State Records of South Australia

State Records of South Australia Capturing the heritage of South Australians, we're the official custodian for archival records created by State and Local Government within the state.

State Records of South Australia is the government archives of South Australia and holds a large part of our state's official documentary heritage. We hold records covering almost every facet of state and local government administration within South Australia. As a result, our records provide valuable insight and knowledge about the lives of South Australians. The State Records collection holds ma

ny maps, plans, registers, films and photographs, in addition to thousands of documents dating from the earliest days of European settlement to recent times. We would like to share with your our collection and events through Facebook, and encourage your comments and participation.

Can you help us identify when and what event some images are of from in our archives? Watch our behind-the-scenes video ...
11/06/2026

Can you help us identify when and what event some images are of from in our archives?

Watch our behind-the-scenes video to find out what we know about them, and leave your ideas in the comments below

International Council on Archives - ICA State Library of South Australia National Archives of Australia

Happy King’s Birthday public holiday!In April 1981, the then Prince Charles of Wales toured Australia, which included a ...
07/06/2026

Happy King’s Birthday public holiday!

In April 1981, the then Prince Charles of Wales toured Australia, which included a visit to South Australia.

Flying in from Tasmania, he arrived at Mount Gambier on Thursday, April 23, 1981 and left the state via Adelaide Saturday, April 25.

Records in our archives show among his engagements on his first day were opening the Mount Gambier Civic Centre and attending a Royal charity performance at the Adelaide Festival Theatre.

On the Friday, he had a 32 Horse Mounted Police Es**rt from the Adelaide Town Hall to State Government Insurance Commission (SGIC) building on Victoria Square, which he declared open.

Later he travelled south, where he attended a buffet lunch at Seaview Winery and declared the Aldinga Primary School open. He dashed back to attend an Art Gallery of South Australia centenary reception, even getting a tour of its special exhibition “A Centenary of Great Gifts”.

On his last day, he attended an Anzac Day Dawn Service at the War Memorial on North Terrace, before flying out.

These images, which are open access, come from our archive at Cavan Road, Gepps Cross.

See more at our Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-sa/albums/72177720333903208

Image references: SRSA/GRS11926/1/1

SA Government King Charles III The Royal Family City of Mount Gambier City of Onkaparinga McLaren Vale Wine Region Aldinga Beach Primary School

Memories of watching "Storm Boy" at school and developing state pride through film have been relived with some of South ...
06/06/2026

Memories of watching "Storm Boy" at school and developing state pride through film have been relived with some of South Australia’s most passionate film buffs.

State Records of South Australia’s Team Leader Archive Operations, Nick Miller, and retired Flinders University Associate Professor, Mike Walsh, dusted off the reels and images made by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) at a Q&A as part of South Australia's History Festival.

Nick said the event particularly focused on SAFC’s early years, when a concentrated effort in the 1970s pushed arts in South Australia as an economic driver for the state, spearheaded by then Premier Don Dunstan.

“People enjoyed reflecting on that time,” he said.

SAFC was established in 1972 as a production company for boosting the local film and television industry, plus bringing productions from outside to be made in the State.

Among SAFC’s successful films were, “Sunday Too Far Away” (1975), starring Jack Thompson, plus “Storm Boy” (1976), starring David Gulpilil, and the TV miniseries “The Shiralee” (1988), starring Noni Hazlehurst and Bryan Brown.

One of its later productions, the Japanese sci-fi TV series “Ultraman: Towards the Future (1990)”, was partially filmed in State Records’ storage site at Gepps Cross.

Among the items discussed at the Q&A – held on May 22, 2026 - were the educational materials that were distributed to schools around the State when a film was released, including the “Guide to Storm Boy”.

“They saw the film and learned about it at school,” Nick said.

“(Revisiting those archive materials) brought a sense of nostalgia and fond memories of that time.”

State Records has recently digitised audiovisual material from the SAFC collection.

For more information about the records State Records of South Australia holds of
SAFC, visit catalogue.archives.sa.gov.au/agency?id=GA330

Flinders University Adelaide Film Festival South Australian Film Corporation City of Adelaide

04/06/2026

Cute stories about adorable animals are kept by our state record keepers such as State Records of South Australia, State Library of South Australia and National Archives of Australia.

These stories were shared by those institutions at Animalia on May 12, 2026, at the State Library of South Australia as part of South Australia's History Festival.

Some of the cutest, dangerous, hardworking and famous animals Australia has ever seen are immortalised in records held b...
04/06/2026

Some of the cutest, dangerous, hardworking and famous animals Australia has ever seen are immortalised in records held by our public cultural institutions.

State Records of Australia, State Library of South Australia and National Archives of Australia proudly presented Animalia, a battle of knowledge and persuasion about our furriest, featheriest and fabulous creatures, as part of South Australia's History Festival .

Among the animals presented by State Records of South Australia was the Hairy Nosed Wombat.

Records in the collection reveal the state was looking to update its Coat of Arms in the 1980s, with a draft design pitched to the Tonkin government including a koala and a wombat styled like a lion standing on its back legs.

But the incumbent Bannon government chose the final design – sans wombat – that was introduced in 1984.

David Brooks from the State Library of South Australia warmed hearts with a story of Bob the Railway Dog, a scruffy German Collie born in the 1880s in Macclesfield.

