906The Australian referendum of 12 December 1906 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution related to the terms of office of federal senators. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration Act, 1906, which after being approved in the referendum received the Royal Assent on 3...
: South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes Yes (86.99%). - 1908: Outer HarborOuter Harbor, South AustraliaOuter Harbor is a north-western industrial suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, located at the northern tip of the Lefevre Peninsula; administratively, it lies in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, 22 km from the Adelaide city centre. It is adjacent to Osborne, North Haven and Pelican Point...
opens. - 1908: Adelaide High SchoolAdelaide High SchoolAdelaide High School is a coeducational state high school situated on the corner of West Terrace and Glover Avenue in the Adelaide Parklands. It is the first government high school in South Australia...
established. - 1909: Electric tram services begin.
1910s
- 1910: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
on Surplus RevenueAustralian referendum, 1910 (Surplus Revenue)Constitution Alteration 1909 was question put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1910. The question sought to amend section 87 which was due to lapse in 1910...
: South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes No (50.94%). - 1911: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
on Trade and CommerceAustralian referendum, 1911 (Trade and Commerce)Constitution Alteration 1910 was a question put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1911. The question attempted to extend the government's power over trade and commerce, the control of corporations, labour and employment and combinations and monopolies...
: South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes No (61.93%). - 1912: The Verco BuildingVerco BuildingThe Verco Building is situated in the Adelaide city centre at 178-179 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, and is today part of the Myer Centre.-History:...
, an early 'skyscraper', is built on North Terrace. - 1913: Metropolitan abattoirs open.
- 1913: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
on Trade and CommerceAustralian referendum, 1913 (Trade and Commerce)The Constitution Alteration 1912 was a question was put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1913. With this question, the Australian government sought to extend its power over trade and commerce.-Question:...
: South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes Yes (51.32%). - 1914: South Australian troops join their Australian comrades in Europe to fight in the Great War.
- 1914: Torrens Island Internment CampTorrens Island Internment CampThe Torrens Island Internment Camp was a World War I concentration camp, located on Torrens Island in the Port River Estuary near Adelaide in South Australia. The camp opened on 9 October 1914 and held up to 400 men of German or Austro-Hungarian background or crew members of enemy ships who had...
opens. - 1915: Liquor bars close at 6 pm following referendum, creating the six o'clock swillSix o'clock swillThe six o'clock swill was an Australian and New Zealand slang term for the last-minute rush to buy drinks at a hotel bar before it closed. During a significant part of the 20th century, most Australian and New Zealand hotels shut their public bars at 6 p.m. A culture developed of heavy drinking...
. - 1915: Torrens Island Internment Camp closes.
- 1917: German private schools close because of the Great War.
- 1917: First trains to Perth following completion of East-West continental railway.
- 1918: Railway lineWillunga railway line, AdelaideThe Willunga railway line ran through the southern Adelaide suburbs from Hallett Cove to Willunga, over long . The line reached Willunga in 1918, and had 16 stations. It closed in 1969 and was dismantled in 1972, but the corridor remains as the long Coast to Vines Rail Trail...
from Hallett Cove to Willunga opens. - 1918: Railway branchline between BalhannahBalhannah, South AustraliaBalhannah is a town in the Adelaide Hills about 30 km southeast of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It was established in 1839 as a farming community. The fruit cold store built in 1914 was one of the first in Australia and is still in use. It is on the main interstate railway between...
and Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, South AustraliaMount Pleasant is a town situated at the northern end of the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia, 55 kilometres east-north-east of the state capital, Adelaide . It is located in the Barossa Council and Mid Murray Council local government areas, and is at an altitude of 440 metres above sea level...
opens. - 1919: Adelaide awarded official city status and Mayor became Lord Mayor.
- 1919: Railway branchline between Monarto South and SedanSedan, South AustraliaSedan is a rural town in South Australia. It is located about 100 kilometres east of Adelaide and about 20 kilometres west of the Murray River...
opens.
