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Most executions in South Australia were at the Adelaide Gaol. Several at Mount Gambier and, prior to the gaol opening, in random locations.
South Australia was a settlement that was not founded on convicts, and as such, being a free colony were free to set their standards as they saw fitting. The attitude in 1840 toward capital punishment is well expressed by this excerpt "However abhorrent such exhibitions may be to the feelings of humanity, it is absolutely necessary that the hardened villains who escape from punishment in the other colonies should be taught that they have no trifler's hand to deal with here; and that there is a determination on the part of the Government to protect to the utmost the lives and property of its constituents."
Please also add profiles to the geni project Hangings if executed in that fashion.
Executed - Hanged
- Michael Magee – 2 May 1838 – The first public execution in South Australia. A runaway convict, hanged on Montefiore Hill for shooting at with intent to kill Sheriff Smart (reading his story, possibly innocent and genealogy may prove that)
- Wang Nucha (Tommy Roundhead) – 31 May 1839 – Hanged for the murder of James Thompson on the Para
- Yerr-i-Cha (George) – 31 May 1839 – Hanged for the murder of William Duffield in the Gilles Plains area
- George Hughes – 16 March 1840 – Hanged outside the Horse Police Barracks for theft and firing with murderous intent at the Para River
- Henry Curran – 16 March 1840 – Hanged outside the Horse Police Barracks for theft and firing with murderous intent at the Para River
- Mongarawata – 25 August 1840 – Hanged by Major O'Halloran on the Coorong in retribution for the massacre of over fifteen passengers wrecked on the Maria
- Pilgarie (Moorcan-gac) – 25 August 1840 – Hanged by Major O'Halloran on the Coorong in retribution for the massacre of fifteen passengers wrecked on the Maria
- Joseph Stagg – 18 November 1840 - Hanged for the murder of John Gofton near Torrens Island. The first public execution to be conducted outside Adelaide Gaol, with a crowd of roughly seven hundred in attendance.
- Ngarbi (Nultia) – 1 August 1843 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Elizabeth Stubbs at Port Lincoln
- Wera Maldera – 28 March 1845 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of George McGrath at McGrath's Flat, on the Coorong
- Thomas Donnelly – 29 March 1847 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Kingberrie, an indigenous local, at Rivoli Bay
- Keelgulla – 9 November 1849 – Hanged at the scene of the crime for the murder of Captain James Beevor at Mount Drummond
- Neulalta – 9 November 1849 – Hanged at the scene of the crime for the murder of Captain James Beevor at Mount Drummond
- James Yates – 5 September 1850 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of a shepherd named Jack Mansforth at Skillagolee Creek
- William Wright – 12 March 1853 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of a man known as Robert Head, committed at East Wellington
- William Bell – 27 December 1854 – Hanged outside Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Augustus Valrecht at Port Adelaide. This was the last public execution at Adelaide Gaol, with approximately three thousand onlookers.
- Weenpulta – 14 January 1856 – Hanged at Franklin Harbour for the murder of Peter Brown
- Weellanna – 14 January 1856 – Hanged at Franklin Harbour for the murder of Peter Brown
- Yardulunulkarna – 14 January 1856 – Hanged at Franklin Harbour for the murder of Peter Brown
- Eelanna – 14 January 1856 – Hanged at Franklin Harbour for the murder of Peter Brown
- Manyetta – 5 October 1860 – Hanged at Streaky Bay for the murder of John Jones at Mount Joy
- Pilti Miltinda (Bobby) – 7 June 1861 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Mary Ann Rainberd (sometimes Reinbert) and her two children near Kapunda
- Tankaworty (Alick or Jimmy) – 7 June 1861 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Mary Ann Rainberd and her two children near Kapunda
- Warretya (Kop Robert) – 7 June 1861 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Mary Ann Rainberd and her two children near Kapunda
- Warretya (Gogeye Jimmy) – 7 June 1861 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Mary Ann Rainberd and her two children near Kapunda
- Nilgerie – 1861 – Hanged near the scene of the crime at Fowler's Bay for the murder of Thomas Berggoist
- Tilcherie – 1861 – Hanged near the scene of the crime at Fowler's Bay for the murder of Thomas Berggoist
- Mangiltie – 1861 – Hanged at Port Lincoln for the murder of Margaret Impey (Impett) at Mount Wedge
- Karabidnie – 1861 – Hanged at Port Lincoln for the murder of Margaret Impey at Mount Wedge
- John Seaver – 11 March 1862 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Police Inspector Richard Pettinger at a ball at Government House, Adelaide
- Magnultie – 1862 – Hanged at Venus Bay for the murder of William Walker near Cherado
- Malachi Martin – 24 December 1862 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Jane Macmanamin at Salt Creek
- Carl Jung – 10 November 1871 – Hanged at Mount Gambier for the murder of Assistant Bailiff Thomas Garraway at Deep Gully, near Mount Gambier
- Elizabeth Woolcock – 30 December 1873 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Thomas Woolcock at North Yelta. The only woman executed in South Australia.
