Overview

Discover the ground-breaking history of South Australia on our captivating Social Justice History Tour of Adelaide. Tailored specifically for passionate history enthusiasts, this easy-paced 2 hour walking tour traces Adelaide's evolution from an ambitious, free settler colony into a global pioneer of social, political and democratic reforms. Led by an expert, locally born and bred Adelaide guide, you will amble down iconic North Terrace to explore the public spaces, statues and monuments that tell the story of one of Australia's most progressive cities. South Australia didn't just follow the world - it often led it! On this tour we examine the historic sites and public institutions tied to monumental social changes, including: Pioneering Women and Public Figures: Stand before civic monuments to learn about the British Empire's first female police officers, South Australia's first female Governor, and fierce suffragists like Mary Lee. Human Rights & Equality: Uncover the legislative battles behind early Aboriginal rights, the South Australian indigenous Voice to Parliament, and trailblazing homosexual and sexual descrimination reforms. Civic, Educational & Religious Freedom: Explore the old Police Barracks and educational precincts to learn how absolute religious freedom, justice and mandatory literacy shaped a fairer society. Highlights: 🗳️ Democracy & Voting Rights: Discover where the Secret Ballot was implemented and how South Australia became a global leader by granting women's franchise with their right to vote as well as stand for Parliament). 🏛️ Trailblazers & Civic Leaders: Hear the stories of pioneering women and progressive leaders like Don Dunstan, Catherine Helen Spence, and Australia’s first Indigenous Governor. 📜 Museums & Historic Precincts: Visit the Centre of Democracy, and the Mortlock Wing inside the State Library. 🎓 Education & Gender Equality: Discover how the University of Adelaide became the first university in Australia—and one of the first in the world - to admit women to academic degrees. ⚖️ Legal & Social Firsts: Learn about the establishment of British Empire's first female police force in 1915, religious freedoms, and the abolition of capital punishment. 🌿 Modern Environmental Leadership: Conclude near Pulteney Street discussing South Australia's container deposit scheme, renewable energy targets, and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.