eNewsletter
Newsletter 15 May 2025
News
President's message
This newsletter finds us in the second half of the 2025 History Festival. It’s been a fantastic couple of weeks so far and there is still a lot more to come. A particularly welcome addition this year has been the ‘House of History’ at Ayers House, which has become an important site for some fascinating events. You’ll see a reminder of some of the remaining events at the House of History in this newsletter.
The HCSA is particularly looking forward to the History Trust’s closing event on 31 May at Ayers House. At this event we’ll be bestowing this year’s Historian Awards on some deserving recipients.
This month of history-related events is also a great time to renew your membership with the History Council, to support our fellowships, awards, events and advocacy on behalf of all things history. You can find all the details here.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the History Festival!
Matt Fitzpatrick
SA Museum Strategic plan 2025 - 2030
The museum is in the process of developing a strategic plan and invites feedback from all stakeholders and interest groups.
Further information through YourSAy
Burnside Historical Society (BHS) Bulletin
The May edition of the bulletin is now available.
Read it here (pdf)
Save the Queen: The Priscilla Project
A project is underway to restore the Priscilla bus from the film 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. She was discovered on a property in rural New South Wales, having survived fire, floods, and exposure to the elements. The History Trust of South Australia is seeking donations to restore the bus and display her at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood.
Further information through the HTSA
Around the country
Our Story: Aboriginal-Chinese people in Australia
An exhibition at the National Museum of Australia which sheds light on the little-known history of Aboriginal and Chinese relations in colonial Australia.
Further information through the museum website
Lectures, exhibitions, and events
South Australia's History Festival
Don’t forget the remaining events for the SA History Festival, in particular some of the remaining events at Ayers House – the ‘House of History’. Remaining events there include:
Tue 20 May
Margaret Boult - Being Economical with the Truth
Greg Slattery - The Industrial Revolution and Northern Regional Towns
Bridget Jolly - How Is Kangaroo Island Tourism Travelling?
Wed 21 May
Ron Danvers - A Conjectural 1836 Model Plan for Adelaide
Andrew Buxton - SA Lives, Snapshots of Some Pioneers
Thu 22 May
Rob Amery & Taylor Tipu Power-Smith - Kaurna vs Miyurna, Owners / Custodians of Adelaide
Tue 27 May
Dale Johns - Genealogy SA: It Began with a Volunteer With a Vision
Robert Martin - A Brief History of the Historical Society of SA
Matt Fitzpatrick - The State of History
Wed 28 May
Brian Samuels - Adelaide’s North Terrace Cultural Institutions
Greg Mackie - Looking Forward to Looking Back
Thu 29 May
Kiera Lindsey - A Spotlight on South Australian Historical Research
Labour History Society of South Australia meeting
Featuring Emerita Professor Carol Johnson speaking on 'The politics of gender equality.'
25 May, 2-4pm, The Box Factory Community Centre, Regent St. Adelaide.
Further information here (pdf).
Priscilla: Frock up & find out
A quiz night hosted by the History Trust of South Australia.
23 May, 7.30pm - 10pm, Ayers House, the Conservatory, 288 North Terrace.
Further information and tickets through Trybooking
SA Medical Heritage Society (SAMHS) general meeting
Featuring Professor Ian Gibbins speaking on 'Neuroanatomy, art, and the (re-)construction of conscious experience'. Members and guests welcome.
22 May, 6pm, Dulwich Community Centre, 14 Union street, Dulwich.
Replies to Secretary Maggi Boult: [email protected]
Further information here (pdf flyer).
Making public history: Cold War spies in Australia
Hear some of the fascinating stories of Australian spies and spying during the Cold War, from specialist historians.
29 May, 5pm, online
Further information and registration through the History Council of Victoria website
A fairer future: the educational legacy of Bob Hawke
An exhibition that celebrates the importance of education through the achievements of the Hawke Government and Hawke's own participation and promotion of education outside of his political career.
2 April - 25 July, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, Hawke Building level 3, UniSA City West Campus.
Further information through UniSA
Oral history introductory workshop
This workshop introduces oral history practice, focusing on research, ethics, equipment, interviewing techniques and will include a discussion on podcasting and the local oral history collection.
13 June, 10am - 3.30pm, venue TBA
Further information and tickets through Oral History Australia SA/NT
People in the Landscape
A talk on Bangarla country with Maritime Museum curator Paul Mazourek about the amazing story of people and landscape development in the Northern Spencer Gulf.