1920s
- 1921: PoliticianNew South Wales Legislative AssemblyThe Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
Percy BrookfieldPercival BrookfieldPercival Stanley Brookfield was an Australian politician and militant trade unionist. He was variously known as Percival Jack Brookfield or Jack Brookfield, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1917 until his violent death in 1921...
is shot at the RivertonRiverton, South AustraliaRiverton is a small town of distinctive character and interest to travellers in the Mid North of South Australia, in the Gilbert Valley. It is situated on the Gilbert River, from which the town derives its name...
railway station and later dies. - 1924: Radio broadcasting begins.
- 1924: James Stobie invents the Stobie poleStobie poleA Stobie pole is a power line pole made of two steel joists held apart by a slab of concrete in the middle. It was invented by Adelaide Electricity Supply Company design engineer James Cyril Stobie . Stobie used materials easily at hand due to the shortage of suitably long, strong, straight and...
, now a South Australian icon. - 1924: Township of Murray BridgeMurray Bridge, South AustraliaMurray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
is founded. - 1925: Wayville Showgrounds open.
- 1927: North-South railway extended.
- 1927: Duke and Duchess of York visit.
- 1928: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- Yes (62.68%) on State DebtAustralian referendum, 1928The referendum of the 17 November 1928 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and its states...
- Yes (62.68%) on State Debt
- 1929: Electric service to Glenelg commences.
1930s
- 1932: Local government overhauled when Government redefined boundaries and names and abolished others.
- 1933: First John Martin's Christmas Pageanthttp://www.spiritofjohnmartins.org/index.php?sId=2http://www.cupageant.com.au/history_first_pageant.html
- 1935: Many German place names, which had been changed during the Great War, are restored.
- 1936: South Australia celebrates its centenary.
- 1936: South Australian Housing TrustSouth Australian Housing TrustThe South Australian Housing Trust was a statutory authority established by the of the Government of South Australia responsible for providing low-cost rental housing to working people and their families.-History:...
is founded. - 1937: First trolley bus services commence.
- 1937: First permanent traffic signals installed.
- 1937: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- No (59.87%) on AviationAustralian referendum, 1937 (Aviation)Constitution Alteration 1936 sought to give the government legislative power with respect to air navigation and aircraft. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1937.-Results:...
- No (79.17%) on MarketingAustralian referendum, 1937 (Marketing)Constitution Alteration 1936 sought to remove the restraints imposed on Parliament by section 92 of the constitution. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1937.-Results:...
- No (59.87%) on Aviation
- 1937: Outbreak of poliomyelitisPoliomyelitisPoliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
. - 1938: South Australian Housing TrustSouth Australian Housing TrustThe South Australian Housing Trust was a statutory authority established by the of the Government of South Australia responsible for providing low-cost rental housing to working people and their families.-History:...
completes first dwelling. - 1939: Worst heat wave recorded with disastrous bushfires and highest Adelaide temperature of 47.6° Celsius.
- 1939: New Parliament HouseParliament House, AdelaideParliament House, on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road in Adelaide city centre, is the seat of the Parliament of South Australia. It was built to replace the adjacent and overcrowded Parliament House, now referred to as "Old Parliament House"...
opened on North Terrace by the Governor-GeneralGovernor-General of AustraliaThe Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
Lord GowrieAlexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of GowrieBrigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history...
.
1940s
- 1940: Birkenhead Bridge opens.
- 1940: Ship building begins at WhyallaWhyalla, South Australia-Demographics:According to the 2006 Census the population of the Whyalla census area was 21,122 people, making it the second largest urban area in the state outside of Adelaide...
. - 1940: PinguinGerman auxiliary cruiser PinguinThe Pinguin was a German auxiliary cruiser which served as a commerce raider in World War II. The Pinguin was known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 33, and designated HSK 5. The most successful commerce raider of the war, she was known to the British Royal Navy as Raider F...
enters South Australian waters, laying sea mines along vital shipping lanes. - 1940: Loveday POW campLoveday Camp 9Camp 9 was one of three main POW and internee camps, located at Loveday, in South Australia's Riverland, approximately 12 kilometres from Renmark. This camp could hold up to 1000 people, detaining Italian civilian internees, and later Italian prisoners of war...
opens - 1942: Rationing of tea and clothing introduced.
- 1943: Rationing of butter introduced.