- William Ridgeway – 1 January 1874 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Frederick Burt at Coonatto
- William Page – 27 October 1875 – Hanged at Mount Gambier for the murder of Mary Julia Buchan
- Charles Streitman - 24 July 1877 - Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Robert Woodhead at Wallaroo
- Hugh Fagan (alias James Lynch) - 15 April 1878 - Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Patrick Bannon at Saltire
- Jonathan Prest - 16 July 1878 - Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Mary Prest near Port Adelaide
- Robert Johnson (alias William Nugent) – 18 November 1881 – Hanged at Mount Gambier for the murder of Trooper Harry Pearce
- William Burns – 18 January 1883 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Henry Loton on the high seas, off the Cape Verde Islands. "While waiting his doom, he formed an attachment to a young sparrow, which he tamed perfectly. He was greatly affected by the sight of the bird flitting about the scaffold while the preparations for his execution were in progress"
- Mah Poo (alias Charlie Bow) – 10 November 1883 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Tommy Ah Fook in Hindley Street
- William Brown (alias Allen, alias Lane)– 24 August 1894 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of George Morowsky at Waukaringa
- George Lynch – 6 November 1895 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Donald Ross at Balaklava
- Joshua Beard – 10 July 1897 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Walter Hall at Streaky Bay
- Lolli Kayser Singh – 17 January 1900 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Sunda Singh at Denial Bay
- Thomas Horton – 12 May 1904 - Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Florence in Rundle Street
- Albert Bonfield – 5 January 1905 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Caroline Hinds at Kensington Gardens[189]
- Notella Habibulla – 16 November 1906 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Edith in Bristol Street (off Cardwell St)
- James (Joe) Coleman – 2 July 1908 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Constable Albert Ring at Glenelg
- John Robins – 16 March 1910 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Robert Ownsworth in Moonta St Adelaide
- Hadji Khan – 5 April 1910 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Said Mahommed at Frome Creek
- Carlos Augustus Bonello – 5 May 1910 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Norma Plush at Siegersdorf
- Percival Budd – 24 April 1919 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Harold Jacques at Crystal Brook
- Alexander Newland Lee – 15 July 1920 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Muriel at Rhynie. Lee was the nephew of Martha Needle
- William Francis – 22 November 1927 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Myra at Rosaville, Mount Gambier
- William Haines – 16 December 1927 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Devina Schmidt at Bridgewater
- Frederick Carr – 12 November 1929 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Maude at Birkenhead
- Thomas Blythe – 9 January 1930 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of his wife Sarah at Unley
- James M Watherston – 11th August 1938 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Mary Nielsen (12 yrs). (Ref)
- Harold James Box – 26 April 1944 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Albert Edmund (Lance) Brown at Gawler Place, Adelaide (note he did not kill him)
- Charles O'Leary – 14 November 1946 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Walter 'Spoggy' Ballard at Nangwarry, near Penola
- Alfred Griffin – 22 March 1950 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Elsie Wheeler at a Hutt Street boarding house
- John Balaban – 26 August 1953 – Murdered at least four people. Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Zora Kusic at Lockleys. (Ref)
- William Feast – 23 March 1956 – Hanged for the murder of Eunice Gwynne at Wingfield
- Raymond John Bailey – 24 June 1958 – Convicted for the Sundown Murders. Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Thyra Bowman her daughter Wendy and Thomas Whelan.
- Glen Sabre Valance – 24 November 1964 – Hanged at Adelaide Gaol for the murder of Richard David Stang at Kooroon Station. Last person to be executed in South Australia.