This is a timeline of Adelaide history.
Prior to 1800s The Kaurna peoples' traditional lands stretched from Port Broughton to Cape Jervis, encompassing the Adelaide Plains.
1800s 1830s 1834 South Australia Act 1834 (the "Foundation Act") passed on 15 August 1834, providing a legal framework and funds for the British colonisation of South Australia. The South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613 was founded 22 October. The Lodge held its first meeting at 7 John Street, Adelphi, London.* 1836 Letters Patent erect and establish the Province of South Australia on 19 February 1836. It was to be Australia's second free colony and the first experiment of the Wakefieldian systematic colonization theory. Tent city set up by the South Australian Company on the site now known as Kingscote on Kangaroo Island. Site spanning the River Torrens is chosen for Adelaide by Colonel William Light in December 1836. Governor John Hindmarsh, aboard , lands at Holdfast Bay and proclaims the commencement of South Australia's colonial government on 28 December. 1837: Colonel Light designs the plan for the city of Adelaide and completes the city survey. One-acre allotments are made, first to holders of land orders and then by auction. The city's first hospital is opened on North Terrace. 1838: The South Australia Police, the first police force in Australia, is formed in Adelaide under Henry Inman. The first German immigrants arrive and settle in Klemzig, Hahndorf and surrounds. 1839 Colonel Light dies on 6 October at Thebarton and is interred in Light Square – a memorial will be built over the grave. Port Road opens as the first road built in South Australia. Late 1830s: The first stone house in Adelaide is built by William Austin Barnes on the corner of Morphett and Grote streets.
1840s 1840: The first portion of Government House is completed, becoming the first in Australia. The Corporation of Adelaide is founded as the first municipal authority in Australia, and James Hurtle Fisher is elected mayor. An agricultural show, which will become the Royal Adelaide Show, is first held in the yard of Fordham's Hotel in Grenfell Street. 1841: Construction begins of Adelaide Gaol, and the first section is completed. The Adelaide Hospital (later Royal) is opened. 1842: Francis Murphy appointed first Catholic Bishop of Adelaide. 1843: The first Legislative Council building is opened on North Terrace. 1844 22 April: Intervention of the police in a dispute between the Kaurna and Moorundie in the West Parklands and destruction of the aboriginal weapons. Considered the end-point of Kaurna culture in Adelaide. The colonial Government takes control of the Corporation of Adelaide. 1845: 2 January: Death by tuberculosis in Adelaide of Mullawirraburka, known as "King John", Kaurna elder who learned English, taught aboriginal lore and helped the early colonists. 1847: St Peter's College is established. Pulteney Grammar School is established. 1848: The Savings Bank of South Australia 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 Scarfe, opens on Hindley Street. 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. 1853 The first four local governing bodies in South Australia (apart from the Corporation of Adelaide) established as the district councils of Mitcham, East Torrens, Onkaparinga and Hindmarsh, following the passing of the 1852 'Act to appoint District Councils'. Philosophical Society of Adelaide founded (later becoming the Royal Society of South Australia). 1855: Private telegraph line Adelaide–Port Adelaide installed by James Macgeorge 1856 The South Australian Institute is founded, from which will derive the State Library, State Museum and Art Gallery. Government telegraph line Adelaide–Port Adelaide installed by Charles Todd Steam railway between Adelaide and Port Adelaide opened. South Australian Society of Arts formed. 1857 Adelaide Botanic Gardens opens at today's site in the Park Lands off North Terrace with George William Francis as the first director. Railway between Adelaide and Gawler was opened. Julian Tenison Woods ordained priest. 1858 The Melbourne–Adelaide telegraph line is opened. St Francis Xavier's Cathedral is opened. 1859 3–8 February: devastating fires in the Adelaide Hills around Cox's Creek near Bridgewater. A jetty more than 350 metres in length is constructed at Glenelg. It has a wooden lighthouse at its end, which will later be destroyed by fire. Norwood Town Hall was built on The Parade at Norwood. It was the first town hall in South Australia.
1860s 1860 29 February: the Agricultural and Horticultural Exhibition, the Adelaide Autumn Show, takes place for the first time in a specially constructed building adjacent to North Terrace. Thorndon Park Reservoir supplied water through new reticulation system. 1861: East Terrace markets opened. 1863: First gas supplied to city. 1865: Bank of Adelaide founded. 1866: The Italianate Adelaide Town Hall opened. 1867: Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, made first royal visit to Adelaide. Gas Street Lights first appear on Adelaide streets. 1868: 10 February: Major fire at D. & W. Murray's, drapery, King William Street 1869 The City Market (later Central) opened on Grote Street. Brighton Town Hall was built on Brighton Road, Hove.
