Sir Thomas Playford was premier of South Australia for close to three decades. From 1938 to 1965 South Australia developed under the leadership of one man – a man with a powerful personality and an ambitious political vision.
Head into the Centre of Democracy to learn more about Playford and his impact on South Australia. A social conservative who borrowed policies from the political left, Playford had a focus on industry and infrastructure. As premier he passed legislation to establish the state-owned Electricity Trust of South Australia and oversaw the rise of the Housing Trust.
Playford was a member of the Liberal and Country League who relied on advice from public service experts and at times worked more cooperatively with the Labor Opposition than members of his own party. ‘Trust in Playford’ explores the legacy of the state’s longest serving premier through images that illustrate how South Australia changed during his time in office.