- 1944: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- Yes (50.64%) on Post War Reconstruction and Democratic RightsAustralian referendum, 1944The 1944 Australian Referendum was held on 19 August 1944. It contained one referendum question.* Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights -Proposed Amendment:...
- Yes (50.64%) on Post War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights
- 1944: Rationing of meat introduced.
- 1944: GermanNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
U-BoatU-boatU-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
U-862 attacks the GreekKingdom of GreeceThe Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
freighter Ilissos off the Limestone CoastLimestone CoastThe Limestone Coast is a name used since the early twentyfirst century for the geographical region and tourist region of the southeast coast of South Australia from the Victoria border to the towards the city of Adelaide.-Location and description:...
. - 1945: Gas and electricity restrictions imposed.
- 1945: Hills IndustriesHills IndustriesHills Industries is a diversified Australian company that makes home, hardware and electronics. The company has been described as an Australian legend, and was founded on the production of a single product, the Hills Rotary Hoist.-History:...
founded. - 1946: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- Yes (51.73%) on Social ServicesAustralian referendum, 1946 (Social Services)Constitution Alteration 1946 proposed to extend the powers of government over a range of social services. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1946 with two other questions...
- No (51.26%) on MarketingAustralian referendum, 1946 (Marketing)Section 42 of the Australian Constitution limited the government's power to make laws with respect tothe organised marketing of primary products. Constitution Alteration 1946 sought to remove these restrictions....
- No (51.80%) on Industrial EmploymentAustralian referendum, 1946 (Industrial Employment)Constitution Alteration 1946 sought to give the government legislative powers over the terms and conditions of industrial employment but not so as to authorise any form of industrial conscription...
- Yes (51.73%) on Social Services
- 1947: Orchards ripped up following discovery of fruit flyTephritidaeTephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as "fruit flies", the other family being Drosophilidae. Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila , which is often called the "common fruit fly". There are nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid...
in the metropolitan area. - 1948: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- No (57.85%) on Rents and PricesAustralian referendum, 1948The 1948 Australian Referendum was held on 29 May 1948. It contained one referendum question.* Rents and Prices -Proposed Amendment:...
- No (57.85%) on Rents and Prices
- 1948: Glenelg jetty destroyed and widespread damage caused by severe storms.
- 1948: Clothing and meat rationing abolished.
- 1948: Holden begins production.
1950s
- 1950: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Thomas PlayfordThomas Playford IVSir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
, holds onto government. - 1950: Petrol, butter and tea rationing abolished.
- 1950: Port Pirie proclaimed South Australia's first provincial city.
- 1951: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- No (52.71%) on Communists and CommunismAustralian referendum, 1951The 1951 Australian Referendum was held on 22 September 1951 and sought approval for the federal government to ban the Communist Party of Australia. It was not carried.-Background:...
- No (52.71%) on Communists and Communism
- 1953: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Thomas PlayfordThomas Playford IVSir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
, holds onto government. - 1954: Adelaide is hit by an earthquakeGreat Adelaide EarthquakeThe Great Adelaide Earthquake had its center at Darlington, some to the south of Adelaide in South Australia. It took place at 03.40 in the early morning of March 1, 1954 and had a reported magnitude of 5.6...
causing much property damage but no loss of life. - 1954: Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
makes first sovereign visit to Adelaide. - 1954: Mannum-Adelaide pipeline completed, pumping water from the River Murray to metropolitan reservoirs.
- 1955: Adelaide Airport at West BeachWest Beach, South AustraliaWest Beach is a seaside suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in both the City of Charles Sturt and the City of West Torrens.-History:...
opens. - 1955: ElizabethElizabeth, South AustraliaElizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...
officially proclaimed. - 1956: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Thomas PlayfordThomas Playford IVSir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
, holds onto government. - 1958: Queen ElizabethElizabeth Bowes-LyonElizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Queen Mother, visits Adelaide. - 1958: First parking meters installed.
