HIGHLIGHTS
2023 - 2024
Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners
The History Trust of South Australia respects the primary role of First Nations people in the history of this place.
We acknowledge that this story commenced long before Governor Hindmarsh proclaimed the establishment of government in the province of South Australia on 28 December 1836.
First Nations people have knowledge, histories and cultures that extend millennia into the past. We acknowledge that First Nations lands and sovereignty were never ceded, and that building a shared understanding of history is critical to the future of this place.
Image: Welcome to country Smoking Ceremony at Bay to Birdwood, National Motor Museum.
Every day the History Trust is reaching our community through museums, through our teachers in schools, through history advocacy, through the building of the State History Collection, and through grants and advice to the history network across our sunburnt country.
But what about deeper community affirmation and youth engagement? The Trust’s encouragement of social cohesion and a healthy democracy really shines through. A few examples tell that story:
Our Priscilla Queen of the Desert ‘Destination Fabulous’ campaign has a strong ‘equality history’ theme - recalling how an Australian movie forever changed attitudes to LGBTQIA+ people across the world, to let fairness flourish.
- Working with the Local Government Association of SA, we have produced great local government learning resources that will help our students become aware, active, engaged citizens.
- We have co-designed an inclusive and stimulating renewal vision for the Migration Museum with input from 200 contributors and 53 SA cultural communities.
- We have made timeless history new by honouring Ngarrindjeri maritime stories at the Maritime Museum.
- We have invested creatively in technologies to extend our service capacities.
For a small outfit we have a big agenda, and congratulations must go to our CEO and all History Trust team members for their dedication.
Heartfelt thanks must also go to our History Guardians, donors, sponsors, cultural community advisors, volunteers, Regional Ambassadors, Migration Museum Ambassadors, Trustees, our Minister, the Hon Blair Boyer MP, and Department for Education colleagues.
Read on. Be moved. Join us. Together we are forging a truly exciting future for our enriching past!
Elizabeth Ho OAM
Chair of Trustees
They say ‘a year is a long time in showbiz and politics’, and yet time flies fast. For the History Trust of South Australia, financial year 2023-2024 was replete with many accomplishments, and this publication, in living colour, statistics and narrative - provides ample testimony to the growing momentum of organisational transformation and community impact.
This Highlights overview reveals our ongoing commitment to the realisation of our statutory purpose: ‘giving the past a future - NOW!’ and we do this in many ways.
It is eight years since commencing as CEO, and it remains a privilege to learn from colleagues, external experts and storytellers.
The practice of history is never dull. Making sense of the world we inherit, inhabit, and leave for future generations is a worthy vocation.
History is not simply a chronology of facts: always in dialogue with the present, history must be open to new ways of seeing, of understanding - and learning from the people and events that have gone before.
Our promise is simple:
“We collect and creatively tell stories of South Australia’s past to keep our history relevant for present and future generations, so together we can better understand and celebrate our place in the world.”
Our Ten-Year Goals align with a set of enabling promises that inform decisions taken, priorities chosen - and the amazing work that we do generates positive impact.
I extend gratitude to our enthusiastic team-members, our supporters and the people of South Australia whom we serve with pride, passion and dignity.
Greg Mackie OAM
Chief Executive Officer
On 12 April 2024 the History Trust announced its most ambitious fundraising campaign 'Save the Queen' to deliver Priscilla: Destination Fabulous
Guests and media heard from Minister for Education Skills and Training Hon Blair Boyer MP and special guest, Rebel Penfold-Russell, Executive Producer of the 1994 hit movie, The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.
The Trust worked with The Guardian newspaper on a feature article “The 30-year hunt to find the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus: ‘my jaw was on the ground’”, catapulting the Save the Queen campaign into the international media. The feature story received over 180,000 views in the first ten hours and over 500,000 views the following week. There were over 500 media mentions globally, achieving a global audience reach of more than 150 million.
Donations continue to steadily increase through online, radio and podcast streaming promotion. By June 30, 2024, a total of $ 181,767 had been raised. The 1974 Hino Freighter bus the world knows as ‘Priscilla’ from the 1994 original movie The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, was thought to be lost forever. Following many years of research, a call from Michael Mahon in 2018 and negotiation, the Trust was able to acquire it, and in September 2023, History Trust Curators retrieved Priscilla from a property in Ewinga, New South Wales, transporting it to a coach and bus works in Queensland.
Once restored, the Priscilla bus will form the centrepiece of an immersive and interactive exhibition at the History Trust’s National Motor Museum of Australia at Birdwood SA. In addition to celebrating the iconic bus, the exhibition will signify the importance of ‘driving change’ in the national conversation around the acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people.
