Local History

The Kadina Heritage Museum incorporates the National Dryland Farming Centre. The Museum is transforming its comprehensive agricultural machinery collection into a dynamic interpretive centre. It aims to explore all aspects of rural life along with the evolution of dryland farming machinery and techniques for which the region of Yorke Peninsula is renowned. This is the home of the Stump-jump plough! The colony of South Australia rapidly became the granary of the continent an early push towards mechanization.Sheds have been upgraded and extended to create over 4,000 square meters of exhibition...
The Museum incorporates a relocated outback station log homestead from Yudnapinna Station, as well as extensive local history collections. It comprises the approx. 130 years old original log homestead furnished in period style: a working blacksmith shop; a photographic display of the region; early rail exhibits; pioneering machinery; and horse-drawn vehicles. The grounds contain kangaroos, rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, duck and an assortment of birds, galahs, parrots, cockies and budgies.
This 1860s Police Station and Courthouse complex are fine examples of colonial stonemasons' workmanship. The stonework consist of fieldstones (office), bluestone (courthouse), limestone and shingled stables, complete with blinden for windows. The cells have keyed in stonework roofs. Quoins and dressings are of sandstone. The collection consists of memorabilia of former Police Station use; C.J. Dennis ("The Sentimental Bloke" poet); and J. Mellor, stonemason; as well as historic photographs and general archival material.
In a picturesque setting at the top of High Street in historic Willunga, the Courthouse complex stands on the original Government Reserve where, in 1839, police and surveyors arrived to help the first settlers take up the land. Displaced Aboriginals camped here and received rations. Today's visitors experience the authentic C19th Courtroom (complete with prisoner's box, jury box and witness box), adjoining cells and exercise yard, attached police residence and nearby stables. Past deeds and misdeeds are vividly brought to life - the heroism of the mounted constables, the controversial female...
The museum contains some items relating to the railway; photos; utensils; and items associated with pioneer days. It also includes a telephone switchboard.
The hotel is a Heritage listed National Trust building. It has been completely restored and contains a museum, licensed restaurant, arts and crafts sales and tearoom. The bedroom, lounge and dining room house period furniture and framed portraits of local pioneers. A weatherboard building houses agricultural items of pioneers. There are also collection of pioneer family photographs, old magazines and catalogues, and bottles.300 items and 100 photographs
Hope Cottage is one of three built in 1857 by the Calnan family, later to become known as Faith, Hope and Charity. The Museum holds a collection of photographs, books, shipwreck articles, tractors, engines and farm machinery (some restored to working order). A tower in the grounds carries the light transferred from Tippera Reef to Cape Willoughby in 1922. There is also a working model of a eucalyptus still and a working windmill.A wide variety of different articles from early Kangaroo Island. The cottage has the normal things found in a home in the early days including the first piano...
A local and social history museum depicting the heritage of Wallaroo. Main themes: copper mining and smelting period (1861-1923) History of the port of Wallaroo since 1861. General local history - sport, entertainment, industry, civic affairs and religion. Located in the first post office building 1865-1910. Has been Museum building since 1975.Over 3,000 exhibits depict the Industrial, Mining, Smelting, Maritime and Social History of the port of Wallaroo. The Museum is also home to the former Tipara Reef Lighthouse (1877-1996) Re-located to the Museum in 2001.
The Hahndorf Academy houses both a German migration museum and an art gallery. The gallery content os wholly South Australian with frequent exhibitions. The academy also has artist's studios with painters, jeweller, leadlight, paper and leather crafts people.The museum contains descriptions and artefacts from the migration of the first Germans in South Australia in 1839. Shipping logs, musical instruments, school items, farming equipment, dresses etc. Also a collection of orginal charcoal drawings from the fammous artist, Sir Hans Heysen, who lived in Hahndorf.