- 1958: South Para ReservoirSouth Para ReservoirSouth Para Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in South Australia, behind Mount Bold Reservoir, and the principal reservoir of the South Para River system...
opened and connected to Adelaide water supply. - 1958: Last street tram removed, leaving only the Glenelg TramGlenelg TramThe Glenelg Tram is a route from the centre of Adelaide, South Australia to the beach-side suburb of Glenelg. It is Adelaide's only remaining tramway, running at approximately 15-minute intervals, and is part of the integrated Adelaide Metro public transport network...
. - 1959: Television broadcasting commences in Adelaide with NWS-9NWS-9NWS is an Australian television station owned by the WIN Corporation which is based in Adelaide, Australia. The station's name, NWS is an acronym of The NeWs South Australia.-Origins:...
. ADS-7 (now ADS-10ADS-10ADS Adelaide is an Australian television station, owned by, and affiliated with the Ten Network.-History:ADS-10 began as ADS-7 on 24 October 1959, before being owned by those affiliated with the Ten Network. On 27 December 1987, ADS-7 and SAS-10 switched affiliations, ADS moving to channel 10, SAS...
) begins broadcasting one month later. - 1959: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Thomas PlayfordThomas Playford IVSir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
, holds onto government.
1960s
- 1960: Adelaide Festival of ArtsAdelaide Festival of ArtsThe Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
held for the first time. - 1962: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Thomas PlayfordThomas Playford IVSir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
, holds onto government. - 1963: Port Stanvac oil refinery begins operations.
- 1963: Queen Elizabeth II visits Adelaide.
- 1963: Gas discovered in the Cooper BasinCooper BasinThe Cooper Basin is a sedimentary geological basin in Australia. The basin is located mainly in the north-east part of South Australia and extends into south-west Queensland. It is named after the Cooper Creek which is an ephemeral river that runs into Lake Eyre. Part of the Cooper Basin is...
. - 1964: Record wind gust of 148 kilometres per hour recorded in Adelaide.
- 1965: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Frank WalshFrank WalshFrancis Henry "Frank" Walsh was the 34th Premier of South Australia, serving from 10 March 1965 to 1 June 1967.-Early life:One of eight children, Walsh was born into an Irish Catholic family in O'Halloran Hill, South Australia...
, wins government for the first time in 33 years. - 1965: Television station SAS-10 (Now SAS-7SAS-7SAS is a television station in Adelaide, South Australia. It is part of the Australian Seven Network.SAS-7 was originally known as SAS-10, commencing broadcasting on 26 July 1965. On 27 December 1987, SAS-10 and ADS-7 switched broadcast channels, ADS moving to channel 10, SAS moving to channel 7...
) begins broadcasting. - 1966: Flinders UniversityFlinders UniversityFlinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
opens at Bedford ParkBedford Park, South AustraliaBedford Park is a southern suburb of Adelaide in South Australia.The Hancock family established a homestead and farm at the foot of the Adelaide Hills in the mid 19th century. A family name from an earlier generation lent its name to the property of Bedford which was later changed to Bedford Park...
. - 1966: Beaumont children go missing at GlenelgGlenelg, South AustraliaGlenelg is a popular beach-side suburb of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, it has become a popular tourist destination due to its beach and many attractions, home to several hotels and dozens of restaurants.Established in 1836, it is...
beach. - 1967: Lotteries commence in South Australia.
- 1967: Liquor trading hours extended.
- 1967: Torrens Island Power Station begins operations.
- 1967: Premier Frank Walsh retires and is replaced by Don DunstanDon DunstanDonald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...
. - 1967: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- Yes (86.26%) on AboriginalsAustralian referendum, 1967 (Aboriginals)The referendum of 27 May 1967 approved two amendments to the Australian constitution relating to Indigenous Australians. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration 1967, which became law on 10 August 1967 following the results of the referendum...
- No (66.09%) on ParliamentAustralian referendum, 1967 (Parliament)Held within the Australian referendum, 1967 was a question about the Australian Parliament, so-called "Nexus". Section 24 of the Australian Constitution required that the number of members in the lower house be as near as possible to twice the numbers of members in the upper house .This ratio is...
- Yes (86.26%) on Aboriginals
- 1968: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Steele HallSteele HallRaymond Steele Hall was the 36th Premier of South Australia 1968-70, a senator for South Australia 1974-77, and federal member for the Division of Boothby 1981-96.-Biography:...
