Today the History Trust of South Australia announced Security House L2, 233 North Terrace, Adelaide, as its new headquarters. It will occupy the entire second floor of Security House, appropriately located on Adelaide’s premier cultural boulevard, from April/May 2023.

After 18 years at the Torrens Parade Ground, the History Trust has temporarily relocated to level 12, 77 Grenfell Street, enabling the Department for Veteran Affairs, Returned Services League (RSL) South Australia, Vietnam Veterans Association, Air Force Association, and Legacy Club of South Australia and Broken Hill to achieve the vision of a “veteran’s hub” in the Drill Hall.

Elizabeth Ho OAM, Chair of Trustees at the History Trust of SA said ‘We are delighted to announce the relocation to Security House 233 North Terrace, a historically significant and prestigious central building on Adelaide’s premier cultural boulevard.

‘Our new home will underpin our intent to be the leading voice for making the legacy stories of South Australia relevant to all ages and accessible world-wide. We are grateful for the SA Government’s support to ensure that we can create the right physical and digital environment for this important history work into the future. This includes strong outreach to schools, major event development, a creative digital museum think-tank, and expert assistance to the history network across our State.’

‘The History Trust will offer a hub for the history community and fulfil our mission to give the past a future with many forward looking projects from Security House. Given our relationship with the Department for Education, our shared state collecting role with other North Terrace institutions, strong research links with all of our universities, and our UniSA education futures and public program partnerships, it is important to be within the city mile. Our new location will also mean that partners, members of the history network and volunteers will be able to meet, share and collaborate effectively with our History Trust team’, said Elizabeth.

Greg Mackie OAM, CEO of the History Trust of SA said, ‘We cannot wait to share our new home with South Australia’s extensive and dedicated history community. Being centrally located and easily accessible in a heritage building ticks all our boxes.’

‘Throughout our 41 years the History Trust of SA’s headquarters have been in significant historical buildings – our past locations have included the Institute Building, Old Treasury Building (now the Adina), Edmund Wright House and, for the past 18 years, the Drill Hall at Torrens Parade Ground. The difference now is that Security House on North Terrace will give us our first customised space and technology fit-out in our entire 41 years – and that is critical to our 21st century goals.‘

‘Working with the Department for Education and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport options for a permanent home for the History Trust were explored over the past year. We now have an assured home for several years in a location that reflects the important role that we play in the cultural life of this State.’

‘We have lease arrangements with renewal rights that mean we can look forward to occupying 233 North Terrace from February 2023 up to and beyond 2030. We sincerely thank the Department for Education and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport for the significant and diligent assistance we have received to achieve this move.’

‘We look forward to expanding our important state-wide work to support history needs and interests, including those of teachers and students, major urban museums, vital regional museums, history groups, and important state events such as the marvellous May History Festival and the beloved Bay to Birdwood,’ Greg said.

About Security House 233 North Terrace, Adelaide

Security House is a heritage building, close to the Central Business District, and in an accessible location along the cultural boulevard. It is close to other cultural collecting institutions of North Terrace and to university precincts. It is a short distance from the History Trust’s Migration Museum, and the Centre of Democracy, a History Trust gallery jointly presented with the State Library of South Australia.

Security House is an inter-war commercial palazzo style building with Art Deco elements. Built in 1926 and designed by Eric H McMichael the building has style and sophistication reminiscent of the era. Formerly known as Kelvin House it was for many years the home of the Electricity Trust of South Australia. The building was refurbished in 1964. Further redevelopments were undertaken in 1980 with service and fire upgrades, along with a redesign of office layouts that have largely been retained.

Other occupants and owners of 233 North Terrace include Australian Fashion Labels.

The History Trust relocation is planned for April/May 2023.

Australia Day has been the centre of political debate in recent years with arguments for changing the date and calls to rename 26 January Invasion Day or Survival Day and cases for maintaining the status quo on the other. The first argument puts the case that choosing 26 January to celebrate ignores more than 60,000 years of Australian history, and is choosing a day that will always be problematic for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The latter argument is that 26 January marks the beginning of what we have become as a nation. With the commentary running hot once again this year, we felt it timely to reflect a little on the history of commemorating Australia Day.