Video: Priscilla Campaign Launch Reel.
In her first full year in the role, across 2023-2024 South Australia’s History Advocate, Dr Kiera Lindsey, delivered public talks and media commentary, undertaking outreach with communities and practitioners, making the case for history and its continued relevance to society. Highlights included the International Women’s Day keynote address for Rotary Adelaide and a celebration for the centenary of the iconic Stobie pole.
This public history research and engagement project gathered data about history-making activities across the state and its findings are now informing thinking about history network sustainability. SASSi attracted 260 respondents who described 398 history projects. It affirms that history is a powerful practice for meaning-making and belonging for most respondents who typically devoted more than two days per week to history research activities.
Recent reports indicate the discipline of history is experiencing decline in our universities and schools. SASSi results suggest that history remains a vibrant and dynamic practice for many South Australians who care deeply about the past.
Video: SASSi Promo Reel with Dr Kiera Lindsey, SA’s History Advocate.
Migration Museum Foundation Renewal
The Migration Museum Foundation is right behind the History Trust in its vision to renew the Migration Museum, the first of its type in the world when it opened in 1986.
Foundation Chair Elizabeth Ho OAM and co-design expert Angela Hazebroek OAM led an extensive History Trust consultation project between August 2023 and March 2024 to explore community opinion about the Migration Museum and its future, culminating in the
Renewing the Migration Museum - The Community Speaks report. The report was endorsed by the History Trust’s Board of Trustees in April 2024.
This comprehensive co-design project was assisted by a ten-person reference group that included leaders from the Migrant Communities Council of SA, the Australian Migrant Resource Centre, the SA Multicultural Commission, and various key cultural advocacy bodies such as the African Communities Council.
Foundation Committee members joined with 200 individuals, representing 53 cultural or language groups, to generously contribute their views. Architectural firm Baukultur reflected the consensus in a concept plan offering design solutions.
Through this process, the History Trust and the Foundation learnt that nearly 40 years after its opening, the Migration Museum’s role in creating social cohesion, educating visitors, and explaining how migration has advanced South Australia is deeply valued, and that it is time to renew the site, ensuring its relevance for new migrant groups and student audiences.
The Migration Museum Foundation will be supporting this renewal vision through a targeted campaign in 2025.
Image: Community participant offers renewal views: open consultation event, Migration Museum 7 February 2024
Research
Every year the History Trust undertakes and supports research into social history, museology, audience development, public engagement and collections. In 2023-2024, significant outcomes were delivered through partnerships with universities and Wakefield Press.
Two university collaborations were undertaken: LGBTQ Migrations: Life Story Narratives in South Australian Galleries, Libraries Archives and Museums (GLAM) Sector, and Comedy Country and Australian Performance Comedy as an Agent of Change.
In May 2024, in conjunction with our partners on the completed Reconciling with the Frontier: Accounting for Colonial Conflict ARC research project, the History Trust launched an interactive online Story Map of the South Australian frontier
and its legacies.
This website draws together accounts of South Australia’s history of conflict and contact to open dialogue and looks more deeply at how these histories were recorded. It enables both South Australians and global audiences alike to access multiple accounts of nineteenth-century encounters between Aboriginal peoples and colonial settlers over time.
“It is designed not only to expand our shared knowledge about the colonial past, but also to think critically about how we access and understand historical knowledge.”
Image: Reconciling with the Frontier: Accounting for Colonial Conflict ARC research project website. The South Australian Frontier and its Legacies.
The Wakefield Companion to South Australian History
The History Trust hosted the launch of the 2nd Edition of the Wakefield Companion to South Australian History on 31 May 2024. Commissioned in 2021 through a special History Trust ‘Investing in History’ grant, the new edition of the highly regarded Wakefield Companion ensures that South Australia’s stories continue to be gathered, preserved and shared.
The project employed two historians and an early career researcher. Gratitude to Emeritus Professor Wilfred Prest for generously reprising his honorary role as Managing Editor.
In addition to the print edition and e-book, every Wakefield Companion entry will be made digitally accessible at no charge to South Australian School students and interested others, through the History Trust’s SA History Hub website.
In 2023-2024, the History Trust partnered with the University of Adelaide’s School of Humanities to create a Fellowship in Mobilities, to support research and deepen connections between universities, cultural institutions and collections.
