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A State
of Change

In 2021, the History Festival is exploring the theme of ‘change’. From political change to social change. Changing places, changing minds, changing hearts.

View the 2021 program
1-30 MAY
2021
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Program

Search, browse and filter the full program of events.

First Nations Events

Learn more about First Nations histories, knowledge and cultures.

After Dark

Not available during the day? No problem! There's plenty happening after dark.

Guided Tours

Take a guided tour and discover the hidden history all around us.

History Festival podcast

Listen to the latest episode of the History Festival podcast.

Workshops

Get hands-on with a workshop during the History Festival.

Open Doors

Explore some of South Australia’s most interesting places and spaces.

Talks

Sit back and listen to talks and conversations about the most fascinating topics.

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Upcoming events

Adelaide South
Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

History of SA

Workshop
Do you ever wonder why Aboriginal South Australian's can't just 'get over it'? Step into the shoes of those who lived during SA colonisation…
When: Sat 29 May, 10am-2pm (approx. 4 hrs)
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Per Person: $65.00
Adelaide City
Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Out Blak Adventures: Still Moving

Guided tour, Special event
Join Raymond Zada from Moolagoo Mob and Margie Fischer for a guided tour and personal stories and insights of Out Blak Adventures: Celebrating Indigenous LGBTI Communities…
When: Tue 25 May, 1-2pm and Sat 29 May, 2-3pm
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Free
Adelaide South
Family Friendly Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Full Toilet Facilities Partial Wheelchair Access

Warriparinga History and Environment Tour

Guided tour, Workshop
This 90 minute walking workshop includes an easy walk through the Warriparinga park and wetlands. Our friendly, knowledgeable Cultural Officer…
When: Sat 8 & 29 May, 10-11.30am
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Per Person: $15.00
Adelaide West
Bookings Essential Toilets

Port Oyster Tales & Bubbles

Talk
Hear tales of native oysters living in the Port River, being stored in the river to supply oyster saloons, being pilfered and banned and now…
When: Sat 15 & 29 May, 2.30-4pm
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Per Person: $20 + booking fee
Adelaide City
Open Doors Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Queen's Theatre: Past, Present and Future

Guided tour, Talk
The historic Queen's Theatre, the oldest purpose built theatre on mainland Australia, will again welcome History Festival guests for a peep behind…
When: Sat 29 May, 2-3.30pm
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Free
Adelaide City
Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential

Holden Heritage Bus Tour

Talk, Bus Tour
Join us for a bus tour of General Motors-Holden historical sites in the greater Adelaide area. The tour will delve into the history of both the…
When: Sun 30 May, 10am-3.30pm
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Per Person: $30.00
Adelaide City
Family Friendly Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Partial Wheelchair Access Toilets

Drowning, not Waving

Guided tour
Join Carol Lefevre, author of 'Quiet City', on a Sunday stroll through West Terrace Cemetery’s sea of sun-bleached headstones. Many hold tragic…
When: Sun 16 May, 11am & Sun 30 May, 2pm (approx. 90 mins)
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Per Person: $12.00
Riverland
Family Friendly Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Monash Hidden Secrets…Exposed!

Display
To commence the year of Monash's Centenary activities, a gigantic exhibition of photos and information will be displayed in the Monash Memorial…
When: Fri 28 to Sun 30 May, 10am-4pm
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Free
Limestone Coast
Family Friendly Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Partial Wheelchair Access Toilets

Twilight Museum Tour

Guided tour
Join us for a twilight tour of Clayton Farm Heritage Museum, a billy tea and damper super, and a sing-a-long around the camp fire. Follow our…
When: Fri 28 May, 6pm (weather pending)
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Adult: $10.00 Child: $5.00
Adelaide City
Family Friendly Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Express Yourself

Exhibition, Children's events
We all express ourselves differently. Perhaps this is through what we wear, performing on stage or joining a protest movement – we all want…
When: 19-29 May, 9am-5pm
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Free
Clare Valley & Mid North
Family Friendly Wheelchair Access Toilets

Parham (Port): Past and Present

Talk, Display
Parham is a coastal town that historically was a thriving port that saw shipments of Adelaide Plains produce sent to Port Adelaide and cargo…
When: Sun 30 May, 1-5pm
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By donation
Adelaide City
Family Friendly Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

New Land New Hope

Exhibition
In the 1990s, the first wave of refugees from the Horn of Africa region arrived in South Australia. They had fled for their lives from Eritrea…
When: Thu 13 to Sun 30 May: Mon to Fri 10am-4pm
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Free
Adelaide Hills
Family Friendly Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Partial Wheelchair Access Toilets

Shedding Light on Peramangk Land, Has it Changed?

Guided tour
Celebrate the land of the Peramangk people with Elder Ivan Copley and local Sharon Pippos, on the property of ‘The Cedars’, the family home…
When: Sat 29 May, 10.30am-12.30pm
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Adult: $45.00
Fleurieu Peninsula
Family Friendly Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Nuggett's Trail Opening

Self-guided tour, Launch
In 1856 a jetty was constructed at Milang together with a horse tramway which transported goods (and royalty) to and from the town. For many…
When: Launch: Sun 30 May, 2pm. Trail available from 30 May onwards.
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Free
Adelaide City
Open Doors Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Toilets

Discovering the Destitute Asylum Walking Tour

Guided tour, Talk
The Destitute Asylum housed Adelaide’s poor from 1850-1918, but most of it was demolished before 1950. The Migration Museum occupies the last…
When: Sun 30 May, 11am, 12pm & 1pm (45 min. tours)
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Per Person: $10.00

Focus Programs

Family Friendly
First Nations Events
A Taste of the Past
After Dark
Art + History
Events for Booklovers
Learn Something New
Healthy History
Open Doors
Natural History
Rainbow History
From Many Places
Transport Yourself
Sporting Stories
Reflecting on War Histories
That’s Music to My Ears
North Terrace cultural precinct
Digital Events
History in the Pub

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Adelaide City
Family Friendly Toilets

City South History Exhibition

Exhibition
The exhibition features photographs on canvas of city south streetscapes dating back to 1860 and the early 1900s, all sourced from The City of…
When: 10-29 May: Mon to Sat 7am-4pm
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Free
Barossa
Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Gawler's Pendragon: George Isaacs

Talk
Dr Anne Black will speak about George Isaacs, alias 'A Pendragon', a complex colonial character. In a life that spanned two hemispheres and two…
When: Wed 19 May, 2-3.30pm
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By donation
Barossa
Family Friendly Partial Wheelchair Access Toilets

Knuckle Bones to Techno

Display
Tucked away in the Valley of Eden is a small chapel built in 1928, and during the History Festival, this unique building will host an intriguing…
When: Every Fri, Sat & Sun in May, 10am-3pm
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By donation
Adelaide City
Family Friendly Companion Card accepted Bookings Essential Full Toilet Facilities Partial Wheelchair Access

Jack and the Beanstalk at Ayers House Museum

Special event, Children's events
Tour a nineteenth-century mansion looking for story clues. Then go up to the nursery and hear a traditional English tale of cunning and courage…
When: Sat 1 May, 10.30am (approx. 75 mins)
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Adult: $15.00 Concession: $13.00 Member: $10.00 Child: $8.00 Family: $25.00
Adelaide City
Bookings Essential Wheelchair Access Full Toilet Facilities

Queer Migrations

Talk, Workshop
The University of Adelaide, RMIT, and the History Trust of South Australia are carrying out a research project funded by the Australian Research…
When: Wed 26 May, 6-7.30pm
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Free
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