It is sometimes stated that Australia Day marks the arrival of the ‘First Fleet’. In fact, the ‘First Fleet’ arrived in Botany Bay between 18 January and 20 January in 1788. Commodore Arthur Phillip and his party found the Bay lacking (and not up to Cook’s review) so the ships sailed on to Port Jackson, which Phillip named Sydney Cove, and weighed anchor there on 26 January. Once the business of establishing the colony had been taken care of, and British arrivals in New South Wales began to reflect on their own history – as separate to the ‘mother country’ – people chose this day to commemorate the establishment of the colony. In the early nineteenth century people in Sydney began referring to this event as ‘First Landing Day’ or ‘Foundation Day’.

Governor Macquarie officially acknowledged ‘Australia Day’ as a public holiday in Sydney in 1818. In 1838 it was proclaimed as an annual event. The event continued to grow in New South Wales. As a sense of Australian identity began to develop among some groups, there began to be a push for a wider commemoration. The Australian Natives Association (ANA) was among the groups which sprang up in the nineteenth century advocating for a sense of Australian pride. Established in Victoria, it quickly spread to the other colonies. Membership was exclusively Australian-born people of European background (primarily British) and for many years exclusively male, a separate branch called the Australasian Women’s Association (AWA) formed in 1900. The ANA was to play a role in advocating for Federation, and later a national Australia Day.

In the meantime, for the centenary of the arrival at Sydney Cove in 1888, events were held in many of the Australian colonies to mark ‘Anniversary Day’. South Australia did not have a full public holiday at that stage, but a number of prominent South Australians joined the official events in Sydney, along with representatives from other colonies.

While the attendance of the representatives from the various colonies was an early show of unity, support across the borders was mixed. Reporting from The South Australian Advertiser was not entirely enthusiastic:
It cannot be said that to-day is in any sense the anniversary of a common birthday, for some of these colonies were established on quite independent terms. New South Wales, though the senior, is not the parent colony of all the other members of the group. Nevertheless, the whole of them cordially agree in observing its centenary, and thereby present to the world the spectacle of a united Australia for once at least.
‘The Advertiser: THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1888’

During the late nineteenth century the focus in South Australia remained on our own ‘Anniversary Day‘, or ‘Proclamation Day‘. In 1901 the colonies federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia, but it wasn’t until 1910 that we adopted 26 January as ‘Federation Day’ here in South Australia.

The idea of Australia Day was adopted nationally for a different purpose during the First World War. Various fundraisers were held, marking many different days, and Australia Day badges like those in our picture were sold to raise money for the war effort. The first of these is believed to have been on 30 July 1915 (read more about that on the Australian War Memorial website). Numerous people in South Australia joined in these fundraising efforts, both on 30 July 1915 and on a range of dates in following years.

The first time every Australian state celebrated 26 January as Australia Day was in 1935. This was after a concerted push from the Australian Natives Association, a group of white Australian born men, who lobbied to have a ‘uniform’ celebration across the nation. It was from this campaign that the practice of having a public holiday on the Monday following 26 January was adopted.

From this point the tradition grew, but it was not without its detractors, and the current arguments about recognition of the meaning of the date for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are certainly not new. On the 150th anniversary of the official proclamation of British settlement at Sydney Cove, in 1938, an Aboriginal Day of Mourning was held. The meeting of Aboriginal people at the Australian Hall in Sydney on 26 January that year called for ‘full citizen status and equality in the community’. This protest against the ‘seizure’ of country was in stark contrast to the pageantry of the New South Wales government’s official celebration.

Despite the Day of Mourning, the practice of celebrating Australia Day continued. In the years following the organisation of Australia Day events became more formalised, and new traditions were introduced including the link with Australian citizenship ceremonies. In 1946 an Australia Day Celebrations Committee formed in Melbourne, the precursor to the Australia Day Council. Similar organisations followed in other states, and in 1979 a National Australia Day Committee was established in Canberra. Throughout this time Australians remained legal British subjects, and while the ‘Nationality and Citizenship Act’ symbolically recognised Australian citizenship for the first time in 1948, Australians were officially British subjects until 1984. The same year formal Australian citizenship was fully adopted, the National Australia Day Council, based in Sydney, took over coordination of events on Australia Day. Other practices, such as the Australia Day awards, were established as Australia Day activities continued to evolve. The first Australian of the Year was appointed in 1960. (Read a longer history and timeline from Dr Elizabeth Kwan.)