, wins government.
1970s
- 1970: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Don Dunstan, wins government. South Australia becomes first state to reform abortion laws.
- 1971: Fluoridation of water supply commences.
- 1973: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Don Dunstan, holds onto government.
- 1973: New hospital opens at ModburyModbury, South AustraliaModbury is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Tea Tree Gully. Modbury is located at the end of the Adelaide O-Bahn and is home to the Tea Tree Plaza shopping complex and a Hospital.It was named Modbury by R...
. - 1973: Two children disappear from Adelaide OvalAdelaide OvalThe Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
and are never seen again. - 1973: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- No (58.84%) on Commodity PricesAustralian referendum, 1973 (Prices)Constitution Alteration 1973 sought to give the government legislative power over prices.The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1973.-Results:...
- No (71.75%) on IncomesAustralian referendum, 1973 (Incomes)Constitution Alteration 1973 sought to give the government legislative power over incomes.The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1973.-Results:...
- No (58.84%) on Commodity Prices
- 1974: Prince Philip, The Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, visits Adelaide. - 1974: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- No (52.86%) on Simultaneous ElectionsAustralian referendum, 1974 (Simultaneous Elections)Elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate of Australia are usually held simultaneously although this was a matter of convention rather than constitutional law. Constitution Alteration 1974 proposed to enshrine simultaneous elections in the Constitution...
- No (55.74%) on Mode of Altering the ConstitutionAustralian referendum, 1974 (Mode of Altering the Constitution)Since federation, voters in the Australian territories had been excluded from voting in referendums. The proposed law, Constitution Alteration 1974 attempted to rectify this situation by counting voters in the territories towards the national majority, but not towards any state total.The question...
- No (55.89%) on Democratic ElectionsAustralian referendum, 1974 (Democratic Elections)The Constitution Alteration 1974 was a question put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1974, and sought to modify the method of determining the size of electorates within each state, from being based on the number of voters in the total population to allow members of Parliament to be...
- No (57.48%) on Local Government BodiesAustralian referendum, 1974 (Local Government Bodies)Constitution Alteration 1974 was a question put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1974. The question attempted to amend the Australian constitution to allow the federal government to grant financial assistance to any local government body, and to make loans on their...
- No (52.86%) on Simultaneous Elections
- 1975: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Don Dunstan, holds onto government.
- 1975: The International Equestrian Exposition is held in Adelaide and attended by Princess AnneAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. - 1975: The Adelaide City Council adopts the City of Adelaide Plan.
- 1976: Rundle MallRundle Mall, AdelaideRundle Mall is the premiere retail area in the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It was opened as Australia's first pedestrian street mall in September 1976 by closing Rundle Street to traffic between King William Street and Pulteney Street...
, Australia's first pedestrian mall, opens between King William and PulteneyPulteney Street, AdelaidePulteney Street is a main road which runs north-south through the middle of the eastern half of the Adelaide city centre, in Adelaide, South Australia...
streets. - 1977: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit Adelaide to open the Adelaide Festival CentreAdelaide Festival CentreThe Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia's first multi-purpose arts centre, was built in 1973 and opened three months before the Sydney Opera House. The Festival Centre is located approximately 50 metres north of the corner of North Terrace and King William Street, lying near the banks of the River...
. - 1977: Late night shopping commences.
- 1977: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
Votes:- Yes (65.99%) on Simultaneous ElectionsAustralian referendum, 1977 (Simultaneous Elections)Constitution Alteration 1977 proposed for the second time that the Constitution be altered to ensure that elections for both houses of parliament occurred simultaneously...
- Yes (76.59%) on Senate VacanciesAustralian referendum, 1977 (Senate Casual Vacancies)The referendum of 21 May 1977 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning the filling of casual vacancies in the Senate. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration 1977 which, after being approved in the referendum, became law on 29 July of the same year.Prior to...
- Yes (83.29%) on ReferendumsAustralian referendum, 1977 (Referendums)Constitution Alteration 1977 proposed to allow residents in the territories to vote in referendums. Residents in territories were to be counted towards the national total, but would not be counted toward any state total...