Mobilities Fellow, Dr Kai Easton produced a body of research, a public seminar, a journal article and online articles, and a temporary exhibition ‘Scenes from the South’ at the South Australian Maritime Museum showcasing a unique collection of images, maps, archives and artworks representing a visual journey along the migratory routes and writing lives of two of the most distinguished novelists of our time: Nobel Laureates J.M. Coetzee and Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Head of Collections, Mandy Paul, and Alice Beale, Senior Collections Manager, Humanities and World Cultures at the South Australian Museum, developed and presented a five-day intensive Collections Management course in June 2024 as part of the University of Adelaide’s postgraduate course in Museum Studies. The course also drew on the expertise of other members of the History Trust collections and curatorial teams.
Education
The History Trust’s Education team builds meaningful experiences for teachers and students through online platforms and face-to-face programs, workshops and excursions.
In March 2024, the History Trust launched an extensive suite of learning materials about local
government. Developed with support from the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA), resources include teaching and learning guides and two engaging video series.
To support the Trust’s commitment to public education, copies of the LGA teaching and learning guides and posters were sent to all 469 public primary schools across South Australia.
Appreciating the language, culture and history of South Australia’s First Nations peoples is crucial for South Australian students and teachers. In 2024, an important step in the History Trust’s reconciliation journey has been the funding and recruitment of a new role, Education Coordinator, First Nations’ History. This position will in time enable the History Trust to co-develop culturally appropriate resources that tell the stories and histories of South Australia’s First Nations peoples.
“Congratulations, this is absolutely brilliant. I hope you are proud of this work (you should be)! I look forward to sharing the final production and the positive review of local government and all it offers.”
Image: Local Government Association - Education material.
Image: Game testing new education resources with grade 5 students at Glen Osmond Primary School.
The History Trust’s Learning Advisory Panel, in its fourth year in 2023-2024, includes teachers from public, Catholic and independent schools who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that our education offerings meet the needs and expectations of teachers and students.
The quality of the History Trust’s learning programs and resources is also supported through academic research. In partnership with the University of South Australia, PhD candidate Sophia Booij worked with the History Trust and established networks to inform her thesis, An introductory guide to narrative based game design for Australian Collections Educator’s leading to an introductory guide for the development of collections-based learning games in museums, and a game-based learning resource for the History Trust.
The History Trust is dedicated to building the confidence of educators to teach South Australia’s histories and stories aligned to the Australian Curriculum. In collaboration
with Parliament House and other leading civics and citizenship organisations, the History Trust delivered Day of Democracy, a full-day, free professional learning workshop on the three levels of government in South Australia.
The Education team also delivered professional learning at the History Teachers Association of South Australia’s State Conference, the South Australian Department for Education’s Step Outside the Classroom professional development series, Humanities and Social Sciences
(HaSS) SA’s annual conference, and online throughout the year.
Co-design is paramount for the development of the History Trust’s teaching and learning resources, programs and excursions. To this end, the Trust established a Partner School program to formalise the development of contemporary resources and experiences that both listen to student voice and respect the professionalism and skills of teachers. In late 2023, this program was launched with Seaton High School and Ridgehaven Primary School.
“Good tools for teachers! I always enjoy going to schools or having them come to council to learn about local government and how it works for communities.”
The State History Collection
The History Trust is the custodian of the State History Collection, with over 37,000 objects relevant to South Australia’s past.
In 2023-2024, the collection grew by over 900 items. Donations from generous individuals, families, private businesses, and institutions continue to be the major sources of objects. Highlighted here are some of the treasures acquired.
Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Chevrolet ‘Woody’
Station Wagon & Polar Sled
The eight-passenger ‘Woody’ with V8 engine and trimmed in ‘wood-ash brown’ paneling, was bought new in the USA in 1939 by Sir Hubert Wilkins, South Australian-born polar explorer, and used by him until his death in 1958. The wood and leather dogsled was used by Sir Hubert to transport his equipment and supplies as official photographer on Viljalmur Stefansson’s 1913- 1916 Canadian Arctic Expedition. Both items were purchased from the Wilkins estate in 1996 by Australian philanthropist, businessman and adventurer, Dick Smith AC, and generously donated to the History Trust in 2024 through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.
HT 2024.0123, HT 2024.024
Badge and silver font
The enamelled badge was awarded to Mrs P K Anastasas OAM, in recognition of her extensive service to the Greek Orthodox community. In 1934 she co-founded the Society for Greek Women of South Australia, which collected money to build Adelaide’s first Orthodox church. This font was used at the Church of Archangels to hold holy water for the monthly blessing and was gifted to the church in 1959
by the Lucas family. Both items donated by Cr Arthur Mangos JP, church member and grandson of Mrs Anastasas.
