Step Into South Australia’s Past This May At The South Australian History Festival
Across regional South Australia this May, history it’s being walked, talked, tasted and retold in pubs, paddocks, libraries and out of the way places you’re yet to discover.
The annual South Australian History Festival runs all month and brings together hundreds of events across the state, all delving into the stories, places and people that shaped who we are.
This year’s theme, Connections, leans into the links between communities, generations and the land itself, and regional SA is right at the centre of it.
Across the state, from the Mid North to the Riverland and out to the coast, the South Australian History Festival program is packed with events, from hands-on tours and guided walks to local talks, exhibitions and stories shared by the people who live and breathe these places.
Hundreds Of Ways To Get a Glimpse into SA’s Past
With so many events in the line-up, here’s a some standout regional picks to get you started.
• By Sea They Came, First on the ‘August’ in 1856 (Clare Valley & Mid North) – step into early migration stories and see how one ship shaped a community.
• The Story of Bungaree Station (Clare Valley & Mid North) – one of SA’s most iconic stations opens the door on pastoral life, heritage buildings and the stories behind it all.
• Flinders Ranges Heritage Trail Launch (Flinders Ranges & Outback) – a chance to explore rugged country while learning the stories tied to the land and its people.
• Travel Back in Time at Historic Yallum Park Homestead, Penola (Limestone Coast) – a proper step back into the past inside a grand homestead setting, with stories to match.
• Maitland Museum: Lost Trades Experience (Yorke Peninsula) – a hands-on look at the trades that once kept country towns ticking.
What started as a simple idea has grown into one of the state’s biggest open-access festivals, with more than 500 events spread right across the state.
And the best thing about the South Australia’s History Festival is that it isn’t one big headline attraction. It’s tonnes of smaller ones, often run by passionate locals who know their patch of South Australia better than anyone.
Keen to see what’s on near you? Check out the full program and start planning your stops.
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