South Australia is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of 983,482 square kilometres (379,725 sq mi), it is the fourth-largest of Australia’s states and territories by area, and fifth largest by population.

Adelaide. King William Street, looking north from Victoria Square, 1907

South Australia shares borders with all of the other mainland states, and with the Northern Territory; it is bordered to the west by Western Australia, to the north by the Northern Territory, to the north-east by Queensland, to the east by New South Wales, to the south-east by Victoria, and to the south by the Great Australian Bight.
Although its history is marked by economic hardship, South Australia has remained politically innovative and culturally vibrant. Today, it is known for its fine wine and numerous cultural festivals. The state’s economy is dominated by the agricultural, manufacturing and mining industries.

Here below is a set of fascinating photos that show street scenes of South Australia around 1900.

Adelaide Royal Mail coach, circa 1900

Adelaide to Mannum bus, 1909

Adelaide. Currie Street, 1907

Adelaide. Freeling to Adelaide coach, 1909

Adelaide. H. Motley bird depot, Central Market, 1908

Adelaide. Laying tram tracks on corner of King William Street and North Terrace, circa 1908

Adelaide. North Terrace. Horse drawn tram in the foreground, circa 1908

Adelaide. The Imperial Hotel, corner King William and Grenfell Streets, circa 1905

Adelaide. The South Australian Hotel, 1907

Bordertown Institute, circa 1909

Cockburn. Co’burn Hotel, 1908

Eudunda. F.G.E. Appelt General Store, circa 1905

Glenelg Post Office, circa 1910

Glenelg. Bluston’s Jetty Hotel, circa 1910

Guest House at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, circa 1910

Hahndorf street scenes, circa early 1900s

Hawker Railway Station, circa 1908

Norwood. Patterson Bros Drapers, circa early 1900s

Pinnaroo. Main Street, 1905

Pipeline laying and workers camp site, South Australia, circa early 1900s Advertisement

Point Pass. C. F. Leditschke’s General Store, circa early 1900s

Port Augusta. Great Northern Hotel, circa early 1900s

Port Germein. The Hotel marked is Browns Hotel (proprietor G. Lord), circa 1905

Port Pirie. Alexander Street, 1906

Port Pirie. Ellen Street. The building on the left is the railway station, circa early 1900s

Port Pirie. Trade Union parade in Ellen Street, 1905

Renmark. Main Street, circa 1900s

Strathalbyn. Commercial Hotel, circa early 1900s

Terowie. Fox’s Royal Hotel, 1909

The Commonwealth Railways steam rail car, known as the ‘Coffee Pot’, circa 1910

Tumby Bay. Hotel on left and a steamship at the old jetty, 1909