HT 2024.0086, HT 2024.0087
Troubridge Captain’s uniform
David Kingsnorth Gibson captained two South Australian ferries in the 1960s - 1980s, working aboard the MV Troubridge from its launch in 1961, then becoming its captain in 1972. He was the first captain of the Island Seaway in 1987, after the Troubridge was replaced. Donated by Susan Gibson, Captain Gibson’s daughter.
HT 2023. 0878
Lady Holden’s 1948 Holden 48-125
This very early example of the Holden 48-215, the first model of car released in Australia by General Motors Holden, rolled off the production line at Woodville, South Australia, in January 1948. It was purchased by Lady Prudence Holden, wife of Woodville’s director of manufacturing Sir James Holden. Purchased with funds provided by the South Australian Government.
HT 2023.0837
The History Trust, assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers, facilitates online access to the State History Collection. Digitisation is prioritised according to historical significance, public interest, and upcoming exhibitions, events, and projects.
New additions have been made to existing stories on the online collections portal, including Refugee Stories to support Migration Museum programs, and Queer Stories to support the Priscilla fundraising campaign.
RAAF embroidered patch
Taken into outerspace by South Australian Astronaut Andrew (Andy) Thomas on his first shuttle mission in 1996. the wings belonged to his father Adrian Thomas, who served as a pilot during the Second World War. Donated by Dr Andrew Thomas AO.
HT 2024.0154
Army nurse’s bag
A calico medical bag used during the First World War by Englishwoman Amy Louise Payne, who nursed her future husband, South Australian gunner Morris Basey, at a British hospital after he was wounded in France in 1917. Amy brought the bag with her when she migrated to South Australia after the war. Donated by Amy and Morris’s grandson Ian Basey.
HT 2023.0827 a-m
Message stick
A pirrku mularta (message stick), made by artist James Tylor using karra, river red gum, for the yarning circle launch event of the South Australian Public Sector’s inaugural Anti- Racism Action Plan and Strategy in 2023. Donated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment.
HT 2023.1158
‘Rouge’ costume
This lavish costume was made and worn by renowned drag queen Rouge (Roger Shepard). A South Australian LGBTIQ pioneer, Shepard made his first stage appearance in 1959 and adopted the stage name Rouge shortly afterwards. Rouge mentored many queer South Australians and had a glittering career spanning more than five decades. Donated by Roger Shepard.
HT 2024.0103 a-b
South Australian History Network
The Museums and Collections (MaC) program includes 105 member groups or museums, and the History Trust provides leadership development and capability building programs to this statewide network.
A History Trust and Tourism Industry Council of SA (TiCSA) partnership provides community museums with cost-effective access to tourism industry knowledge and resources to build deeper, broader knowledge, capabilities and awareness across the state. Thirteen MaC members signed up for the TiCSA associate membership package.
Within the MaC program, a number of South Australian museums work towards accreditation within the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries (NSAMG). South Australia currently has eight accredited museums. They are: Embroiderers’ Guild of SA Museum; Melrose Heritage Museum; National Railway Museum; South Australian Aviation Museum; Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum; The Sheep’s Back Museum, Naracoorte; Unley Museum; and Urrbrae House Historic Precinct.
Digitisation of collections and social media use continue to be significant areas of focus and opportunity, and the History Trust worked with National Trust of SA Councillor and Kingston regional branch member, Alison Stillwell OAM, to deliver an online workshop on creating engaging online content.
Beyond grants and accreditation programs, the History Trust continued to work closely with all MaC members in support of South Australia’s history and collections, including via face-to-face and online workshops designed to meet the needs of the network and showcase the exemplary work happening across South Australia’s history communities.
Image supplied by Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum.
Museums and Collections & South Australian History Fund Programs
In 2023-2024, the History Trust administered two annual grant programs totalling $396,607 to support museums, history organisations and individual researchers to further build the evidence of our state’s rich and fascinating past.
The South Australian History Fund grant program enables more stories and research to be gathered, preserved, and shared.
The Museums and Collections (MaC) grant program supports the development, preservation and sharing of community-held historical collections, promoting best practice and raising the profile, impact, and reach of South Australian and local community history organisations.
Grants allocated captured a diversity of topics including: research and publication about John Martin’s department store; Woomera Immigration Centre; the ecological history of the Murray River; sporting histories including SANFL, Lacrosse SA and Mount Compass Football Club; and digitisation of the Hans Heysen archive.