- Yes (85.57%) on Retirement of JudgesAustralian referendum, 1977 (Retirement of Judges)The legislation Constitution Alteration 1977 proposed to create a retirementage of 70 for judges in federal courts.The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1977.-Results:...
- Yes (65.99%) on Simultaneous Elections
- 1978: The remains of seven women are found in bushland near TruroTruro murdersThe Truro murders is the name given to a series of murders uncovered with the discovery in 1978 and 1979 of the remains of two young women in bushland near the town of Truro, South Australia. After police searches, the remains of seven women were discovered in total: five at Truro, one at...
. - 1979: Don Dunstan resigns as Premier and is replaced by Des CorcoranDes CorcoranJames Desmond "Des" Corcoran AO was an Australian politician. He was the 37th Premier of South Australia, serving between 15 February 1979 and 18 September 1979....
. - 1979: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by David TonkinDavid TonkinDr David Oliver Tonkin AO was the 38th Premier of South Australia, serving from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982. He was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983. He became the leader of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party of...
, wins government.
1980s
- 1980: Thirty-five homes destroyed in an Adelaide HillsAdelaide HillsThe Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
bushfire. - 1981: Prince Charles, The Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, visits Adelaide. - 1982: State Election: The Labor Party, led by John BannonJohn BannonJohn Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...
, wins government. - 1982: International air services begin at Adelaide Airport.
- 1983: The Ash Wednesday firesAsh Wednesday firesThe Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km per hour caused widespread destruction across the states...
claim 28 lives throughout the state. - 1983: The Prince and Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
visit Adelaide. - 1983: Wendy Chapman elected the first woman Lord Mayor of Adelaide.
- 1984: South Australia officially adopts the current Coat of ArmsCoat of arms of South AustraliaThe Coat of arms of South Australia is the official symbol of the state of South Australia. It was granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 19 April 1984. They replaced a coat of arms granted to the State in 1936....
. - 1984: Keswick Railway Terminal opens.
- 1984: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes:- No (50.02%) on Terms of SenatorsAustralian referendum, 1984 (Terms of Senators)Constitution Alteration 1984 proposed for the third time that Senate of Australia and House of Representatives elections be constitutionally enforced to occur on the same day...
- No (54.06%) on Interchange of PowersAustralian referendum, 1984 (Interchange of Powers)The Australian Constitution places some restraints on the ability of the State and Federal governments to freely cooperate. TheConstitution Alteration 1984 proposal would have removed these barriers, such that the states and the federal government could freely interchange powers at will.The...
- No (50.02%) on Terms of Senators
- 1985: State Election: The Labor Party, led by John Bannon, holds onto government.
- 1985: The Adelaide Casino opens in the Adelaide Railway StationAdelaide Railway StationAdelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
as part of the multi-million dollar Adelaide Station and Environs Redevelopment (ASER). - 1985: The first Australian Grand PrixAustralian Grand PrixThe Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
held on the Adelaide Street CircuitAdelaide Street CircuitThe Adelaide Street Circuit is a temporary street circuit in the East Parklands adjacent to the central business district of the city of Adelaide in South Australia....
. - 1986: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit Adelaide.
- 1986: Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
visits Adelaide and holds Mass to a gathering of hundreds of thousands in the East Parklands. - 1986: The South Australian Maritime Museum opens.
- 1986: South Australia celebrates its sesqui-centenary as "Jubilee 150".
- 1987: The Collins Class submarineCollins class submarineThe Collins class is a class of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins; all six submarines are named after significant RAN personnel who distinguished themselves in...
contract awarded to the Australian Submarine CorporationAustralian Submarine CorporationThe ASC, formerly Australian Submarine Corporation, is a wholly government-owned Australian naval defence company headquartered at Osborne in Adelaide, South Australia.-History:...
at Outer Harbor. - 1987: The Adelaide Convention CentreAdelaide Convention CentreThe Adelaide Convention Centre is a large convention centre on North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia. It was the first purpose-built convention centre to be built in Australia....
opens on North Terrace. - 1988: The Prince and Princess of Wales visit Adelaide.
