Fullers History

A visual reference to some of Fuller's products during the past 75 years.

The image to the right is a link to an online version of a 1940's edition of the Fullers Street directory. This is a valuable research tool for people investigating their family tree or Adelaide itself.

Although this information is freely available to download the copyright remains with Fuller's Maps and Carto Tech Services.

The tourist could purchase the "Visitor's Guide to Adelaide and Surroundings" for a mere 2' 6. This invaluable publication included both a map of the Adelaide square mile and one of the Adelaide metropolitan area showing the main thorough fares and trainlines. Included were directions to such notable locations as the "Koala and Snake Farm" on Frome Rd, the Grenfell St "Boxing Stadium" and the "Paladium Dance Hall" on Pirie St.

This Fullers "Motorists Guide to South Australia" dates from approx. 1950. It included road charts displaying mileage as well as Reference maps for the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Adelaide, the Mid North, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the South East.

It also contained adverts for various Adelaide and country businesses such as Truscott Caravans, Duncan and Co. (distributors of Astor Quality Radios) and Gay Rotary Sprinklers for all your watering needs.

In the late 1920's W. G. Fuller produced 9 fold out maps of the Adelaide region. The districts were:
No. 1 - Port Adelaide
No. 2 - Northern Suburbs
No. 3 - Payneham and Cambelltown
No. 4 - West Torrens and Henley
No. 5 - Burnside and Glen Osmond
No. 6 - Glenelg and Edwardstown
No. 7 - Unley and Mitcham
No. 8 - Brighton and Marion
No. 9 - Belair and Blackwood

No - not an alien symbol from an episode of the X-files but the cover of  the 1969 revised and expanded edition of the Fullers Adelaide Street Directory. Price at the time $1.20 - those were the days.

Have you ever noticed how the design style of the late '50s and early '60s looks like cool 21st century web graphics? This 1962 Whyalla map proves how ahead of the times our designers were!

..... there was a certain loud and fast car race running through the eastern side of Adelaide? You could hear the Grand Prix from as far away as Parafield Airport in the Northern suburbs. (1988 - Fullers cover)

..... there was barely a thought of a tunnel bypassing Devil's Elbow and Eagle on the Hill? One lane curling around the hills with a stone rock face on one side and a steep drop on the other. What fun - especially when you were in the middle of a convoy of trucks and caravans! (1986 - Fullers cover.)

All images retain the copyright for Fullers Maps and Carto Tech Services.

Use the links below to visit the homepage of Fullers Adelaide and South Australian Country Towns Street Directory, send us an email or purchase our products.

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Last updated: 21st March 2014