eNewsletter
Newsletter 18 September 2025
News
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the History Council of South Australia, followed by a talk from the 2025 Historian of the Year, Dr Heidi Ing, on Collaborating for History.
15 October, 6pm. Historian Hotel, 18 Coromandel Place, Adelaide.
Please RSVP by 10 October 2025 to Secretary Amanda Wells or by registering at the link below.
Further information and registration though Humanitix
2025 HCSA Regional Lecture: Renmark and the Riverland
Join us in Renmark for a day of panels, discussions, and a keynote lecture exploring the Riverland's histories and connections to broader state and national stories.
9 October, 10am to 4pm. Hotel Renmark, Renmark SA.
Further information and registration through Humanitix
Burnside Historical Society September Bulletin
The latest edition of the society's bulletin is now available.
Read it here (pdf).
The Federation of Australian Historical Societies Newsletter
The September edition of the newsletter is now available.
Read it on their website here (pdf).
CHASS Calls for a National Approach to support for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences in Australian universities
The Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) has issued a media release about the national crisis in humanities, arts, and social sciences (HASS) in Australian Universities.
Read it on their website here
Seeking information and leads on Italian Internees sent to the NT
Fred Marrone is seeking information for a project on the history of Italians in the NT. He is seeking the names and occupations of Italians who were sent to work or migrated to the NT from 1845 to 1995, and the work they were involved in.
If you are able to help, please contact him on 0408 508 819 or via email: [email protected]
Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) Online Library Catalogue Test Version Launch
The RAHS has recently launched the test version of their new online library catalogue, offering researchers, members, and history enthusiasts a fresh and user-friendly way to explore their collections.
Read more and access the catalogue through their website
Dublin Dispatch
The September - October edition of the Dublin History Group's newsletter is now available.
Read it on their website here.
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
NSW History Awards winners announced
The winners of the NSW history awards have been announced. Learn more about the winners and the shortlist on their website.
Link to the awards webpage here
Lectures, exhibitions, and events
SA Medical Heritage Society Meeting
Featuring Dr. Nick Rieger speaking on the 'Liver Transplant: A Personal and Historical Perspective'.
25 September 2025, 6pm, Dulwich Community Centre, 14 Union Street, Dulwich.
Flinders History Seminar
Featuring Andreas Takis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) on 'Transplanted Traditions: Trusts and Authority in Australia's Migrant Communities'.
19 September, 11.15am, Social Sciences South, Flinders Bedford Park Campus. Online access via Teams.
Further information and Teams link here (pdf)
Writing Women Back into Your Family History
This month for Wednesdays @ 1, Genealogy SA will be hosting Helen V Smith of Dragon Genealogy, discussing how we can give the women in our family lines back their voice and their place in history.
1 October, 1pm to 2pm
Free for Genealogy SA Members / $20 non-members
Further information and registration through Trybooking
Genealogy SA Library Open Day
Would you like to get started with your family history? Come along to our Library Open Day and see what Genealogy SA has to offer!
12 October, 10am to 3pm
Free for everyone!
Further information on the Genealogy SA Website
Getting Started with your Family History – Online
Would you like to start researching your family history, but don't know where to begin? Join Genealogy SA for this online beginners course on how to plan, research, record and organise your genealogical discoveries.
19 & 26 October, 10:00am to 2:00pm
$49 Genealogy SA members / $99 non-members
Further information and registration through Trybooking
Talking History: Exploring our State's Unique Environmental Histories
A panel event about the ways South Australians have reshaped their environments.
30 September 2025, 5.30 to 8pm, Hetzel Lecture Theatre
Further information and registration through the State Library of South Australia.
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.
Until 27 January 2026.
Further information through the museum website
Y2K - Parallel Shift
This exhibition at the Unley Museum features works created by artists in the year 2000 - exploring that moment of change.
Open until the end of October, 2025.
Further information on their website
Using DNA for family history
Genealogy SA is now offering this DNA course online! Join us for this beginner’s workshop where we introduce the basics of DNA research for genealogy and give hands on instruction.
29 September, 6:30pm to 9:30pm, 22 September, 7pm to 8pm
$89 Genealogy SA members / $139 non-members
Further information and registration through Trybooking
Friends of the Lutheran Archives upcoming meeting: Enlightened Aboriginal Futures and Sandhill Girl: The Story of Two Books and the Importance of Writing as Kin
In 2017, Professor Barry Judd, Deputy Vice Chancellor - Indigenous, University of Melbourne, and Professor Katherine Ellinghaus, Professor of History in the School of Archaeology & History, La Trobe University embarked on a project that explored the work of Pastor F.W. Albrecht and the Finke River Mission. In particular, they were interested in the story of an education scheme initiated during the 1950s and 1960s that targeted Aboriginal girls (one of whom was Professor Judd’s mother, Lorna Wilson) living on pastoral stations across Central Australia. Professors Judd and Ellinghaus will talk about how the theme of non-Indigenous and Indigenous people finding ways to work together authentically and productively permeated both the books and the project itself.
Thursday 18 September at 7.30pm
Speakers: Barry Judd, Katherine Ellinghaus
139 Archer St, North Adelaide SA 5006
$5 donation
LIVESTREAM on FoLA YouTube channel here
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 20 October: Unearthing Research Gems at State Records of SA
Presenter: State Records of South Australia
Historical Society of South Australia Speaker Program 2025
First Friday of the month, 7.30 pm, Burnside City Uniting Church, Fisher Street, Tusmore.
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
Book releases
Book release: Murder on North Terrace, by Lainie Anderson
In Murder on North Terracethe indomitable Miss Cocks and Ethel Bromley return for Book Two in the bestselling and charmingly cosy Petticoat Police Mystery Series, inspired by one of Australia's first policewomen.
Further information and registration through Trybooking
Calls for papers
Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society 2026
Due date: 1 October 2025, for consideration in the June 2026 issue.
Further information and guidelines on their website here.
Opportunities
Applications for the 2026 HCSA fellowship are now open
The HCSA Fellowship provides support for all Australians researching and writing about South Australian history. The Fellowship is an annual prize of $2,000.
In addition to the prize, the State Library of South Australia will provide space in the library for the Fellowship winner to conduct their research, as well as the use of a computer and up to 10 hours of research support.
Further information on our website here.
History Teacher's Association of South Australia Competitions
During the remainder of this year HTASA is actively supporting the National History Challenge, the Simpson Prize, the Premier’s Anzac Spirit Prize and the Governor’s Civics Awards.
The Simpson Prize. This year’s question involves using primary sources for evidence of contrasting perspectives on World War One or Two.
Further details and relevant sources are available from the website here.
The closing date for entries is Wednesday, November 5th.
