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Assistant observer Brian Rowe checking Adelaide’s rainfall on an automatic pluviograph at the Weather Bureau in 1959.
1/54Assistant observer Brian Rowe checking Adelaide’s rainfall on an automatic pluviograph at the Weather Bureau in 1959.
Harlem Globetrotters Tim Spencer and Ernest Wagner sign a beach ball for John Nairn, 9, at Henley Beach in 1956 during the team’s Adelaide visit.
2/54Harlem Globetrotters Tim Spencer and Ernest Wagner sign a beach ball for John Nairn, 9, at Henley Beach in 1956 during the team’s Adelaide visit.
Young women play with ball at Henley Beach in the 1950s. Picture: Department of Administrative Information Services State Records Research Centre
3/54Young women play with ball at Henley Beach in the 1950s. Picture: Department of Administrative Information Services State Records Research Centre
Boys leaping from diving boards at the Adelaide City Baths swimming pool in January 1956.
4/54Boys leaping from diving boards at the Adelaide City Baths swimming pool in January 1956.
Children line up on the Adelaide City Bath diving board in 1956.
5/54Children line up on the Adelaide City Bath diving board in 1956.
How we washed our clothes in the 1950s - a woman with a Pope ‘Twin-o-matic’ washing machine in 1954, in which was probably a advertising picture.
6/54How we washed our clothes in the 1950s - a woman with a Pope ‘Twin-o-matic’ washing machine in 1954, in which was probably a advertising picture.
The Britannia roundabout as it appeared in the 1950s.
7/54The Britannia roundabout as it appeared in the 1950s.
Yes, in the 1950s some government workers rode ponies as they went about their duties across the city. Here, Adelaide park ranger Lance Shattock tethers his pony to a hitching post outside the Adelaide Town Hall in 1955.
8/54Yes, in the 1950s some government workers rode ponies as they went about their duties across the city. Here, Adelaide park ranger Lance Shattock tethers his pony to a hitching post outside the Adelaide Town Hall in 1955.
A fire truck passes a tram as it heads down King William St, circa 1951.
9/54A fire truck passes a tram as it heads down King William St, circa 1951.
Traffic scene on King William St in 1951 - looking north, this was taken to highlight the new no-parking areas outside Haigh’s.
10/54Traffic scene on King William St in 1951 - looking north, this was taken to highlight the new no-parking areas outside Haigh’s.
Walking and resting along North Terrace in 1950s.
11/54Walking and resting along North Terrace in 1950s.
Pedestrians at the intersection of North Terrace and King William St in the city in 1955.
12/54Pedestrians at the intersection of North Terrace and King William St in the city in 1955.
Ballroom dancing at the Palais Royal on North Terrace in the mid-1950s. The Palais was converted into a car parking station in the late 1960s and demolised a few years later.
13/54Ballroom dancing at the Palais Royal on North Terrace in the mid-1950s. The Palais was converted into a car parking station in the late 1960s and demolised a few years later.
Another advertising feature highlighting an ecstatic 1950s housewife in her kitchen. Check out all that wood pannelling.
14/54Another advertising feature highlighting an ecstatic 1950s housewife in her kitchen. Check out all that wood pannelling.
A woman vacuums the lounge room - and curtains - circa 1956.
15/54A woman vacuums the lounge room - and curtains - circa 1956.
Tom Garland, Basil Jaggard and Geof Motley at Port Adelaide training in 1956.
16/54Tom Garland, Basil Jaggard and Geof Motley at Port Adelaide training in 1956.
A huge crowd at the Easter Oakbank race meeting in 1954.
17/54A huge crowd at the Easter Oakbank race meeting in 1954.
Traffic heading to the Oakbank races in 1954 along Mt Barker Rd.
18/54Traffic heading to the Oakbank races in 1954 along Mt Barker Rd.
Police and Wests Theatre management try to control the crowd during the first screening of Rock Around the Clock in Adelaide in1956.
19/54Police and Wests Theatre management try to control the crowd during the first screening of Rock Around the Clock in Adelaide in1956.
Some things never change ... boys get into fairy floss at Royal Adelaide Show in the early 1950s.
20/54Some things never change ... boys get into fairy floss at Royal Adelaide Show in the early 1950s.
A vision of the future ... a crowd of schoolboys watch a demonstration of TV at Charles Birks’ store in Adelaide in May, 1959 - before television officially arrived in SA.
21/54A vision of the future ... a crowd of schoolboys watch a demonstration of TV at Charles Birks’ store in Adelaide in May, 1959 - before television officially arrived in SA.
Yes, that’s Franklin St, looking west from Victoria Square in 1958.
22/54Yes, that’s Franklin St, looking west from Victoria Square in 1958.
Damage to a city shop, caused by the 1954 earthquake in Adelaide.
23/54Damage to a city shop, caused by the 1954 earthquake in Adelaide.
More damage caused by the 54 quake, to an Adelaide house (and, by the looks of it, nose).
24/54More damage caused by the 54 quake, to an Adelaide house (and, by the looks of it, nose).
Timothy Waye, 4, with a foal at the Koala Farm in Adelaide in February 1959.
25/54Timothy Waye, 4, with a foal at the Koala Farm in Adelaide in February 1959.
The Adelaide Town Hall clock lit up in King William St in the 1950s.
26/54The Adelaide Town Hall clock lit up in King William St in the 1950s.
About 31,000 fans watch Norwood take on West Torrens in the semi-final match at Adelaide Oval in 1954.
27/54About 31,000 fans watch Norwood take on West Torrens in the semi-final match at Adelaide Oval in 1954.