Shortly after the introduction of Australian citizenship, in 1988, Sydney marked the Bicentenary of British arrival in Sydney Harbour under the catch-cry ‘Celebration of a Nation’. Once again official events concentrated on ceremony and spectacle, and national debates on the historical interpretation of Australia Day were again in the news. Aboriginal people renamed the day ‘Invasion Day‘ and a large protest was staged in Sydney.

Since 1988 conflicting attitudes toward Australia Day have continued to spark debate and often heated commentary in Australia’s news platforms. In 2017 Triple J announced it would move the Hottest 100 broadcast so that it no longer fell on Australia Day. This was followed by claims that former ABC chairman Justin Milne tried to stop the move. Acknowledging the negative associations for many people in Australia’s Indigenous communities, several local councils chose to move citizenship ceremonies from Australia Day. This prompted a reaction from the Federal Government in 2019, with moves to ensure councils hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January.

Calls to ‘change the date’ have grown in volume in recent years, while at the same time other calls argue that Australia Day is a day to celebrate what we have become as a nation, and polls on the topic of changing the date vary widely. What do you think?

Job Title: Digital Content Producer

Full-Time Equivalent: Full-Time (1 FTE)

Are you a skilled digital storyteller and content creator looking to work in the cultural and education sectors?  

The Opportunity:  The Digital Content Producer reports to the Manager Education Programs and is responsible for providing digital content creation and design services for the History Trust of South Australia in support of education and public engagement projects across the History Trust and its museums.

Key components of the role:          

• Contribute to the development and publication of digital content to support History Trust education programs that tell the rich stories of South Australia through curriculum-aligned education resources.
• Develop professional and creative video and other digital content for digital storytelling and marketing through History Trust communications channels including websites, video, social media and email newsletter campaigns.
• Capture and source video and photographic content at History Trust museums and the Centre of Democracy, including organising and managing internal video shoots with staff.

About you:                                        

• A collaborative, innovative and energetic communicator who works well independently and as part of a team.

• Ability to prioritise varying workloads, use initiative and be self-motivated.

Special Conditions:  Some out of hour’s work may be required. Occasional weekend work may be required. Engagement in this role is subject to a satisfactory Department of Human Services Working with Children Check. Intrastate and interstate travel may be required, and a current driver’s licence is essential.

Location: History Trust of South Australia, Adelaide CBD

Award/Agreement:  South Australian Public Sector Wages Parity Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2017

Classification: AS04

Salary Range: $74,315 – $77,901 – increment relating to experience.

Eligibility: Open to everyone

Employment Period: 6-month contract (may be renewed)

Employment Type: Contract

Enquiries to: 
Michelle Fulham, Manager, Education Programs
[email protected]
8207 7696

How to apply: To apply for this position, applicants are required to submit a CV, Pre-Employment Declaration, Cover Page and a Capability Statement demonstrating their suitability for the role by addressing the selection criteria (Section B of the Role Statement).

Applicants should include the name, address and contact number of three (3) current referees.

Please email your application to:
Amber Berkelaar, HR Manager
[email protected]  

Closing Date: Applications close 6pm, 7 February 2023

How To Apply
Application Coversheet
Role Statement – Digital Content Producer
Pre-Employment Declaration

Event registrations are now open for South Australia’s History Festival, 1-31 May 2023. This state-wide festival is unique in the world, bringing together communities, collectors, clubs, historical societies, and museums large and small, to showcase their passion for history in a month-long celebration.

South Australia’s History Festival is a major initiative of the History Trust of South Australia and brings together around 400 event organisers hosting almost 600 events across our state.

The theme for the 2023 festival is WONDER and South Australia’s History Festival, invites presenters and audiences to ponder the wonderment of the past, as we celebrate the many historical objects, stories and experiences that evoke amazement, “Our 2023 theme will encourage our event hosts and presenters to explore the many ‘wonderful’ ways we interact with history and material culture,” said History Trust of South Australia CEO, Greg Mackie OAM.