Every Thursday in July, from 2pm - 3pm at Point Lowly Lighthouse.
Further information through the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse website
Professional Historians Association (SA) History at the Historian program 2025
An opportunity to engage with experts in the field, ask questions, and enjoy a stimulating discussion in a relaxed pub setting.
All are held at 5.45pm, at the Historian Hotel, 18 Coromandel Place, Adelaide.
Details of each event will be shared on the PHA's Facebook page
Monday 16 June: Unique Resources for Social History: Genealogy SA & Pioneers Association SA
Presenters: Helen Livingston (SAGHS) & David Forsaith / Anthea Taylor (PASA)
Monday 18 August: Stories from the Buffalo: Oral History Australia
Presenter: Christine Schoepf
Monday 20 October: Unearthing Research Gems at State Records of SA
Presenter: State Records of South Australia
Genealogy SA: Using DNA for family history
A beginner's workshop to introduce the basics of DNA research for genealogy and give hands-on instruction for getting started.
$69 members | $129 non-members
25 May, 10am - 5pm, Genealogy SA Library, 201 Unley Road.
Further information and registration through Trybooking
Rear Vision: The Holden Collection
Through the extensive archive of the State Library of South Australia, this exhibition explores the car maker's operations, workforce dynamics, technological innovations, and its profound impact on the national psyche.
At the State Library of South Australia (SLSA) until 22 June 2025.
Further information on the SLSA website
Historical Society of South Australia Speaker Program 2025
First Friday of the month, 7.30 pm, Burnside City Uniting Church, Fisher Street, Tusmore.
6 June - Rosemary Cadden: Fact and fiction intertwine in the stories of explorer John McDouall Stuart
4 July - Cathy Conway: The history of gliding in South Australia
1 August - Rob George: “Von Loves Her Modernist”: a film about Max Harris
5 September - Jade Hastings: Single women and the law: crime and legislative change in colonial South Australia, 1836 1880
3 October - Margot Way: The History of the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre
7 November - Paul Flavel: John Martin’s. the story of South Australia’s beloved department store
Further details on each month’s History Talk are provided in the History SA newsletter and on the Society’s website.
Check out their website here
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
The Galloway Hoard is the richest find of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever made in the UK. Buried around AD 900 and only discovered in 2014 in southwest Scotland, the Hoard contains a stunning variety of rare and beautiful objects and illustrates the rich history of Viking trade that stretched from Scandinavia and the Atlantic across into the Middle East and Asia.
At the South Australian Museum until 27 July 2025.
Further information and tickets through the SA Museum website
Book releases
Labor politics from Dunstan to Rann, by C.J. Sumner
A commentary in response to Peter Duncan's recent book on South Australian Politics, A view from the horizon: my life in politics and beyond (Wakefield Press, 2024)
This book is available as a pdf free of charge at the below link.
Download the pdf here (file size: 654 KB)
Rolling up their Sleeves: the women behind the Barossa cookery book, by Those Barossa Girls
A modern cookbook that re-presents classic recipes and honours a group of dedicated and open-hearted women.
Further information on the authors' website here
The Professional Historian's Association is also hosting an evening of discussion with one of the authors, Sheralee Menz. 17 May, 5.30 - 8.30pm at the Vine Inn, Nuriootpa.
Further information and registration through the History Festival website
Calls for papers
Amphorae XIX conference call for papers
The Classics and Ancient History postgraduate cohort at the University of Adelaide, Australia invites submissions to the 19th Annual Meeting of Postgraduates in Hellenic or Roman Antiquity and Egyptology (AMPHORAE) Conference for 2025.
25-29 August 2025, The University of Adelaide.
Further information and registration through their website
Opportunities
SA History Fund
Applications are now open for the SA History Fund, an annual grant program offered by the History Trust of South Australia for projects, research, or publications that contribute to the knowledge, understanding, and sharing of SA history.
Applications close 11 July.
Further information through their website
State Library of NSW Fellowships 2026
Applications are now open for twelve different fellowships at the State Library of NSW. Applications close 11 July 2025 at 5pm.
Further information through the Library's website
Bernadette Bean South Australian Records Management Service Excellence Award
Awarded to celebrate those who have dedicated their careers to managing, preserving, and innovating within the fields of records and information management, knowledge management, history and cultural heritage, museum and library collections management. Nominations are now open until 8 July 2025.
Further information on the award website.