Several previous grant-funded projects were completed in 2023-2024, including creation of five short videos documenting the history of Marion. Each video was linked to existing brass statues in the Marion Council area, together creating a multi-layered interpretive experience.
Port Adelaide Historical Society partnered with Yesterday’s Stories App and local schools to create five videos about important Port Adelaide places. Students learnt and applied new skills through workshops and film making.
The Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd enlisted the assistance of a professional curator to train volunteers in collection and digitisation management, and to develop collection and digitisation policies and procedures.
Image: Mount Compass Football Club was provided $5000 to fund publication of ‘Battlers to Bulldogs: The Mount Compass Football Club’.
Yuki (Bark Canoe): Sharing Ngarrindjeri Culture
The History Trust collaborated with Ngarrindjeri Elder, Uncle Major (Moogy) Sumner AM, digital creator Arthur Ah Chee (Wangkangurru man), cinematographer Josh Trevorrow (Ngarrindjeri man), and motion capture specialists, Cameron Mackness and Jason Bevan from The Void at Flinders University to create a yuki (bark canoe) and develop a digital experience showcasing the yuki and its importance to Ngarrindjeri culture.
In July 2023, over 100 people, including students from Ngutu College and Meningie Area School, came together at Langhorne Creek on Ngarrindjeri Country, to learn from Uncle Moogy and his assistants as they attempted to remove the bark from a river red gum tree.
A second attempt at Kuitpo Forest, on Kaurna Country, produced a single large piece of bark which was used to make a yuki for display at the South Australian Maritime Museum.
In April 2024, Uncle Moogy launched a yuki at the Dolphin Sanctuary, Garden Island, demonstrating how the yuki was paddled.
The project was supported by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet through Arts South Australia.
Video: Uncle Moogy paddling in the yuki at the Dolphin Sanctuary, Garden Island, Kaurna Country, April 2024.
Videographer: Ethan White, History Trust of SA
Impact Program
Each year the History Trust delivers powerful truth-telling workshops to over 1000 participants from government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and businesses through the Impact Program. Developed in consultation with Aboriginal communities and elders, the Impact Program was designed to assist South Australians to better understand the ongoing consequences of colonisation for First Nations communities, families, and individuals. Delivered as a component of First Nations-led cultural capability programs, Impact Program participants are encouraged to reflect upon different perspectives and ways of learning, to engage with difficult ideas and material, and to come away reflecting on our shared past and future. This program is often the first-time people have encountered this confronting information:
“Very insightful, I now have a different perspective on past events”
2023-2024 highlights included: delivery to the entire Adelaide Football Club Players Group; working with Tjindu Foundation’s young Aboriginal members; participating in the Department for Child Protection’s Cultural Footprint review, and continuing to work in partnership with the RAA.
“It was confronting but presented well. Important information for all Australians to know.”
Image: RAA employees, Board members, Executive members and a couple of Tjindu Foundation staff.
Image Credit: RAA
Connecting with Audiences and Communities
The History Trust works with communities to bring the stories of South Australia alive, both locally and globally. Our work is achieved through partnerships and capacity building, public programs, and community engagement initiatives.
In 2023-2024, the History Trust partnered with: the University of South Australia (UniSA); Wakefield Press; Reconciliation SA; the Gladys Elphick Awards Committee; the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TICSA); Channel 44 (Ch44); and Freemasons South Australia/Northen Territory. Each partnership has strengthened the reach and impact of History Trust offerings in our community.
Wilkins Project
The Wilkins Project is a History Trust collaboration with the South Australian Museum (SAM), State Library of South Australia, and other valued stakeholders, and works to preserve and promote the legacy of worldacclaimed South Australian-born polar explorer and adventurer Sir Hubert Wilkins (1888-1958). Achievements in 2023-2024 included: securing the significant donation of the Wilkins’ ‘Woody’ Chevrolet station wagon and Polar Sled to the History Trust of South Australia; renewed relationships and collaborations with Wilkins researchers and enthusiasts, and a sold-out bus tour to Wilkins’ mid-north birthplace and family home during South Australia’s History Festival. Polar researcher and SAM Senior Collections Manager, Mark Pharaoh and Wilkins Memorial Cottage Committee members provided a full day of experiences and hospitality.
History Trust public programs connected audiences with the stories of South Australia’s past - both in person and online.
The History Trust continued to tour exhibitions both large and small to regional South Australia and nationally - in the case of Bush Mechanics the exhibition, ensuring greater equity of access to our rich past and collections. In partnership with Pintubi Anmatjere Warlpiri (PAW) Media, Bush Mechanics the exhibition toured Australia and brought the resourcefulness of Aboriginal life and culture to life through humour and ingenuity.