“These last few years have reminded us all just how important it can be to belong. Being together in real time and in person is the best way to share stories, experiences and our histories. South Australia’s History Festival creates opportunities for people to gather as communities, to share stories about our past, our present and future, to celebrate the people and objects we value – and to consider who we are today, – and perhaps even ponder what our collective future might hold” Mackie said. “We can’t wait to see what wonderment presenters provide as they interrogate and celebrate our state’s stories.”

Background

The 2022 History Festival program featured over 500 events across the state presented by 257 event organisers and attracted some 100,000 attendances. It was a cornucopia of engaging opportunities for South Australians to immerse themselves in history. From performances, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes tours, through to thought-provoking talks, bus and bike tours to bushwalks and venues ranging from galleries to graveyards, the events are always fascinating.

To be part of the 2023 History Festival, interested groups need to register their event online by 5:00pm, Tuesday 14 February. Early bird registrations due by 5:00pm, 15 January 2022.
To discuss a potential event, call the events team on 08 8207 7585 or email [email protected]

More information and registrations www.historyfestival.sa.gov.au
Interviews available with Greg Mackie OAM, CEO History Trust of South Australia.

South Australians are encouraged to reimagine and renew connections with their history, to get out and about in this great state, explore the familiar and the lesser known – and be challenged to discover what makes South Australia unique. Reflecting on the past two years of a global pandemic, the History Festival explores the stories we tell, the lessons we take from the past – and how this might help us shape and re-imagine our future.

Presented by the History Trust of South Australia, South Australia’s History Festival is one of the state’s largest open-access community events. It returns for its 18^th year in May 2022, and for the first time ever you can get a sneak peek of what is on offer through our virtual program launch on Thursday 7 April.

Every year a groundswell of community support and enthusiasm for our state’s rich history sees thousands of South Australians volunteer to make the History Festival a success. With around 500 events registered across South Australia, by some 350 different event organisers, this year’s festival offers the macabre to the fascinating, the shocking to the heart-warming – and everything in between.

History Trust CEO, Greg Mackie OAM said, “We are thrilled to present another History Festival for the people of South Australia and invite all to make time to discover and embrace the rich history that this state has to offer.”

This year’s theme of reimagine honours both our unique history and the many people across our state who keep local stories alive. Like always, the range of events are incredible, and with around 80 per cent of events being free, there is no excuse to not get out and explore our fascinating culture

History Trust of South Australia CEO Greg Mackie OAM

“This year’s theme of reimagine honours both our unique history and the many people across our state who keep local stories alive. Like always, the range of events are incredible, and with around 80 per cent of events being free, there is no excuse to not get out and explore our fascinating culture,” continued Greg.  

Thanks to a partnership with community television station Channel 44, you can join us virtually for the official program launch on Thursday, April 7 from 7pm. Tune in on the night through South Australia’s History Festival Facebook page or Channel 44. Then pick up your hardcopy program from April 8 through your local Foodland Supermarket, an iconic business with a unique ‘Mighty South Aussie’ history.

A 30-minute program virtual launch will feature appearances from Uncle Mickey O’Brien, Senior Kaurna man, Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, Sandy Verschoor, the Right Honourable Lord Mayor, City of Adelaide, Elizabeth Ho OAM, Chair, History Trust of South Australia, and Greg Mackie OAM, CEO, History Trust of South Australia.

Following is a sneak peek of the 2022 program: 

• Holden Heritage Bus Tour – Bus tour of General Motors-Holden sites in the greater Adelaide area.
• A Taste of Wine History – Immerse yourself in tastes and tales of eight different South Australian wineries.
• Letters to a Galaxy Far, Far Away – Renowned space historian and writer Kerrie Dougherty speaks on space travel, communications and Star Wars.
• Remembering Vietnam – 50 Years On – Two-course lunch followed by a talk with Vietnam Veterans.
• Open Doors – Provides the opportunity to get inside some of the state’s most interesting places and spaces that are usually closed to the public, through a range of talks and tours.
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Exhibition and Her Majesty’s Theatre Talk and Tour – A special talk and tour of the Rock ‘n’ Roll exhibition capturing Adelaide’s pub rock scene.
• Penfolds 1844 for Evermore History Tour and Lunch Experience – Go beyond the cellar door and listen to historical stories while visiting underground drives, vintage cellars and other hidden gems at Magill Estate.
• The Fort by Lamplight -A program of military drill, cannon, and musketry fire bringing the 19th-century fort to life.
• Glenelg Air-Raid Shelter Open Day – Explore the shelter built during WWII. The shelter was one of seven constructed in Adelaide and formed part of a communication network.