The University of Adelaide’s Prosh Day parade. Picture: National Trust
28/54The University of Adelaide’s Prosh Day parade. Picture: National Trust
Wool is loaded on to a ship at the Port Adelaide docks in 1955.
29/54Wool is loaded on to a ship at the Port Adelaide docks in 1955.
Something you’d never see today - children play in and around the River Torrens in 1951.
30/54Something you’d never see today - children play in and around the River Torrens in 1951.
Tobacconist Bill Tunney in his Grote St tobacco shop, inspecting his stock of pipes in the 1950s.
31/54Tobacconist Bill Tunney in his Grote St tobacco shop, inspecting his stock of pipes in the 1950s.
The aftermath of the Royal Adelaide Show is unchanged since 1959 — a very tired boy with lots of showbags.
32/54The aftermath of the Royal Adelaide Show is unchanged since 1959 — a very tired boy with lots of showbags.
The Charlesworth nuts stall in the Central Market in 1950s. Picture from The Market: Stories, by Catherine Murphy
33/54The Charlesworth nuts stall in the Central Market in 1950s. Picture from The Market: Stories, by Catherine Murphy
Another stall at the Market - this is Con’s Fine Foods in 1959. Pictured is Con Savvas, right, with sister Daphne.
34/54Another stall at the Market - this is Con’s Fine Foods in 1959. Pictured is Con Savvas, right, with sister Daphne.
Crowds at Gepps Cross rush the car carrying Queen Elizabeth II from Parafield Airport to the city during her 1954 visit to Adelaide.
35/54Crowds at Gepps Cross rush the car carrying Queen Elizabeth II from Parafield Airport to the city during her 1954 visit to Adelaide.
Bill Flett and Ruby deliver milk to Mount Gambier residents in 1951. Picture: State Library of SA
36/54Bill Flett and Ruby deliver milk to Mount Gambier residents in 1951. Picture: State Library of SA
A standard 1950s supermarket - this is in Unley in 1957.
37/54A standard 1950s supermarket - this is in Unley in 1957.
Cars line up for opening day of the Blue Line drive-in at West Beach in 1954. The film was the car comedy Genevieve. starring John Gregson, Kay Kendall and Kenneth More.
38/54Cars line up for opening day of the Blue Line drive-in at West Beach in 1954. The film was the car comedy Genevieve. starring John Gregson, Kay Kendall and Kenneth More.
Anglers with a giant Murray cod caught in the 1950s at Swan Beach. The information supplied said it weighed approximately 98 pounds - 44kg.
39/54Anglers with a giant Murray cod caught in the 1950s at Swan Beach. The information supplied said it weighed approximately 98 pounds - 44kg.
Passengers from the ocean liner Strathaird leave the ship for the Torrens Island quarantine station near Port Adelaide, in 1954.
40/54Passengers from the ocean liner Strathaird leave the ship for the Torrens Island quarantine station near Port Adelaide, in 1954.
A cargo ship docked at the Port Augusta wharf, circa 1954.
41/54A cargo ship docked at the Port Augusta wharf, circa 1954.
Passengers board a train at the Port Pirie junction in the 1950s.
42/54Passengers board a train at the Port Pirie junction in the 1950s.
The Williams family of Port Augusta with their sidecar on holidays at Christies Beach in 1959.
43/54The Williams family of Port Augusta with their sidecar on holidays at Christies Beach in 1959.
British child onboard the RMS Mooltan, bound for Port Adelaide in 1950, leaving the UK to live in Australia.
44/54British child onboard the RMS Mooltan, bound for Port Adelaide in 1950, leaving the UK to live in Australia.
A very full city swimming pool - where apparently black bathers were seriously in fashion - on King William Rd, November 1950.
45/54A very full city swimming pool - where apparently black bathers were seriously in fashion - on King William Rd, November 1950.
The elegant tram powerlines of King William St in 1956.
46/54The elegant tram powerlines of King William St in 1956.
Is that even a road? Photographer Frederick Knapp’s picture of his car on the track from Adelaide to Alice Springs, Circa 1950.
47/54Is that even a road? Photographer Frederick Knapp’s picture of his car on the track from Adelaide to Alice Springs, Circa 1950.
Crowds line the street outside Government House in the CBD for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II to Adelaide, in 1953.
48/54Crowds line the street outside Government House in the CBD for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II to Adelaide, in 1953.
Brian Faehse leads West Adelaide on to Adelaide Oval for the 1954 grand final match against Port Adelaide. Port won, 79 to 76.
49/54Brian Faehse leads West Adelaide on to Adelaide Oval for the 1954 grand final match against Port Adelaide. Port won, 79 to 76.
Royal Adelaide Show 1959.
50/54Royal Adelaide Show 1959.
Having a picnic in the Adelaide Hills in 1959.
51/54Having a picnic in the Adelaide Hills in 1959.
South Australia’s police traffic division courtesy patrol make a stop in 1959. Picture: State Library of SA
52/54South Australia’s police traffic division courtesy patrol make a stop in 1959. Picture: State Library of SA
The River Murray in flood at Mannum in 1956. Picture: State Library of SA
53/54The River Murray in flood at Mannum in 1956. Picture: State Library of SA
Streamers flying around TV cameras as cast of ADS7 Channel 7 TV variety program assemble for finale of their presentation at opening of Channel 7 in Adelaide Oct 1957.
54/54Streamers flying around TV cameras as cast of ADS7 Channel 7 TV variety program assemble for finale of their presentation at opening of Channel 7 in Adelaide Oct 1957.
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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/lifestyle/everyday-life-in-sa-in-the-1950s/image-gallery/768657ba9e40f860acb7f46aaead4400