The Talking History series was back for another year in partnership with UniSA, showcasing South Australian stories and researchers spanning a range from the downright uncanny, to Adelaide’s pioneering policewoman Kate Cocks, through to South Australia’s Irish settlements. Chaired by History Advocate Dr Kiera Lindsey, Talking History remains a popular and accessible public history series.
Image: Wilkins Tour.
Engaging audiences online
The History Trust reaches local and global audiences with its programs, collections and expertise. Whether in person or online, the Trust connects people with history through written and visual storytelling.
In 2023-2024, several significant South Australian anniversaries and milestones were marked with online campaigns, experimenting with alternative ways to reach audiences.
Donut Media
In September 2023, the National Motor Museum gained widespread attention from United States-based YouTube channel ‘Donut Media’, whose team visited the Museum and profiled several vehicles, including the Holden Heritage collection’s Hurricane (1969). The resulting YouTube video achieved over 1.2 million views, increasing reach to the museum’s online platforms and collections.
Image: Donut Media presenters Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe.
ANZAC Day
On Anzac Day the Trust remembered troops who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations through an online exhibition about Major Peter Badcoe, VC. Coupled with accompanying social media posts, his story reached thousands of viewers across Facebook and Instagram.
Image: Badcoe (far right) with Governor General Lord Casey (centre) on a visit to Greenhills Holsworthy range c. 1966
Beatlemania!
In June 2024, the Trust worked with the City of Adelaide and the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of legendary British rock ‘n’ roll band The Beatles in Adelaide – when Beatlemania swept Australia into a complete frenzy. The resulting social media campaign achieved almost 40,000 views on Instagram and Facebook.
Image: Shirt with Beatles embroidery, HT 1987.1864, State History Collection. Image Credit: Stephen Dean.
Public Orations in 2023-2024
Gladys Elphick Oration
The Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, delivered the second Gladys Elphick Oration on 4 July 2023. In a year of history-making, the Minister spoke of the state’s leadership in the establishment of a South Australian legislated First Nations Voice to Parliament, and how this shaped the national conversation leading up to the federal referendum.
Jennifer Cashmore Oration
On 6 September 2023, South Australia’s Chief Psychiatrist, Dr. John Brayley, gave the second Jennifer Cashmore Oration. It was titled: “From Asylums to Community Care and Beyond - Human Rights and Mental Health: Lessons from History.”
Dr Brayley’s presentation explored new developments in our changing mental health landscape, informed by both science and social movements, the services delivered today, and what is hoped to be provided for the future.
This Oration was delivered in partnership with the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and SA Health.
Dame Roma Mitchell Oration
On 2 November 2023, the second Dame Roma Mitchell Oration, under the stewardship of the History Trust, was presented by the Hon. Dr Susan Close MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water.
Dr Close explored how together, the South Australian community could develop a more sustainable future, seeking to answer the many pressing climate change questions that are not aired in the mainstream.
This Oration was delivered in partnership with the University of Adelaide Law School and the Law Society of South Australia.
South Australia’s History Festival
The theme for the 2024 South Australia’s History Festival was POWER.
In mid-2023-2024, the History Festival launched a project capturing 100 portraits of South Australians, each offering a unique perspective on power. The History Festival was a huge success, with 350 event organisers bringing history to life through 542 events across the state throughout May. Partnering with SA Power Networks, the “Power Portraits” project featured a free outdoor exhibition on selected Stobie poles, celebrating the centenary of the iconic structure.
As part of the 2024 History Festival, the History Trust produced many events. Highlights included: a soldout Drinking in History at the Wheatsheaf Hotel; the launch of Dunstan era Attorney-General and later Senator, the Hon. Peter Duncan’s memoir in partnership with Wakefield Press; Emeritus Prof Alan Reid AM’s annual democracy lecture in partnership with Uni SA’s Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI); and the sold-out ‘Malevolence or Benevolence? Freemasons, Power and South Australia’ panel discussion in partnership with the Freemasons SA/NT and Ayers House Function Centre.
Images: South Australia’s History Festival 2024 poster displayed on North Terrace.
Stobie Pole on Flinders Street with a Power Portrait affixed.
Image Credit: Super Studio.
Bay to Birdwood
The 2023 Bay to Birdwood historical motoring event featured over 1,500 vehicles parading from West Beach to Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills, attracting participants from across Australia and 90,000 spectators along the 67-kilometre route.
