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State Library of South Australia The stories that make us. Largest public reference library in SA with a collection focus on South Australian information and general reference material.

14/10/2026

When you are in Canberra - call in to see 'Rear vision: the Holden collection'. Extended until Jan 2027

Women and rural life in 1925 The day began well for this couple at Yadlamalka Station (around 60kms north of ). With su...
14/10/2026

Women and rural life in 1925

The day began well for this couple at Yadlamalka Station (around 60kms north of ). With such fine weather, the couple decided on a jaunt around the station.

Their unusual vehicle, made from the chassis of an early car, was perhaps well suited to the rough conditions of .

What could possibly go wrong?

The outing appears to have ended somewhat differently to what they had planned...

Port Augusta City Council

Part of the Jean Whyte Collection: SLSA: PRG 1335/14/16/99 and SLSA: PRG 1335/14/16/98

"I had written him a letter which I had, for want of betterKnowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ag...
07/10/2026

"I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just "on spec", addressed as follows, "Clancy, of The Overflow".

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,
(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar)
Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:
"Clancy's gone to 'Darley Road' and I think that's where he are."
With apologies to Banjo Paterson

A stockman with horses crossing Darley Road ford at Paradise circa 1937.
https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+33651

What do you value most about the State Library? We're seeking community input to help shape the future of libraries in S...
06/10/2026

What do you value most about the State Library?

We're seeking community input to help shape the future of libraries in South Australia.

Take our short survey and tell us what matters most to you.

Complete the survey: yoursay.sa.gov.au/libraries-board-strategic-plan

Libraries SA

Winding the clock forward? Here’s a clock that was way ahead of its time. is here, which means it’s time to adjust our ...
03/10/2026

Winding the clock forward? Here’s a clock that was way ahead of its time.

is here, which means it’s time to adjust our clocks, but this Adelaide clock story is a little more complicated.

We’ve discovered this 1866 invitation to the opening banquet of Adelaide Town Hall, and there’s something curious about the clock tower. The invitation clearly shows a clock.

The problem? There wasn’t one.

In 1934, Public Library Archivist George H. Pitt took a closer look and decided that the clockfaces must have been sketched onto the image. He scribbled a note on the Library’s copy: ‘there was never a clock in this tower’.

And he was right. The Town Hall didn’t get its clock until 1935, when former Lord Mayor Sir J. Lavington Bonython donated one.

So, as we adjust our timepieces on Sunday 4 October, spare a thought for Adelaide Town Hall’s first clock, miraculously showing the time nearly 70 years before it even existed.

And take a look at the 1866 image and these later views of the Town Hall before 1935. Can you can spot the clock?

💭How far will our research librarians go to answer your question? 🕵️A customer asked whether the hidden florin in Adela...
02/10/2026

💭How far will our research librarians go to answer your question? 🕵️

A customer asked whether the hidden florin in Adelaide's National War Memorial was actually… a fact.

So, naturally, our intrepid librarians took a lunchtime walk to investigate.

And yes – they found it! 🪙

During construction between 1928 and 1932, a small Australian florin was placed in the mortar, following the tradition of leaving coins in buildings and monuments for luck, protection and remembrance.

Got a tricky research question? Our librarians go above and beyond to help you find the answer slsa.sa.gov.au/ask-us



Next time you are walking past the memorial, try to find the florin and tag us if you find it!

🎞️ Help preserve South Australia’s moving-image historyWe are looking for a Film Preservation Officer (0.6FTE) to help s...
01/10/2026

🎞️ Help preserve South Australia’s moving-image history

We are looking for a Film Preservation Officer (0.6FTE) to help safeguard and provide access to our state’s film and video collections.

Working with specialised digitisation systems, legacy playback equipment and preservation technologies, you’ll play an important role in ensuring these culturally significant collections can be discovered and enjoyed for generations to come.

If you’re passionate about , and the that helps keep our stories alive, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Find out more and apply: https://www.iworkfor.sa.gov.au/page.php?AdvertID=929881&source=23318

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