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The first edition of this Chronology appeared in Portonian volume 11/3
September 1983. It was compiled in response to the many requests for
historical information received by the Semaphore Public Library.
A second edition was later produced by the Semaphore Road
Development Committee, a group formed to help capitalise on
Semaphore's historical assets. Other parts of the Chronology
were gathered from personal interviews with area locals. 
1849-1899 | 1900-1949 | 1950-2000
1849-1899
1849 - Semaphore area surveyed by the Government.
1851 - The original Semaphore Hotel opened on the south corner of Blacker Street and The Esplanade.
1856 - Telegraph Line extended to Semaphore from Port Adelaide.
1859 - Port Bridge opened, connecting Semaphore and Port Adelaide.
1860 - Semaphore Jetty completed.
1862 - Road from the Semaphore Jetty to Port Bridge completed.
1864 - District Council of Glanville formed. Peninsula Literary Institute formed.
1866 - Jetty Hotel opened.
1867 - Uniting Church built on Semaphore Road. Wesleyan Church on Semaphore Road opened. Semaphore Hotel on Semaphore Road opened.
1872 - District Council of Le Fevre's Peninsula formed.
1875 - Time Ball Tower operational. Residence 74 built by George Shorney on the east corner of Semaphore Road and Ward Street. Stately Home built by H.C. Swan on the south corner of Swan Street and The Esplanade.
1876 - Le Fevre's Peninsula Public School opened.
1878 - First major long-distance telephone call in Australia made from Semaphore to Port Augusta. Jervois Bridge built to carry the railway line to Semaphore. (replacing the Port Bridge) Railway Line from Port Adelaide via St Vincent Street opened. Chemist's Shop opened by G.F. Ward.
1879 - Church of St. Andrew's opened.
1880 - Water Tower on Blacker Street made operational. Bute Terrace built for Gray Brothers at 176-186 Military Road. Peninsula Literary Institute into recess.
1881 - Rhiador built by 'The Sandhill Savage', Richard Jagoe, on the corner of Newman Street and The Esplanade. New Mail Station built on the south corner of Semaphore Road and The Esplanade. New Post & Telegraph Office opened at the corner of Customs Lane and Semaphore Road. Semaphore Institute formed. Church of St. Andrew's renamed to St. Bede's Anglican Church.
1882 - Semaphore Lawn Tennis Club formed.
1883 - Semaphore Corporation established from parts of the District Councils of Glanville and Le Fevre's Peninsula. Customs Boarding House completed on the north corner of Semaphore Road and The Esplanade. Baptist Church on Semaphore Road opened.
1884 - Semaphore Masonic Lodge formed. Semaphore and Largs Esplanades joined. Semaphore Institute opened by acting Governor.
1889 - Semaphore Institute sold to the Semaphore Corporation to be a Town Hall. Rotunda built south of the Jetty. Semaphore Baths on the Jetty opened.
1890 - Construction on the new Police Station began to the west of the Institute Building, replacing the one at Exeter.
1891 - Police Station completed, replacing the one at Exeter.
1895 - Severe cyclone damaged several homes. Warrinilla built by Dr. P. Bollen at 43 Semaphore Road.
1897 - Stately Home built by Dr. Curtis on the south corner of Dunn Street and Military Road.
1898 - Semaphore Centrals Football Club formed.
1899 - Congregational Church opened on Jagoe Street. Dominican Convent opened in Dr. Curtis' former home on Military Road.
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1900-1949
1900 - Semaphore Corporation amalgamated with Port Adelaide Corporation.
1901 - Wonga Shoal Lighthouse operational, superseding the Port Adelaide Lighthouse which was removed to South Neptune Island. Jetty Hotel renamed at federation to The Federal Hotel.
1904 - Semaphore Bowling Club formed. Sub-branch of Commonwealth Bank opened.
1909 - Semaphore Scout Troop formed.
1910 - Le Fevre District High School opened.