1870s 1870: Port Adelaide Football Club established. 1871 Nimble Ninepence store destroyed by fire and exploding stocks of gunpowder Saint Mary MacKillop excommunicated by Bishop Sheil 1872: The General Post Office opened. Adelaide became first Australian capital linked to Imperial London with completion of the Overland Telegraph. 1873: First cricket match played at Adelaide Oval. 1874: Adelaide Oval officially opened. The University of Adelaide founded. 1875: 18 April: Major fire at Townsend Duryea's photographic studios, King William Street 1876 Adelaide Children's Hospital founded. First service in St Peter's Cathedral. 1877: The Adelaide Bridge across the River Torrens completed. 1878: First horse-drawn trams 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. Royal Society of South Australia received royal patronage. 1881: The Art Gallery of South Australia opened by Prince Albert Victor. Ornamental Torrens Lake created following construction of weir. 1882 12 March: Major fire at James Marshall & Co., drapers of Rundle Street First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced. The City Baths opened on King William Street. 1883 Adelaide Zoological Gardens opened. Roseworthy Agricultural College established, the first agricultural college in Australia. 1884 6 January: Major fire at Academy of Music on Rundle Street Adelaide Trades and Labor Council inaugurated. Fort Largs opened. Grand Lodge of South Australia established 16 April with 30 Lodges and 2064 members.* 15 November: Major fire at Patrick Gay's cabinetmaking workshop and showroom, Rundle Street 1885 The Adelaide Arcade opened. Flinders Column erected at the Mount Lofty Summit. 16 December: Major fire at W. H. Burford & Sons' soap and candle factory, Sturt Street 1887: The Intercolonial Express ("Melbourne Express") starts running between Adelaide and Melbourne. Stock Exchange of Adelaide formed. 1889 School of Mines and Industries opened on North Terrace Central Adelaide Mosque opened
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: Constitutional Amendment (Adult Suffrage) Act 1894, the world's second Act granting women suffrage and the first granting women the right to stand for parliament is passed in Parliament House on North Terrace. 1895: 24 July: Major fire at Menz Confectionery, Wakefield Street opposite fire station 1896: Moving pictures are shown for first time in South Australia at Theatre Royal on Hindley Street. Happy Valley Reservoir is opened. 1897: Artist Hans Heysen joins Adelaide Easel Club. 1899: The South Australian contingent left Adelaide for the Second Boer War.
1900s Early 1900s 1900 First electricity station opened in South Australia at Grenfell Street. Electric street lights first appear. 4 December: Major fire at Alfred Stump's photographic studios, King William Street 1901 Adelaide became a state capital upon the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January. 6 April: Major fire at John Martin's, retail store, Rundle Street 9–15 July: Official visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, Royal yacht Ophir. 1904: Adelaide Fruit and Produce Exchange opened in the East End. 1907 5 February 1907 Harrold, Colton & Co. (became Colton, Palmer & Preston), Currie Street 25 December: Major fire at W. H. Burford & Sons' soap making factory, Hindmarsh 1908: Outer Harbor opened. Adelaide High School established. 1909: Electric tram services began.
1910s 1910: 16 November: Major fire at Genders Building, Grenfell Street (on Hindmarsh Square corner) 1912: The Verco Building, an early 'skyscraper', is built on North Terrace. 1913 The first metropolitan abattoir opens. 23 November: Major fire at Lion Timber Mills, Franklin Street 1914: Planting of first memorial to the Great War, the Wattle Day League War Memorial Oak. 1915 Australasia's first national Gallipoli Memorial established in the Adelaide Park Lands, 7 September 1915 – the Australian Wattle Day League's Gallipoli Memorial Wattle Grove with its centrepiece 'Australasian Soldiers Dardanelles 25 April 1915' obelisk (now known as the Dardanelles Cenotaph) 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 2 February: Major fire at W. H. Burford & Sons' soap and candle factory, Sturt Street Mayor Charles Richmond Glover becomes the first Lord Mayor.
1920s 1920: 12–16 July: Royal Visit of the Prince of Wales 1923: 21 February: Major fire at Duncan & Fraser. 1924 Radio broadcasting begins. 26 April: Major fire aboard steamer City of Singapore at Port Adelaide 10 November: Major fire at Richards Building, Chrysler body builders, importers Currie Street 1925: The Wayville Showgrounds open. 1926 1 January: Major fire at Adelaide Fruit and Produce Exchange, East End Market. 24 February: Major fire at Colonial Sugar Refinery works at Glanville. 1927 The North–South railway is extended. The Duke and Duchess of York visit. Don Bradman makes first-class cricket debut at Adelaide Oval. 1928: 2000 special constables sworn in to break a strike of dock workers. The volunteer "Citizen's Defence Brigade" had been brought in and armed to fight striking port workers, and they were housed in a camp dubbed the "scab compound". 1929: The electric tram service to Glenelg commences.
1930s 1930: Luna Park opened in Glenelg. 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 redefines boundaries and names and abolishes others. 1933 Two Australian cricketers injured by bouncers in Third Test in bitter bodyline series. First John Martin's Christmas Pageant. 1934: Don Bradman moves to Adelaide with a stockbroking job. 1935 Many German place names, which had been changed during World War I, are restored. 28 April: Major fire at Thompson & Harvey, paint, glass and wallpaper merchants, Flinders Street 1936