Thousands attended the Finish Festival at the National Motor Museum, enjoying Fashions on the Field and viewing the vehicles. The event’s awards — Concours d’Elegance, Preservation, and Historic EV Conversion — are a highlight, with owners investing time and effort in preparation. Technical judging took place the day before the Bay to Birdwood. After completing the parade, winners received their trophies event from Patron Her Excellency the Hon Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia.
Video: Bay to Birdwood 2024 Promo Reel
Videographer: Moyes Media
Centre of Democracy
The Voice
blogs and collecting
In the lead-up to the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, the History Trust’s Centre of Democracy published a series of blogs reflecting the historical and legislative context that led to this political moment. Over a four-week campaign, through the Centre of Democracy, the History Trust explored the meaning of constitutional change, past legislation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the proposed role of the Voice, a discussion of the campaigns and how to find more information.
The History Trust collected ephemera and objects created and used by both sides of the campaign. These objects and their stories now form part of the State History Collection and will enable the significant political moment and the outcome to be explored into the future.
Image: Placard made by a student for the Adelaide School Strike 4 Climate, on loan from Neville Cichon.
Active Citizenship
In 2023, the Centre of Democracy worked with photographer and artist Neville Cichon to develop a temporary display featuring his photographs from the global youth-led movement schools strike for climate protest held in Adelaide in 2021.
The Power of Protest: Young People’s Climate Actiontemporary display featured a range of brightly painted placards made by students who participated in the strike alongside a series of Neville’s photographs printed in black and white. During 2023-2024, visitors to the gallery read in the students’ own words the meaning behind their placard and why they attended the protest. Through this display, students explored the idea that active citizenship via protest is one way that young people can be involved in their community and have a political impact before they reach voting age.
A Q&A session with one of the leaders of the Schools Strike 4 Climate Adelaide group gave the audience an opportunity to hear the thoughts of a young climate activists. Anjali Beames shared her insights about what was involved in organising the strikes and why she was inspired to take public action. Drop-in badgemaking workshops were also held in the January school holidays.
Image: Visitors who participated in badge-making workshop in January 2024.
Migration Museum
The Migration Museum, located on the historic Destitute Asylum site off Kintore Avenue in Adelaide’s cultural heritage precinct, serves as a hub for exploring South Australia’s cultural diversity, sharing stories of migration that shape Australia’s identity and promoting respect for all cultures.
In 2023-2024, the museum hosted several events, including the African Communities Council’s SALA Diversity in Arts exhibition and the Turkish Cultural Festival in March, which drew over 560 attendees. During International Refugee Week in June 2024, the museum presented “Finding Freedom: Family.”
Additional highlights included the SAHMRI Bright Walk in July 2023, the solo exhibition “Haza” in August, and the “2023 Australian of the Year” exhibition from September to November.
In November, the Migration Museum participated in the Multicultural Festival and hosted school holiday workshops. The museum also became a hub for over 500 performances during the Adelaide Fringe, attracting 12,500 attendees. Identified in August 2023, critical structural and compliance works led to a $6.3 million budget allocation in June 2024 for essential repairs and accessibility improvements.
Images:
Haza, Kate Kurucz, SALA exhibition 2023.
Hanging By a Thread - Mosaic for Afghan Women opening, September 2023.
South Australian Maritime Museum
The SA Maritime Museum in Port Adelaide preserves South Australia’s maritime heritage at the historic Bond Store (1854) and waterfront.
Exhibitions focus on the state’s oceans, coastlines, and rivers. Nearby, at McLaren Wharf, History Trust attractions include the Port Adelaide Lighthouse (1869), the steam tug Yelta (1948), and heritage tours on the historic police launch Archie Badenoch (1945). Along with the Torrens Island Quarantine Station tours, these are popular educational experiences.
In November 2023, the museum hosted the Salty Sessions ‘Shanty’ event with the Adelaide Male Voice Choir. February 2024 saw over 400 visitors attend the ‘New Found Sound’ event at the Lighthouse. In March, the museum also celebrated explorer Matthew Flinders’ 250th anniversary with themed activities and tours.
The museum was a 2024 Adelaide Fringe venue, offering live shows and maritime-themed school holiday activities. Special evening Lighthouse tours were held during South Australia’s History Festival.
A new interactive map in the First Voyages exhibition highlighted the expeditions of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, while “Pamela and the Duchess: Life on the Last Windjammers” exhibition ran from August 2023 to May 2024. The “Scenes from the South” exhibition, launched during the History Festival, showcased migratory routes and writings of Nobel Laureates J.M. Coetzee and Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Image:
MV Archie Badenoch.
