Timeline of Adelaide history
Encyclopedia
Prior to 1800s
- The Kaurna peoples' traditional lands stretched from Port BroughtonPort Broughton, South AustraliaPort Broughton is a small South Australian town located on the Yorke Peninsula on the east coast of Spencer Gulf. It is situated about 170 km north west of Adelaide, and 56 km south of Port Pirie At the 2006 census, Port Broughton had a population of 908....
to Cape Jervis, encompassing the Adelaide Plains.
1830s
- 1836: The site for Adelaide is 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...
as Australia's first free colony. 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 the HMS BuffaloHMS Buffalo (1813)HMS Buffalo was a storeship of the Royal Navy, originally built in India as the merchant vessel Hindostan. She later served as a convict ship and as transport for immigrants to Australia before being wrecked in 1840.-Launch and purchase:...
lands at Holdfast Bay and proclaims the new colony of 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...
on 28 December. - 1837: Colonel Light completes the survey of Adelaide and designs the city's grid layout. Single-acre allotments are made, first to holders of land orders and then by auction. The city's first hospital is opened 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 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:...
, the first police force in 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...
, is formed in Adelaide under Henry InmanHenry Inman (police commander)Henry Inman , cavalry officer, Pioneer of South Australia, founder and first commander of the South Australia Police, overlander, Anglican clergyman.-Origins:...
. The first German immigrants arrive and settle in Adelaide and its 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....
- a memorial will be built over the grave. 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...
opens as the first road built in 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...
. - Late 1830s: The first stone house in Adelaide is built by William Austin Barnes on the corner of Morphet and Grote streets
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. 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, and James Hurtle FisherJames Hurtle FisherSir James Hurtle Fisher was a lawyer and prominent South Australian pioneer. He was the first Resident Commissioner of South Australia, the first Mayor of Adelaide and the first resident South Australian to be knighted....
is elected mayor. An agricultural show, which will become the 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...
, is first held in the yard of Fordham's Hotel in 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...
. - 1841: Construction begins 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...
, and the first section is completed. The 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) is opened. - 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 is opened 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. - 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...
is 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 :...
is established. The Savings Bank of South AustraliaSavings Bank of South AustraliaThe Savings Bank of South Australia was founded in 1848, trading from a single room in Gawler Place, Adelaide. In 1984 it merged with the State Bank of South Australia, with the merged entity taking the latter name...
begins trading from a room in Gawler Place. - 1849: City Commissioners are nominated to manage Adelaide.
1850s
- 1850: G. P. Harris and J. C. Lanyon, 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...
, opens 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....
. - 1851: Responsible Government is introduced to South Australia, enfranchising wealthy male colonists.
- 1852: The Corporation of Adelaide is reconstituted and James Hurtle Fisher again becomes mayor. The first overland transport of gold arrives in Adelaide.
- 1855: Central Adelaide MosqueCentral Adelaide MosqueThe Adelaide Mosque was built in 1888, and is the oldest major city mosque in Australia. Its original four minarets were added in 1903. Muslims from as far away as Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie gathered at least once a year at the Adelaide Mosque, usually for the Fast of Ramadan...
- 1856: The South Australian Institute is founded, from which will derive 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 GallleryArt 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...
. The first telegraph line and steam railway between Adelaide and Port Adelaide are opened. - 1857: Adelaide Botanic Gardens opens at today's site in the Parklands off North Terrace. Railway between Adelaide and Gawler was opened.
- 1858: The Melbourne-Adelaide telegraph line is opened.
- 1859: A jetty more than 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...
. It has a wooden lighthouse at its end, which will later be destroyed by fire.
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. - 1863: First gas supplied to city.
- 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. - 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. Gas Street LightStreet lightA street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
s first appear on Adelaide streets. - 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...
.
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 Oval.
- 1874: The 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...
officially opened. 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. - 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.
- 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. Port Adelaide railway extended to Semaphore. - 1879: Foundation stone of the University of Adelaide laid.
1880s
- 1880: Telephone introduced.
- 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...