Aged nine months, he followed railway workers to the rail line and travelled endlessly on the entire railway system, hitchhiking on trains, trams and steamers across South Australia, even all the way to Sydney and Brisbane.

David said Bob had a compelling combination of ‘slight chaos, open-hearted friendliness, and an overwhelming “please pat me” energy’, which endeared him to many.

Kelly Drake of National Archives of Australia unfolded the beautiful relationship between Samorn the elephant at Adelaide Zoo and her caretaker, Hero NUUS.

Hero, a Dutch farmer who, aged 25, migrated to Australia under the Netherlands Australian Migration Agreement in 1959, and became an animal keeper at Adelaide Zoo in 1965.

Samorn arrived in Adelaide in 1956 as a gift from the King of Thailand, whose Thai name translates as “beautiful lady”. Samorn was bright, curious and hardworking, and was adored by the public for 35 years, giving cart rides and loving to scoop up peanuts left by children on fence posts.

Samorn shared an incredible bond with Hero, who was responsible for her health and happiness while at the zoo.

Stories like these can be uncovered at these public institutions. Click on their pages below to find out more.

State Records of South Australia
State Library of South AustraliaState Library of South Australia
National Archives of AustraliaNational Archives of Australia

Heritage South Australia History Trust of South Australia History Council of South Australia International Council on Archives - ICA City of Adelaide City of Adelaide Libraries

As National Reconciliation Week concludes, we reflect on how access to records can support truth telling in real and las...
02/06/2026

As National Reconciliation Week concludes, we reflect on how access to records can support truth telling in real and lasting ways.

Recent changes to records over 100 years old held about Aboriginal people can now be accessed openly. Among them are letters from missions, between government departments and the public, to name a few.

Through our Aboriginal Access Unit, State Records SA remains All In on supporting respectful access and ongoing reconciliation.

More info:
https://archives.sa.gov.au/finding-information/discover-our-collection/aboriginal-families/aboriginal-access-services
Contact: 08 7322 7077 or [email protected]



📸Our Aboriginal Access Unit team: Barkindji woman Ella Uhl, Aboriginal Access Officer; Wiradjuri/Wonnarua/Wailwan woman Kylah Leece, Aboriginal Access Officer; and Arabana/Southern Arrernte/Dieri woman Tara Collier, Senior Aboriginal Access Officer.

Reconciliation Australia

Our Aboriginal Access Unit was honoured to attend Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA - Link-Up Team’s National Sorry Day event at t...
31/05/2026

Our Aboriginal Access Unit was honoured to attend Nunkuwarrin Yunti of SA - Link-Up Team’s National Sorry Day event at the fabulous Yitpi Yartapuultiku in Port Adelaide on May 26.

Meeting face-to-face with the Stolen Generations, and their descendants, gave us an opportunity to make real connections.

We also shared many laughs over shared stories, tried our hands at weaving, and enjoyed some delicious cupcakes and coffee.

A big thanks to Sarah Lindsay, Nunkuwarrin Yunti’s Team Manager - Link-Up SA & Redress Support Services, Culture & Community Safety, for inviting us.

Our Aboriginal Access Unit works collaboratively with Link-Up in supporting its clients seeking government-created information about themselves or ancestors to help with family reunion.

You can have a yarn with us on 08 7322 7077 or send an email to [email protected]

Visit our website for more information

archives.sa.gov.au/finding-information/discover-our-collection/aboriginal-families/aboriginal-access-services

Pictured at the event with the Link-Up team are the women from our Aboriginal Access Unit, Tara (far left), Kylah (second from right) and Ella (far right).

📸 SRSA

City of Port Adelaide Enfield Reconciliation Australia Nunkuwarrin Yunti Australian Government Department of Social Services

State Records of South Australia is hiring an Archivist to join our team.Among the tasks of an Archivist are working in ...
29/05/2026

State Records of South Australia is hiring an Archivist to join our team.

Among the tasks of an Archivist are working in a team that manages archival records, helping with transfers from external providers, providing advice about records listing, and helping the public with their general research queries.

The role is part-time and based at our Gepps Cross site.

Applications close on Thursday, June 4.

For more information, see the advert here:
www.iworkfor.sa.gov.au/page.php?AdvertID=912841&source=23318

Pictured is archivist Rebecca O'Reilly in our Research Centre at Gepps Cross.

CULTURAL WARNING: This content contains images or names of Aboriginal people who are deceased.As National Reconciliation...
28/05/2026

CULTURAL WARNING: This content contains images or names of Aboriginal people who are deceased.

As National Reconciliation Week continues, we acknowledge the powerful role records play in Aboriginal truth telling.

Across SA, archival records have helped Aboriginal people uncover family connections, understand government actions of the past and reclaim parts of their story that were once inaccessible.

Being All In means continuing to improve access, listening to community and caring for records in ways that support healing and reconnection - now and into the future.

More info: https://archives.sa.gov.au/finding-information/discover-our-collection/aboriginal-families/aboriginal-access-services

Contact: 08 7322 7077 or [email protected]

📸 Ngarrindjeri man David Unaipon, Point McLeay Mission, SRSA GRG52/45/1/188



Reconciliation Australia

Address

115 Cavan Road
Gepps Cross, SA
5094

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Tuesday 9:30am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 12:30pm
1pm - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 12:30pm
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