1911 - Semaphore Coffee Palace opened on The Esplanade, later becoming the Wondergraph Café, and then Evancourt. Ozone Amusements Ltd formed by Hugh Waterman. Masonic Buildings opened on Semaphore Road.
1912 - Wonga Shoal Lighthouse knocked over by the ship 'Dimsdale'. Savings Bank of South Australia opened.
1913 - Church of Christ on Military Road opened. Semaphore Lewis Masonic Lodge formed.
1914 - Semaphore Buildings adjoining the Semaphore Hotel completed. Le Fevre District High School closed.
1915 - Catholic Church on Military Road dedicated.
1916 - Semaphore/Outer Harbor Railway re-routed via Commercial Road Station.
1917 - Electric Tram Service commenced from Port Adelaide. Semaphore Baths destroyed by severe storm.
1919 - Rotunda erected north of the Jetty by the Municipal Tramways Trust. (demolished in the 1970's)
1920 - F.S. Harrington's Drapery on Semaphore Road opened. Wondergraph Picture Palace opened.
1921 - Semaphore Girl Guides formed.
1922 - Semaphore Palais opened on the foreshore.
1923 - Sub-branch of the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSSILA (now RSL) formed.
1925 - Soldiers Memorial Clock completed. The Federal Hotel remodelled.
1928 - Carousel - the largest in Australia - built on the foreshore.
1929 - Soldiers Memorial Hall opened. Town Hall remodelled as the Ozone Theatre.
1930 - 'Back to Semaphore' celebrations.
1932 - Time Ball service ended, superseded by wireless telegraph.
1935 - Electric Tram Service from Port Adelaide closed. Semaphore & Largs Toc H founded.
1937 - Semaphore Signal Station superseded by the one at Outer Harbor.
1941 - New Railway Station opened.
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1950-2000
1950 - Cole's Variety Store opened.
1952 - Traders Association formed. Wondergraph Picture Palace became the Odeon Star Cinema.
1953 - Severe storm.
1956 - National Bank opened.
1960 - Commonwealth Bank opened. Semaphore Squash Centre opened. Ozone Theatre closed.
1961 - Woolworth's Supermarket opened.
1963 - Geoff Taylor's book 'Sir' published. It centres on Taylor's schooldays at Rhiador Grammar School in the 1930's. Permanent sideshow stalls constructed on the Foreshore.
1966 - Semaphore Police Station ceased operations.
1967 - Mail Station demolished.
1969 - Jervois Bridge completed. Semaphore District Traders' Association formed. Lions Club of Le Fevre Peninsula formed.
1973 - Congregational Church on Jagoe Street closed. Harrington's Drapery on Semaphore Road closed.
1974 - Coles Variety Store closed.
1975 - Customs Boarding House saved from demolition after a prolonged campaign.
1976 - Odeon Star Cinema closed. Colonel Lovely's former home demolished. It was located at 89 The Esplanade, on the south corner of Dunn Street.
1977 - Semaphore Cinema opened in the former Ozone Theatre.
1978 - Semaphore Public Library opened. Railway from Glanville closed.
1979 - Semaphore Promotions Committee formed.
1980 - Semaphore Foodland opened. Semaphore Progress Association formed.
1981 - Railway from Glanville line removed.
1982 - Commonwealth Bank moved location.
1984 - Post & Telegraph Office closed.
1985 - Semaphore Cinema closed.
1986 - Woolworth's Supermarket became Triple Seven.
1987 - Jervois Bridge renovated.
1991 - Odeon Star reopened, with Hoff's Second-hand Emporium in the lower area.
1993 - Ozone Theatre restored and opened as the Semaphore Community Library.
1994 - Semaphore Mainstreet Association formed.
1996 - Police Station restored and opened as Sestri Restaurant & Gallery.
1997 - Odeon Star renovated and reopened as a fully-functional cinema. Hoff's Second-hand Emporium moved to the former Old Field's Bakery building on Woolnough Road.
2000 - Last service held at the Baptist Church on Semaphore Road.
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