- 1988: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes:- No (73.24%) on Parliamentary TermsAustralian referendum, 1988 (Parliamentary Terms)Constitution Alteration 1988 was a proposal put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1988. It proposed to alter the Australian constitution such that Senate terms be reduced from six to four years, and House of Representative terms be increased from three years to four years...
- Yes (69.39%) on Fair ElectionsAustralian referendum, 1988 (Fair Elections)Constitution Alteration 1988 proposed to enshrine in the constitution a guarantee that allCommonwealth, State and Territory elections would be conducted democratically.The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1988....
- No (70.15%) on Local GovernmentAustralian referendum, 1988 (Local Government)The Australian Constitution recognises Government at Federal and State levels, but makes no mention of local government. Constitution Alteration 1988 proposed to alter the constitution so as to recognise local government...
- Yes (73.99%) on Rights and FreedomsAustralian referendum, 1988 (Rights and Freedoms)The Constitution Alteration 1988 was proposed legislation that was put to referendum in the Australian referendum, 1988...
.
- No (73.24%) on Parliamentary Terms
- 1989: State Election: The Labor Party, led by John Bannon, holds onto government.
- 1989: The Bicentennial Conservatory, referred to as "The Crystal Pasty", opens at the Botanic Gardens.
1990s
- 1991: State Bank of South AustraliaState Bank of South AustraliaThe State Bank of South Australia was a bank owned by the Government of South Australia. Its collapse in 1991 was a major political event in South Australia...
collapses plunging South Australia into a debt of $3.1 billion. - 1991: The University of South AustraliaUniversity of South AustraliaThe University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
formed from a merger of several institutions. - 1991: The $40 million Adelaide Entertainment CentreAdelaide Entertainment CentreThe Adelaide Entertainment Centre is an indoor arena located in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, and is used for sporting and entertainment events. It is the principal venue for concerts, events and attractions for audiences between 2,000 and 12,000. It is located on Port Road in the...
opened. - 1991: Adelaide Football Club, referred to as "The Adelaide Crows", established and enters the AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. - 1992: John Bannon resigns as Premier and is replaced by Lynn ArnoldLynn ArnoldLynn Maurice Ferguson Arnold, AO , former Australian politician, was the Labor Premier of South Australia between 4 September 1992 and 14 December 1993....
. - 1992: The final edition of The NewsThe News (Adelaide)The News was an afternoon daily tabloid newspaper in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.The newspaper was established in 1869 as the Evening Journal. In 1933, a controlling stake was taken by The Advertiser, controlled by the Herald and Weekly Times. HWT sold off The News in 1949, and Sir Keith...
newspaper is published. - 1993: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by Dean BrownDean BrownDean Craig Brown, AO was the Liberal Premier of South Australia between 14 December 1993 and 28 November 1996, and Deputy Premier of South Australia between 22 October 2001 and 5 March 2002 to Rob Kerin.-Political career:...
, wins government in a landslide. - 1993: Poker machines installed for first time in South Australia.
- 1994: Sunday trading introduced in the Adelaide city centreAdelaide city centreThe Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
. - 1994: High-speed ferry service from Glenelg to Kangaroo IslandKangaroo IslandKangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
begins. - 1995: The Australian Grand PrixAustralian Grand PrixThe Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
is held in Adelaide for the last time. - 1995: United WaterUnited WaterUnited Water Resources, founded as Hackensack Water Company in 1869, has grown into one of the United States's largest water services companies. It is headquartered in Harrington Park, New Jersey. The company owns and operates water and wastewater utilities and also has contracts to operate...
is contracted to manage Adelaide's water and sewerage systems. - 1995: The Local Government (Boundary Reform) Act, 1995 passed to encourage municipal amalgamations, resulting in an overhaul of local government.
- 1997: Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, referred to as "Port Power", enters the AFL. - 1997: State Election: The Liberal Party, led by John OlsenJohn OlsenJohn Wayne Olsen, AO was Premier of South Australia between 28 November 1996 and 22 October 2001.-Parliament:Olsen was a member of the Liberal Party and Member of Parliament for more than 20 years...
, narrowly holds onto government. - 1997: Adelaide Football Club wins its first AFL premiership.
