The first dwellings in South Australia consisted of tents, huts made out of bush timber, prefabricated buildings and crude wattle and daub structures with earth floors.

The copper boom of the 1860s created wealth that allowed the opportunity to build (and in some cases rebuild) permanent structures with a great deal more elaboration and detail.

Mary Thomas, daughter of early pioneers and printing press operators, Robert and Mary Thomas, referred to early dwellings, in her diary (PRG 1160/6, p. 1)

1839 We are obliged to print the proclamations at Glenelg in a rush hut that had been built for a bedroom for the use of my sisters and myself. Mama, my sisters and myself came to live in Adelaide on the 1^st of June, 1837. Our rush printing hut was just taken possession of by some natives, who had an encampment just above us.... We once more took to living in a tent and continued to do so until September [1837], when we began to occupy some apartments adjoining the printing office, having lived in tents and reed huts from November 1836 till September 1837. Our first week in Australia was passed in a tent formed by a piece of canvas thrown across some poles, and the back filled in by green boughs. The second place we had was a large marquee - very comfortable - where we passed Christmas Day. The printing office was built of reeds (from the lagoons) and pine poles, tied together by yarn....