South Australia's History Festival 2025
South Australia’s History Festival runs for the entire month of May. Enjoy a range of events across the City of Mitcham.
Happy Anniversary: Interpretive Photographic Exhibition
View an interpretive photographic exhibition that celebrates the anniversaries of the Mitcham suburbs of Clapham (175 years) and Pasadena (100 years) along with the 175 year anniversary of Mitcham Reserve's Keystone Bridge.
WHEN: Thursday 1 to Sunday 25 May during Library opening hours
WHERE: Mitcham Memorial Library, 154 Belair Road, Hawthorn
COST: Free
Bookings not essential.
Gone but not Forgotten: Mitcham Cemeteries Tour
Take an informative guided walking tour through the heritage listed Mitcham Anglican & General Cemeteries. Both opened in 1854 they are celebrating their 170th anniversaries in 2024. You will visit the resting places of many of Mitcham's & Adelaide’s earliest pioneers and identities and hear their fascinating stories.
WHEN: Thursday 8, 15 and 22 May, 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Meet at the Rotunda, Mitcham General Cemetery, Old Belair Rd, Mitcham
COST: Free
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
A Village Walk: Mitcham Village Historic Walk
See and hear how Mitcham Village has evolved on a guided walk around the Mitcham Village Historic Conservation Area, including the 175-year-old 'keystone bridge'.
WHEN: Tuesday 6, 13 and 20 May, 10am to 12pm
WHERE: Meet at the Mitcham Local History Centre, Mitcham Cultural Village, 103 Princes Road, Mitcham
COST: Free
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
History of St Marys: Church and Cemetery Tour
Learn about the history of St Marys and the St Mary's Anglican Church built in 1847. Tour the cemetery and church grounds and hear about the suburb's earliest pioneers that helped shape the suburb and state.
WHEN: Wednesday 14 and 28 May, 10.30am to 12pm
WHERE: Meet at St Mary's Church, 1167 South Road, St Marys
COST: Free
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Gallery One Presents: the Gary Lee-Gaston Art Exhibition and Book Launch
This exhibition showcases the life and art of local artist Gary Lee-Gaston OAM and coincides with the book launch of 'The Art of Gary Lee-Gaston' by his son Peter.
WHEN: Sunday 18 May, 2.30pm
WHERE: Gallery One, 1 Torrens Street, Mitcham
COST: Free
Bookings essential: Call the Gallery on 8272 4504 to register.
Getting Started on Family History: A Beginner's Guide
Learn the basics of starting family history research and how to gather and organise information .
WHEN: Monday 12 May, 10.30am to 11.30am
WHERE: Mitcham Memorial Library, 154 Belair Road, Hawthorn
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Getting Started on Family History: A Beginner's Guide
Learn the basics of starting family history research and how to gather and organise information .
WHEN: Monday 12 May, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Blackwood Library and Community Centre at Tiwu Kumangka , Young Street, Blackwood
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Writing Engaging Family History
After years researching your family tree, learn how to turn that information into an engaging family history.
WHEN: Thursday 15 May, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
WHERE: Blackwood Library and Community Centre at Tiwu Kumangka, Young Street, Blackwood
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Writing Engaging Family History
After years researching your family tree, learn how to turn that information into an engaging family history.
WHEN: Saturday 17 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Mitcham Memorial Library, 154 Belair Road, Hawthorn
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Garna Tales: The Story of Garna (Kangaroo)
Join Jade Brook for an enchanting family storytelling event featuring the legendary tale of Garna the Kangaroo.
WHEN: Saturday 24 May, 11am to 12pm
WHERE: Blackwood Library and Community Centre at Tiwu Kumangka , Young Street, Blackwood
COST: Free
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Capturing Family Food Memories
Author Liz Harfull offers a workshop to help you preserve treasured family recipes.
WHEN: Tuesday 20 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Mitcham memorial Library, 154 Belair Road, Hawthorn
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Capturing Family Food Memories
Author Liz Harfull offers a workshop to help you preserve treasured family recipes.