- 1998: Adelaide Football Club wins its second AFL premiership.
- 1999: Eight bodies are found in a disused bank volt in SnowtownSnowtown murdersThe Snowtown murders, also known as the Bodies in Barrels murders, were the murders of 11 people in South Australia, Australia between August 1992 and May 1999...
, further bodies were later found, revealing Australia's worst serial killings. - 1999: Federal ReferendumReferendums in AustraliaIn Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...
- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
votes:- No (56.43%) on an Australian RepublicAustralian republic referendum, 1999The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had...
- No (61.90%) on Constitution PreambleAustralian republic referendum, 1999The Australian republic referendum held on 6 November 1999 was a two-question referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia. The first question asked whether Australia should become a republic with a President appointed by Parliament following a bi-partisan appointment model which had...
.
- No (56.43%) on an Australian Republic
2000s
- 2000: Adelaide-Crafers HighwayAdelaide-Crafers HighwayThe Adelaide-Crafers Highway is a 10 kilometre controlled-access highway linking Adelaide city centre to Crafers in the Adelaide hills, and continuing from Crafers as the South Eastern Freeway. The highway is ten kilometres long, including 500 metre long twin-tube tunnels , the first of their kind...
opened. - 2001: John Olsen resigns as Premier and is replaced by Rob KerinRob KerinRobert Gerard Kerin was the Liberal Premier of South Australia from 22 October 2001 to 5 March 2002. He also served as Deputy Premier of South Australia to John Olsen from 7 July 1998 until he became premier upon Olsen's resignation....
. - 2001: Construction of Alice Springs-Darwin track starts.
- 2001: The National Wine Centre of AustraliaNational Wine Centre of AustraliaThe National Wine Centre of Australia is a public exhibition building about winemaking and its industry in South Australia. It contains an interactive permanent exhibition of winemaking, introducing visitors to the technology, varieties and styles of wine...
opens in the north-east of the Adelaide Parklands. - 2002: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Mike RannMike RannMichael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
, narrowly wins government. - 2003: The transcontinental railway line from Adelaide to Darwin is completed.
- 2004: Port Adelaide Football Club wins its first AFL premiership.
- 2004: First train travels on the completed Adelaide-Darwin railwayAdelaide-Darwin railwayThe Adelaide–Darwin railway is a north-south transcontinental railway in Australia, between the cities of Adelaide, South Australia and Darwin, Northern Territory...
. - 2005: Nine people die in bushfiresEyre Peninsula bushfireIn January 2005, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, was the scene of a devastating bushfire in which nine people were killed and at least 113 injured. It was one of Australia’s worst bushfires since the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983....
on the Eyre PeninsulaEyre PeninsulaEyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
. - 2006: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Mike RannMike RannMichael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
, retains government in a landslide. - 2009: Wind gusts of 152 km/h recorded at Adelaide Airport.
- 2010: State Election: The Labor Party, led by Mike RannMike RannMichael David Rann MHA, CNZM , Australian politician, served as the 44th Premier of South Australia. He led the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party to minority government at the 2002 election, before attaining a landslide win at the 2006 election...
, retains government with a reduced majority.
See also
- History of South AustraliaHistory of South AustraliaThe history of South Australia refers to the history of the Australian State of South Australia and its preceding Indigenous and British colonial societies. Aboriginal Australians have lived in South Australia for tens of thousands of years, while British colonists arrived in the 19th century to...
- History of AdelaideHistory of AdelaideThis article details the History of Adelaide from the first human activity in the region to the 20th century. Adelaide is a planned city founded in 1836 and the capital of South Australia.-Aboriginal settlement:...
- Governors of South AustraliaGovernors of South AustraliaThe Governor of South Australia is the representative in the Australian state of South Australia of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level.In...
- Premiers of South AustraliaPremiers of South AustraliaBefore the 1890s when there was no formal party system in South Australia, MPs tended to have historical liberal or conservative beliefs. The liberals dominated government from 1893 to 1905 with Labor support, with the conservatives mostly in opposition. Labor took government with the support of...
- List of Mayors and Lord Mayors of Adelaide