. Ornamental Torrens Lake created following construction of weir. - 1882: First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced. The City Baths opened on King William StreetKing 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. Largs Bay Fort opened.
- 1885: The Adelaide Arcade opened. Flinders Column erected at the Mount Lofty Summit.
- 1887: The Intercolonial Express starts running between Adelaide and Melbourne. Stock Exchange of Adelaide formed.
- 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...
opened on North Terrace.
1890s
- 1890: Adelaide's first public statue, Venus, is unveiled on North Terrace.
- 1893: The Australian Association for the Advancement of Science meets in Adelaide - credit is universally accorded to Colonel Light for his selection of the site and for the design of Adelaide.
- 1894: The world's second Act granting women suffrage is 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 are shown for first time in South Australia at Theatre Royal on Hindley Street. 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:...
is opened. - 1899: The South Australian contingent left 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...
.
Early 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...
. Electric street lightStreet lightA street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
s first appear. - 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 visited. - 1904: Adelaide Fruit and Produce Exchange opened 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...
. - 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...
opened. 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 began.
1910s
- 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: The first metropolitan abattoir opens.
- 1915: Liquor bars close at 6 pm following a referendum.
- 1917: German private schools are closed. The first trains travel to Perth following completion of the East-West continental railway.
- 1919: Adelaide is awarded official city status and Mayor Charles Richmond GloverCharles Richmond GloverCharles Richmond John Glover was the Mayor of Adelaide from 1917 to 1919. He was in office when the City of Adelaide became a Lord Mayoralty in 1919, and so became Adelaide's first Lord Mayor...
becomes the first Lord Mayor.
1920s
- 1924: Radio broadcasting begins.
- 1925: The Wayville ShowgroundsRoyal Adelaide ShowgroundsThe Adelaide Showgrounds, formerly the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds and most commonly known as the Wayville Showgrounds holds many of Adelaide's most popular events, including the Royal Adelaide Show....
open. - 1927: The North-South railway is extended. The Duke and Duchess of York visit.
- 1929: The electric tram service to Glenelg commences.
1930s
- 1931: The Beef Riot: 17 people are injured when unemployed men clash with police while protesting the decision to remove beef from the dole ration.
- 1932: Local government is overhauled when Government redifines boundaries and names and abolishes others.
- 1933: First John Martin's Christmas Pageant.
- 1935: Many German place names, which had been changed during the Great War, are restored.
- 1936: Centennial Park CemeteryCentennial Park CemeteryCentennial Park Cemetery is a large, 40.5 hectare cemetery in the southern Adelaide suburb of Pasadena, located at along Goodwood Road. It is the largest cemetery in the southern suburbs and one of the largest in the Adelaide metropolitan area...
opens. Grand celebrations are held to celebrate South Australia's Centenary. - 1937: First trolley bus services commence. First permanent traffic signals are installed. Mount Bold ReservoirMount Bold Reservoir-2007 fire:A bushfire ravaged the Mount Bold Valley area, which includes the properties between Kangarilla and Echunga, during the second week of January 2007. The fire destroyed two houses, gutted over ten sheds and killed livestock and horses. Two people were injured and fencing was damaged. The...
is opened. 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 is recorded with disastrous bushfires and highest Adelaide temperature of 46.1° Celsius. 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"...
is opened on North Terrace by 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...
. Carrick HillCarrick HillCarrick Hill is a publicly accessible property at the foot of the Adelaide hills, in the suburb of Springfield, in South Australia. It was the Adelaide home of Sir Edward "Bill" Hayward and his wife Lady Ursula , and contains a large collection of drawings, sculptures, antiques and paintings...
, home to EdwardEdward HaywardSir Edward Waterfield Hayward was an Australian businessman, best known for owning and managing John Martin's, a chain of department stores in Adelaide, South Australia, and for instigating the Adelaide Christmas Pageant....
(later Sir Edward) and Ursula Hayward, is completed.
1940s
- 1940: Birkenhead Bridge opened. Second industry rapidly expanded throughout Adelaide region and South Australia at large as the war-effort intensified.
- 1942: Rationing of tea and clothing introduced. Racesport and bookmaking banned.