WHEN: Saturday 24 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Blackwood Library and Community Centre at Tiwu Kumangka , Young Street, Blackwood
COST: $5
Bookings essential: Eventbrite
Repat Health Precinct Museum Tours
Located on the sprawling hospital complex known as 'The Repat', this historic museum contains a wealth of memorabilia relating to the hospital's history as well as both world wars and other major conflicts. Enjoy a guided tour through the museum and other historical buildings including the Repat Chapel.
WHEN: Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout May, 12.30pm to 1.30pm
WHERE: Gate 8, Oxford Circus, Daw Park
COST: Gold coin donation
Bookings essential: To register, call 8372 8261.
Belair National Park: Off the Beaten Track
Tour Australia’s second oldest national park in a minibus with a guide to sites of historic significance, including Old Government House. Walk in the bush to learn about native flora, fauna and pre-settlement use of the land. This activity involves short distance walks on rough tracks. Limited numbers.
WHEN: Sunday 4 May, approximately 4.5 hours. Tour A meets at 8.30am at Volunteers Centre; Tour B meets at 10.50am at Old Government House.
COST: $35, includes refreshments and entry to Belair National Park and Old Government House.
BOOKINGS: Essential. Contact Anne Hazell, Blackwood Action Group, at ahazellau@gmail.com
Mitcham Hills Train Journey: Focus on Natural Heritage
Enjoy a scenic train journey through Mitcham hills to appreciate the legacy developed by the Ashby family on their farmland including Watiparinga National Trust Reserve and Wittunga. Includes a guided walk and refreshments at Wittunga and walking between Coromandel Station and Wittunga.
WHEN: Tuesday 13 May or Tuesday 27 May, 8.50am to 12pm
WHERE: Meet at Blackwood Railway Station, Station Avenue, Blackwood
COST: $10 plus train ticket if applicable
BOOKINGS: Essential. Contact Anne Hazell, Blackwood Action Group, ahazellau@gmail.com
Centennial Park's War Stories, Decisions and Development Tour
Centennial Park will delve into stories of war heroes and influential figures at their 90-minute guided walking tours. Attendees will learn the profound effects of war on the development of Centennial Park and will visit resting places of brave individuals who served, and those whose decisions influenced South Australia's growth.
WHEN: Tuesday 6 and 5, Thursday 20 and 29 May, 10.30am to 12pm
WHERE: Centennial Park, 760 Goodwood Road, Pasadena
COST: Free
BOOKINGS: Essential via www.centennialpark.org
Pioneers in the Mitcham Hills: We are Their Heirs
Their names appear on street signs, reserves, ovals and bildings around the Mitcham hills. But who were these European pioneers of the 19th and early 20th century? This illustrated talk focuses on the men and women who saw the district develop from forest to farmland, until thriving townships of Blackwood, Belair, Coromandel Valley and Eden Hills appeared.
WHEN: Thursday 22 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Tiwu Kumangka, Upstairs, Young Street, Blackwood
COST: $10
BOOKINGS: Essential. Contact Anne Hazell, Blackwood Action Group, ahazellau@gmail.com
Brownhill Creek Recreation Park Walk
Known to the Kaurna people as Willa-Willa, Brownhill Creek is one of teh foremost historical and environmental gems of the Mitcham District. Join Francesco Di Zazzo from the Mitcham Local History Service to learn about the area's rich Indigenous history, market gardening and quarrying stories, flora and fauna and famous South Australians associated with the park throughout the years.
WHEN: Sunday 4 or Sunday 18 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm
WHERE: Brownhill Creek Recreation Park
COST: $5.60 (children under 12 free)
BOOKINGS: Essential via Humanitix
Ellison’s Gully (Brownhill Creek) Guided Walk
Join Councillor Andrew Tilley, whose family has lived in the area for five generations, on a walk that starts at the old manure pits in Brownhill Creek. This Mitcham Historical Society tour takes in the scenic beauty of Ellison's Gully, an historic stone bridge and disused silver mineshafts. See the 140-year-old Mitcham water works that once supplied Unley and Adelaide.
WHEN: Sunday 11 or Sunday 25 May, 1.30pm to 4.30pm
WHERE: Meet at the manure pits on Brown Hill Creek Road
COST: $5.60 (under 12 free)
BOOKINGS: Essential via Humanatix