National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills explores social history through Australian motoring and is a popular destination year-round.
The National Motor Museum hosted 25 historic vehicle clubs, showcasing 1,216 special vehicles and their owners. Events included Datsun Day in October 2023 (132 vehicles), Mini’s at the Mill in November (141 vehicles), and the Prima Rally Long Lunch with 80 guests and 36 rally cars. In March 2024, the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club National Rally featured 100 motorcycles, while June’s HD HR Holden Nationals saw over 75 vehicles.
The National Motor Museum also participated in the Adelaide Auto Expo and the VAILO Adelaide 500 in November 2023, where several vehicles were part of the Kindig Custom Car Show. As official Education Partner of VAILO Adelaide 500, the History Trust, sponsored school attendances and presented education programs for students.
In March 2024, the museum joined the All-British Day at Echunga and the Adelaide Motorsports Festival, exhibiting four vehicles and participating in a parade with guest driver Craig Lowndes, drawing over 305,000 visitors. In May 2024, 4,800 visitors attended the museum’s ‘Farm Day’ event during South Australia’s History Festival, featuring farming displays, animals, and demonstrations of old trades and machinery.
Images:
Adelaide Chrysler Festival vehicles on display at National Motor Museum 22 March 2024.
Education Launch Bush Mechanics at WA Museum.
The History Trust of South Australia
As a Statutory Authority, the History Trust of South Australia reports annually to Parliament and its Board is accountable through the Minister for Education, Training and Skills.
Trustees
Ms Elizabeth Ho OAM – Presiding Chair
Ms June Roache (until 6 May 2024)
Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk
Dr Vesna Drapac
Mr Michael Neale
Dr Jared Thomas
Professor Alan Reid AM
Carolyn Grantskalns
David O’Loughlin (From 23 May 2024)
The History Trust Learning Advisory Panel
Kelly Charlton
Britta Corones
Elspeth Grant
Alex Hackett
Phoebe Virgo
Henry Wallis
Tyson Wood
Martin Woodcock
Migration Museum
Foundation Committee
Ms Elizabeth Ho OAM – Chair
Ms Jessamy Benger
Mr Steven Smith
Ms Genevieve Theseira-Haese
Mr Paul Rees – Ex-officio
Bay to Birdwood Advisory Committee
Mr Michael Neale – Chair
Mike Beresford
Tracey Greaves
John Hancock
Hamish McDonald
Daryl Meek
Lucinda Osborne
Tony Simmons
Dane Wilden – Ex-officio
Bay to Birdwood Patron
Her Excellency the Hon Frances Adamson AC and Mr Rod Bunten
Wilkins Project Patron
Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris SC OAM
Wilkins Project Committee
Greg Mackie OAM – Chair
David Brooks
Andrew Dawe
Angela Gordon
Dr Kristy Kokegei
Peter Maddern
Amanda Osborne (2023)
Mark Pharaoh
David Brooks
Kaye Ridge
Paul Ryan
Our Sponsors and Partners
History Trust of SA
Gladys Elphick Awards Committee
Local Government Association of South Australia
Reconciliation South Australia
South Australian Motorsports Board
Tourism Industry Council of South Australia
University of South Australia
National Motor Museum and Bay to Birdwood
South Australian Tourism
Commission
Shannons
Burnside Village
Stuckey Tyres
Channel 44
E-Valence
Trees for Life – Charity
Partner
South Australian Maritime Museum
Marina Adelaide
City of Port Adelaide Enfield
History Festival
Freemasons South Australia & Northern Territory
City of Adelaide
SA Power Networks
Drakes Supermarkets
Yalumba
The Piccadilly
Kalyra
Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium
Mile End Office Furniture
Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia
Wakefield Press
Channel 44
Strategic Leadership Group (SLG)
Mr Greg Mackie OAM | Chief Executive Officer
Dr Kristy Kokegei | Head of Audience and Experience
Ms Mandy Paul | Head of Collections
Mr Paul Rees | Head of Museums, Marketing and Major Events
Dr Kiera Lindsey | SA’s History Advocate
Ms Donna Tims | Manager, Business Unit
Ms Amber Berkelaar |Manager, Human Resources
Volunteers
Volunteers are invaluable to our mission, helping to preserve, document, and interpret the evidence of South Australia’s history.
The History Trust acknowledges the generous support and contribution of our volunteers. All have a strong interest in, and enthusiasm for history, and assist across the organisation.
Thank you.
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