The History Festival will also be celebrating and commemorating special anniversaries in 2022 including: 

• The 50^th Anniversary of Dr George Duncan’s death – 50 Years on…We Will Remember Him! Join Dr Gertrude Glossip on a tour as she details the drowning of Dr George Duncan in 1972 and the unsuccessful attempts to solve the crime.
• North v Glenelg – SANFL Round 6 1922 Centenary Rematch – A football match celebrating 100 years since North Adelaide first played Glenelg at Prospect Oval.
• 150 Years of the Adelaide General Post Office – Display of photographs and philately of the post offices in the city of Adelaide.

The History Festival is proud to be partnering with iconic South Australian supermarket chain Foodland, celebrating their 60^th birthday in 2022. Free copies of the full program will be available from all Foodland Supermarkets across South Australia, as well as local libraries, community centres and registered venues from Friday, 8 April. The program will also be available online and updated daily at historyfestival.sa.gov.au.

South Australian history will soon gain a new champion.

Minister for Education, Hon John Gardner MP, who also has ministerial responsibility for the History Trust of South Australia has announced the creation of a new role – South Australia’s History Advocate.

“Twenty-five years ago the History Trust team included the State Historian. This important position was abolished and now, thanks to the Marshall Liberal Government, the role is to be revived and refreshed for the 21^st century,” says the Minister.

“For years, the history community lamented the loss of our State Historian. The History Trust, under the able leadership of Greg Mackie OAM and the wise stewardship of Chair of Trustees, Elizabeth Ho OAM and our Board of Trustees, will be giving the role a more contemporary name and focus for the 21st century,” said the Minister.

“Our History Advocate will guide the sharing and telling of the diverse stories that make us who we are today. They will bring our special history into focus for present and future generations and visitors to South Australia. They will be our authoritative ‘go to’ person for media and will work with urban and regional communities and other groups to increase appreciation of our distinctive history,” said Elizabeth Ho. “We especially want school students to gain better access to our SA stories within the framework of the national curriculum,” she said.

New Edition of History Companion

In a second significant announcement, and to commemorate its 40^th year in 2021, The History Trust is announcing the commissioning of a long-awaited second edition of the highly regarded Wakefield Companion to South Australian History with a special ‘Investing in History’ grant.

Originally published in 2001 by South Australia’s Wakefield Press and considered an essential reference for South Australian history teachers and researchers, this new edition of the Wakefield Companion, to be available in print and digital, will feature South Australia’s foundational histories alongside new research, and, for the first time, will include illustrations and maps. It will be complemented by enriched and dynamic online content for teachers and students accessible through The History Trust’s South Australian History Hub.

“Now more than ever it is important to invest in the access to knowledge and understanding of our history. This initiative will ensure more of South Australia’s stories are gathered, preserved and shared- now and for future generations,” says History Trust CEO, Greg Mackie OAM.

The new revised edition will be edited by Emeritus Professor Wilfred Prest AM and is expected to be released in mid-2024. Wakefield Press will engage up to two historians to work on this project. It will also provide professional development opportunities for an intern.

Migration Museum Repairs

Visitors to the History Trust’s Migration Museum since May 2021 will have discovered that the popular 19th century migration galleries have been closed to the public. Investigations of severe cracking revealed deeper problems in urgent need of remediation. From a variety of sources, the Marshall Government has committed some $900,000 to address the first stages of these critical repair works in Galleries 3 and 4. Once completed new permanent exhibitions will be installed.

Background

The History Trust of South Australia is the leading voice for making the stories of South Australia relevant across the world, for the world. Telling the stories of South Australia is core to its purpose: it is responsible for building the evidence of our state’s rich and fascinating past and to making it relevant and accessible to everyone.

