Heritage South Australia

10/06/2026

Next Thursday, 18th June at 1:30pm, the Migration Museum is holding their next ‘History of Migration to South Australia Tour’. This tour delves into the history of the State to better understand the migrant experience and the many cultures that have helped in the development of South Australia.

Find out more here: https://migration.history.sa.gov.au/events/history-of-migration-to-south-australia/

On Kaurna Country

Image: Sketch of part of the Adelaide Destitute Asylum by Leslie Andrw Wilkie, 1931. State Library of South Australia [B 7473].

08/06/2026

On this day, 8 June 1881, the first prisoner arrived at Gladstone Gaol, Ward Street, Gladstone. The Gaol was closed permanently in 1975 and was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1985. Gladstone Gaol was built to supplant Burra’s Redruth Gaol and is an important link to the evolution of penal design philosophies and construction techniques in the State.

On Nukunu Country.

Image: Aerial view of Gladstone Gaol, n.d., DEW Files.

05/06/2026

The Flinders Ranges Heritage Trail is now available courtesy of the Outback Communities Authority

These trails contain a mixture of natural and cultural heritage spots. If you are planning on travelling to this beautiful part of South Australia - take advantage of this heritage trail.

National Trust - South Australia History Trust of South Australia City of Adelaide History Council of South Australia Historic Beltana Heritage Friends of Parks and Nature

The Outback Communities Authority acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Nations of the lands and waters we live and work upon. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and the relationship that Aboriginal and...

05/06/2026

Former West's Coffee Palace, 104 - 120 Hindley Street ADELAIDE was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1984.

The place represents works by the significant South Australian architect Albert Selmar Conrad and is an excellent example of the Edwardian Free Style of architecture. Built in 1903, it is one of the best examples of the architecture of the Federation period (1890 to 1915) in South Australia.

On Kaurna Country

Image: West’s Coffee Palace c.1960. State Library of South Australia

03/06/2026

The Coober Pedy Opal Festival, running 13th-15th June, is celebrating its 37th year. The festival celebrates Coober Pedy’s heritage, community and local businesses.
The three-day festival has many events including a free guided walk organised by the Coober Pedy Historical Society.

Find out more here: https://www.opalfestival.com.au/

Two State Heritage Place in Coober Pedy are preserved dugouts. The first is a ‘Three-roomed dugout, including the ground within two metres of the dugout space’, confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 2001. The other is the Coober Pedy Catholic Church & Presbytery, confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1980. Reputed to be the first Underground church in Australia, the church opened in June, 1967.

On Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Country.

Image: DEW Files. Three-roomed dugout, c.2002 & Coober Pedy Catholic Church & Presbytery, n.d.

02/06/2026

On this day 2nd June 1973, the Festival Theatre was opened by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. The Festival Theatre is just one aspect of the Adelaide Festival Centre State Heritage Place, confirmed in the SA Heritage Register in 1997.

The multi-purpose Festival Theatre was built to seat nearly 2000 people and is Adelaide’s largest proscenium theatre. Overall, the Adelaide Festival Centre gives the Arts in South Australia a tangible form and signifies an era of development for South Australia’s cultural profile.

On Kaurna Country

Image: Artwork of the construction of the Adelaide Festival Theatre by Mervyn Smith, 1973. State Library of South Australia, PRG 1678/23/9/7A.

30/05/2026

On this day, 30th May 1863, the furnaces of the Brompton Gasworks, 1 - 21 Chief Street, Brompton, were fired for the first time.

The Brompton Gasworks was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 2018 and demonstrate South Australia's industrial development from 1863 to 1964. The Brompton Gasworks are the only surviving former 19th and early 20th century coal carbonisation gasworks industrial site in SA, highlighting an industry no longer practiced today. They also have a special association with what became the SA Gas Co, an organisation of historic importance to South Australia.

On Kaurna Country
Image: S.A. Gas Co's works, c. 1900. State Library of South Australia B-21543

27/05/2026

The Barr Smith Library – University of Adelaide, North Terrace was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1982.

The Library itself is the main library for the now Adelaide University and was constructed between 1932-33, using money gifted from the Barr Smith Family in memory of Robert Barr Smith. In his life, he had bequeathed several large sums of money to purchase books for the University of Adelaide. The Library building was designed in the Georgian Revival Style by the architecture firm Woods, Bagot, Laybourne-Smith and Irwin and is a direct evolution of the University’s Mitchell Building.

On Kaurna Country
Image: Barr Smith Library Exterior and Reading Room, 1932. State Library of South Australia, B-7831-1 & B-7831-2

25/05/2026

This week is the last week of South Australia’s History Festival and we are continuing to feature events. Today we highlight ‘Secrets of the Strathalbyn Clock Tower’, Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May, 10am-3pm. This guided tour highlights graffiti and associated stories from the last 130 years within the church’s tower.
St Andrew's Uniting (former Presbyterian) Church, Alfred Street, Strathalbyn was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1983. The Church was completed c.1869 and was designed in the Gothic Revival style. It is significant in the early settlement and character of Strathalbyn and the clock in the Church’s bell tower is a notable inclusion of the church.

Find out more here: https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/events/secrets-of-the-strathalbyn-clock-tower/

Image: St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn c.1900. State Library of South Australia, B-74699

23/05/2026

On this day, 23rd May 1883, the cast-iron and poly-chrome brick gates of the Adelaide Zoo opened for the first time.

The Main gates and walling - Adelaide Zoo, Frome Road, were confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1986 and were built in 1882-83. These main gates are illustrative of the development of the Adelaide Zoo. Several other State Heritage Places are integral parts of the Adelaide Zoo, including the Rotunda, Administration Building (Former Director’s Dwelling), the Elephant House and the Head Keepers Cottage.

On Kaurna Country
Image: DEW Files, 2003