- 1943: Rationing of butter introduced. Racing re-allowed.
- 1944: Rationing of meat introduced.
- 1945: Gas and electricity restrictions imposed.
- 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: Glenelg jetty destroyed and widespread damage caused by severe storms. Clothing and meat rationing abolished. Holden began production.
1950s
- 1950: Petrol, butter and tea rationing abolished.
- 1954: Adelaide was hit by a severe earthquake on 1 March. 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,...
made first sovereign visit to Adelaide. 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:...
opened. Satelitte city of 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. Redhen railcarRedhen railcarA Redhen is a type of diesel railcar, formerly used on the suburban railway system in Adelaide, South Australia. Redhens were the backbone of Adelaide’s metropolitan rail system between the late 1950s and the early 1990s...
s make their first appearance on Adelaide's suburban rail network. - 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, visited Adelaide. First parking meters installed. 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. 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 commenced, 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:...
.
1960s
- 1960: First 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. - 1962: Myponga ReservoirMyponga ReservoirThe Myponga Reservoir is a reservoir in South Australia, located about 60 km south of Adelaide near the town of Myponga. The reservoir is fed by the Myponga River and other rivers in the Myponga catchment....
opened and connected to Happy Valley Reservoir. - 1963: Port Stanvac oil refinery began operations. Queen Elizabeth II visited.
- 1964: Record wind gust of 148 kilometres per hour noted in Adelaide.
- 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...
opened 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...
by the Queen Mother. Happy Valley Reservoir pipelines extended. - 1967: WowserWowserWowser was originally a slang expression, most commonly heard in Australian and New Zealand English. It originated in Australia, at first carrying a similar meaning to 'lout', i.e. an annoying or disruptive person, or even a prostitute. In around 1900 it shifted to its present meaning: one whose...
ism goes into decline. Lotteries commenced in South Australia. Liquor trading hours extended. Torrens Island power station began operations. First stage of the South Eastern FreewaySouth Eastern FreewayThe South Eastern Freeway is a 66 kilometre four-lane divided carriageway road in South Australia linking the Adelaide-Crafers Highway to the Princes Highway at the Swanport Bridge, a one kilometre long bridge over the River Murray, near Murray Bridge...
is opened. - 1969: Natural gas pumped from MoombaMoomba, South AustraliaMoomba is a Santos-owned gas exploration and processing town located in the Cooper and Eromanga Basins, in central Australia, approximately 770 kilometres north of Adelaide....
to Adelaide through 832-kilometre pipeline. Glenelg Jetty rebuilt.
1970s
- 1970: South Australia becomes first state to reform abortion laws.
- 1971: Fluoridisation of water supply commenced. Age of majority reduced to 18 from 21.
- 1973: New hospital opened 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...
. 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...
Labor GovernmentAustralian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
returned to Government and commenced extensive social reforms. Adelaide Festival Theatre opened. - 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....
, visited Adelaide. First match of the new South Australian National Football LeagueSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
held at West LakesWest Lakes, South AustraliaWest Lakes is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Charles Sturt. It contains the Westfield West Lakes Shopping Centre, AAMI Stadium and the Riverside Golf Course...
. South Australian RailwaysSouth Australian RailwaysSouth Australian Railways built and operated railways in South Australia from 1854 to the incorporation of its non-urban railways into the Australian National Railways Commission in 1975, together with the former Commonwealth Railways and the former Tasmanian Government Railways...
split into two new entities, Australian National and State Transport Authority. - 1975: The Internation Equestrian Exposition was held in Adelaide, attended by Princess Anne, The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. The City of Adelaide Plan adopted by the City Council. - 1976: Five AA began broadcasting. The Liberal Movement is founded in Adelaide. 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, opened 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 visited Adelaide, with the Queen opening 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...
. Late night shopping commenced. First of 307 Volvo B59 buses enters service with State Transport Authority. - 1978: Suburban rail network extended south to Noarlunga CentreNoarlunga Centre InterchangeNoarlunga Centre Interchange is the terminus of the Noarlunga Centre line, a part of the suburban railway system in Adelaide, South Australia....
while the Semaphore line is closed.