Through its annual grant programs, The History Trust champions history for all South Australians by investing in emerging and established historians, fostering innovative research and engagement and contributing to the knowledge, understanding and sharing of SA’s rich history.

A copy of our 2020-21 Highlights publication can be accessed via History Trust Highlights 2020-21 | History Trust of South Australia

Read all about the highlights from The History Trust in 2020-2021, including our school education programs, events like Bay to Birdwood and South Australia’s History Festival, our work across the State History Network and of course our fantastic museums and gallery spaces.

With many delegates still hesitant about gathering in person, the History Trust of South Australia with the support of our speakers have decided to reschedule the State History Conference to May 2022 and establish this as the closing event of next year’s South Australia’s History Festival.

The new dates for the State History Conference are 27-28 May 2022.

Our conference registrations to date showed that our audience – for many reasons – are still not comfortable with large in-person gatherings and that the preference is for online attendance, accounting for more than 2/3rds of our registrations.

We believe there are a number of reasons for this, including but not limited to the ongoing hesitancy around COVID and gatherings. We don’t believe this will remain a deterrent for much longer; our state’s vaccination rates are improving daily and we are confident that all members of the public will be eager to gather soon.

We made this decision to reschedule in close consultation with our partners, speakers and panelists. Many of them were excited about incorporating the conference into the History Festival’s line up of events; for many it is the perfect culmination to a month-long celebration of history, and we hope you agree.

We made the decision to reschedule rather than deliver a fully online event because the vision for the conference was about connecting with peers and colleagues and an online-only event will not achieve that vision.

We have developed a fantastic program. We are incredibly proud of the depth of presentations, the calibre of speakers and diversity of voices to be presented, and the exceptional program with speakers, workshops and presentations that span all facets of history.

We hope that you will join us next year – in person or online – as we deliver an exceptional program as the perfect culmination to South Australia’s History Festival.

See you in 2022!

The History Trust of South Australia and its partners the University of Adelaide, the State Library of South Australia and Wakefield Press invites proposals for sessions at A State of Change: two days of learning, sharing and connecting history to be presented in the Adelaide CBD and livestreamed to conference hubs across regional South Australia.

We invite proposals for presentations responding to the theme A State of Change, imagining possible futures for history in South Australia.

Closing date for proposals is Sunday 12 September 2021.

Download the Call for Papers (PDF)

Audience

We hope to attract a wide range of cross-disciplinary delegates: professional, academic, community and family historians; museum and library professionals; students and educators; and people passionate about their industries, their places and their history. It may be possible to pre-record your presentation to be screened during the event.

Format

Subject to interest, we are keen to include presentations (up to 30 minutes in duration) for the symposium in a range of formats that encourage participation and discussion. Pre-recorded presentations can also be submitted. Your proposal might be:

A panel debate
A facilitator moderating a discussion with two or more speakers about a topic.

An ‘in conversation’
Two or more speakers come together to discuss a common idea or a theme.

6-minute HistoryX Talk
This format will suit dynamic communicators and undergraduate and postgraduate students wanting to share their research. (Think TedX talks)

Film or performance
Present a film or do a performance on your topic.

A paper with questions
Generally 20 minutes with 10 minutes for questions.

Hands-on workshop
Develop an interactive workshop for participants.

Other formats
Suggestions for other formats are welcome

Please note: Both days will be live streamed and some pre-recorded content may be published asynchronously. You will need to give your consent for your presentation to be recorded.

Proposals must include

Title
A concise name for your presentation.

Outline of the format and content
What will people who come to this session learn or experience? Who should come to this session and why? This can be up to 200 words.

Brief biography of presenter/s
This can be up to 100 words.

Contact details
Provide your name, email address and phone number.

Workshop applications
For workshops, please provide what participants will get out of this and how your workshop relates to the theme etc.

Key dates

Submissions open Monday 23 August 2021

Submissions close Sunday 12 September 2021

Notified of acceptance Friday 24 September 2021

Conference registrations open end September 2021

Date of presentation 19 – 20 November 2021

Please submit proposals here

State History Conference 2021

Further details and enquiries
The History Trust of South Australia
Telephone: 08 8203 9888
Email: [email protected]