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. New 'Jumbo2000 class railcarThe "2000" class railcars are self-propelled diesel railcars which are used by TransAdelaide on the Adelaide metropolitan rail network. The body shell design was based on the Budd SPV2000, Metroliner and Amfleet cars but the 2000 class railcars have a slightly different curve to the Amfleet. They...
' railcars enter service on Adelaide's rail network. Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motorsis a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
purchased Chrysler AustraliaChrysler AustraliaChrysler Australia is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a "Chrysler Australia Ltd" which had operated as a vehicle manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980....
. The Constitutional Museum opened. - 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...
, visited Adelaide. - 1982: International air services to Adelaide begin, flown by QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and Singapore AirlinesSingapore AirlinesSingapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
. Coldest minimum temperature recorded in June ( -0.4° Celsius) - 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...
visited Adelaide. 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...
razed the Adelaide Hills, claiming twenty-eight lives throughout the state. Wendy Chapman elected the first woman Lord Mayor of Adelaide. - 1984: Population of Adelaide reaches 1 million people. Keswick Railway Terminal opened. The Indian Pacific, Trans Australian and The Ghan first run into Adelaide.
- 1985: The Adelaide Casino opened 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. 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....
. RMS Queen Elizabeth 2RMS Queen Elizabeth 2Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
visits Adelaide for the first time. - 1986: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Adelaide. 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 ...
visited Adelaide and held Mass to a gathering of hundreds of thousands in the Adelaide Parklands. The South Australian Maritime Museum opened. South Australia celebrated its Jubilee, 150 years since settlement. O-Bahn BuswayO-Bahn BuswayThe Adelaide O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway located in Adelaide, South Australia. The O-Bahn – from the Latin omnibus and the German bahn – was conceived by Daimler-Benz to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen.The route was introduced in...
is opened. - 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. 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....
opened on North Terrace. New 3000 class railcar3000 class railcarThe "3000" class railcar is the main workhorse of TransAdelaide's suburban passenger operations in Adelaide, South Australia. There are two variants: 3000 series, featuring a cab at each end, and 3100 series with one cab....
s enter service on Adelaide's rail network. - 1988: The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Adelaide. Adelaide's tallest building State Bank Building is opened. Red light cameras introduced. East End Markets closed. Australia's first hospitality college opened in Adelaide. Port Dock Railway MuseumNational Railway Museum (Port Adelaide)thumb|Conference dinner being held in the rollingstock pavilionThe National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, South Australia, is the current site of the Port Dock Station Railway Museum's vast Australian Railway Collection.- History :...
at Port Adelaide opened. - 1989: Bicentennial Conservatory opened in the Botanic Gardens. O-Bahn BuswayO-Bahn BuswayThe Adelaide O-Bahn Busway is a guided busway located in Adelaide, South Australia. The O-Bahn – from the Latin omnibus and the German bahn – was conceived by Daimler-Benz to enable buses to avoid traffic congestion by sharing tram tunnels in the German city of Essen.The route was introduced in...
extended to 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...
.
1990s
- 1990: New $1.3 million organ installed at the Adelaide Town Hall. Adelaide recommended as a site for the Multi-Function Polis. Country rail passenger services from Adelaide are axed by Australian National.
- 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. 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. Dame Roma MitchellRoma MitchellDame Roma Flinders Mitchell, AC, DBE, CVO, QC was an Australian lawyer, judge and state governor. Mitchell was the first Australian woman to be a judge, a Queen's Counsel, a chancellor of an Australian university and the Governor of an Australian state.Roma Mitchell was born in Adelaide in 1913,...
becomes Governor of South Australia, the first woman to hold the position in any Australian state. - 1992: Final marker to the 1.5 kilometre Heysen Walking TrailHeysen TrailThe Heysen Trail is a long distance walking trail in South Australia. It runs from Parachilna Gorge, in the Flinders Ranges via the Adelaide Hills to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and is approximately 1200 km in length....
positioned. Bid for the 1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth GamesThe 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
lost to Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. - 1993: Poker machines installed for first time in South Australia.
- 1994: Sunday trading introduced to city centre. 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...
began. - 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. The Local Government (Boundary Reform) Act, 1995 passed to encourage municipal amalgamations, resulting in an overhaul of local government. The last 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 in Adelaide, future events to be held in MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. - 1997: The world's longest reversible one way freeway, the Southern ExpresswaySouthern ExpresswayThe Southern Expressway is the world's longest reversible one way freeway. Originally proposed as 'Noarlunga Freeway', it was built as a corridor to relieve heavy traffic from the major arterial, Main South Road, in Adelaide's south. The expressway was built in two stages — the first...
is opened. Adelaide Crows football club win the AFL Grand Final. 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...
joins the Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. - 1998: Adelaide Crows football club win the AFL Grand Final for the second time.
- 1999: First Tour Down UnderTour Down UnderThe Tour Down Under is a cycling race in Adelaide, South Australia and surrounding area. The race starts on the third Tuesday of January each year and attracts riders from across Australia and the world. In 2005, the Tour Down Under was promoted by the Union Cycliste Internationale to the...
held.
2000s
- 2000: All government bus operations handed to private operators, buses and infastructure still government owned. Heysen TunnelsHeysen TunnelsThe Heysen Tunnels are twin tube road tunnels which carry the Adelaide-Crafers Highway under Eagle On The Hill in the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. The tunnels were excavated using a tunnelling machine normally used in heavy-duty mining operations which tunnelled through 500 metres of rock...
in Adelaide Hills are opened. - 2001: Construction of Alice Springs-Darwin track starts. 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 East Parklands. - 2002: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Adelaide. First low floor bus entered service on the O-Bahn Busway.
- 2003: The transcontinental railway line from Adelaide to Darwin is completed.
- 2004: Port Adelaide Football Club wins the AFL Grand Final. Trains travel from Adelaide to Darwin for the first time.
- 2005: Adelaide Airport's new T1 terminal is opened. Port River ExpresswayPort River ExpresswayThe Port River Expressway is a freeway-grade road. The expressway links Port Adelaide and the LeFevre Peninsula to the northern suburbs of Adelaide and major interstate routes via Salisbury Highway to Port Wakefield Road and the Northern Expressway to Perth and Sydney.The expressway is only...
opened. - 2007: World Police and Fire GamesWorld Police and Fire GamesThisWorld Police and Fire Games are a biennial athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world...
held in Adelaide. Adelaide-Glenelg tram service is extended to North Terrace (City West). - 2008: Record breaking heat wave set in March. RMS Queen Elizabeth 2RMS Queen Elizabeth 2Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
visits Adelaide for the last time. Electrification of suburban rail network announced. - 2009: Lance Armstrong Rides In the Tour Down Under
- 2010: MS Queen VictoriaMS Queen VictoriaMS Queen Victoria is a cruise ship in the Cunard Line fleet, named after Queen Victoria.Queen Victoria is the running mate to Queen Mary 2, and the new Queen Elizabeth. Until November 2008, she also operated alongside Queen Elizabeth 2...
visits Adelaide for the first time on 23 February. RMS Queen Mary 2RMS Queen Mary 2RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line....
visits Adelaide for the first time on 11 March. Adelaide-GlenelgGlenelg 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...
tram service extented to 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...
. Northern ExpresswayNorthern ExpresswayThe Northern Expressway is a 23 kilometre long controlled-access highway in Adelaide, South Australia. It travels from Gawler to Port Wakefield Road...
constructed. Stephen YarwoodStephen YarwoodStephen Yarwood is the current Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide in South Australia.Yarwood was born in Whyalla, South Australia, and has worked as a town planner. He became a councillor in the City of Adelaide in 2007, and in 2008 was elected to the position of Deputy Lord Mayor. He won the 2010...
elected new Lord Mayor 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...
. Almost 70mm of rain falls on 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...
on 7 December, breaking the daily record. - 2011: RMS Queen Mary 2RMS Queen Mary 2RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line....
visits Adelaide on 20 February.