The Museum's collections focus on: the 1894 settler's cottage; the 1910 Congregational church and manse; the AMP Society Land Development; the Gold Escort Route of 1852; and the Wild Dog Fence which saved the fledgling colony of South Australia from failing.Approximately 1,000 items including a feral dog preserved by taxidermist, as well as photographs.
An undercover collection of locomotives and railway vehicles, depicting the history of railways in SA and the Commonwealth Railways. The steam era, railcars and diesel's and all three rail gauges are represented. The museum also contains displays of railway operations and other historic memorabilia associated with railway history.100 railway vehicles, 12,000 photographs and approximately 50,000 documents along with a collection of smaller railway memorabilia, uniforms, clocks, signal lights and signs.
Luhr's cottage is the original dwelling of the Lutheran School's first school teacher and his wife and family of 6 children (one stillborn). It has been furnished to match the era. It is constructed of pug and timber (Redgum) and fronted by a cottage garden. At the rear is a room dedicated to schoolroom items including large pupils desk, copy books, readers and German wall charts. In the shed are agricultural machines and a German wagon.Housed in Luhr's Cottage is a collection of homewares and bric a brac relating to the German heritage of Light Pass and the Barossa Valley. The "schoolroom...
This privately owned tourist complex contains an extensive museum housed in 5 buildings with over 100 metres of glass show cases. Over 100 collection are featured, including displays of antiques, gemstones, butterflies, clocks, weapons, cameras, coins, birds eggs, badges, irons, bottles, fossils and shells. A feature of the complex is a display of local reptiles.120 varied collections
The home was built for William Moyle, a Cornwall engineer who operated the adjacent cordial factory and public baths. It is made of local stone with ironwork and illustrates turn of the century well-to-do living. The house is heritage listed and displays a wide range of collections, including period costumes, stained glass, furniture, household appliances, and a doll display. A brochure is available which provides fuller details.Thousands of artefacts including 1,000 pair of salt and pepper shakers, 2,500 dolls, 600 teddy bears
Geralka is a modern broadacre farming property, producing wool and grain. The land was originally part of the old Bungaree run established in 1841. A section of the farm has been established to receive visitors. Guided tours show how a modern farm works. A major attraction has been established depicting the development of agriculture in South Australia with a collection of over 300 vintage implements and working Clydesdale horses. An underground copper mine complex depicts the copper history of SA. A brochure is available which provides fuller details.Over 300 farm implements and...
The museum is designed to reflect the industries and lifestyle of the district since settlement. The buildings, constructed to house machinery, were architecturally designed to resemble farm buildings and have all been built by voluntary labour from local community groups. The main shed displays pictures and machinery related to specific industries e.g. wool, dairy and mining. Aspects of lifestyle are captured in a two room cottage, nursery, and clothing display. A recent acquisition is a small 100 year old church moved to the grounds from its original site.Approximately 300 farm and...
The Museum is in the former Railway Station, built in 1885, and adjacent goods shed; it was opened in 1971 the centenary year of Jamestown and district. Items in the Museum Collection have been donated by the local people & they all recall a past way of life. The display highlights people and events unique to Jamestown local people expect the museum to be the custodians of archival items donated by them, so the collection has changed as we have noticed an increasing interest in local and family history.The Museum has a diverse collection of household items and other things connected to church...
The Museum presents interpretive displays on the local shipping history, salt industry, and settlement of Troubridge Agricultural Area which includes settlement of Edithburgh and district.Approx 15000 items, 1000 photographs
Former customs and station master's house built in 1866/67 of Georgian style architecture. Four furnished rooms containing historical documents, photographs, pictures, portraits, displays, furniture and furnishings relevant to the early history of the area and its association with an overseas port and latterly with the railways. Shop with National Trust items, books, crafts, jams, souvenirs. The new Encounter Coast Discovery Centre houses a living display of the history of the Encounter Coast area from 1800 to 1900, with fascinating artefacts and audio narrative.
The Museum is housed in Clare's first public building (1851) for Police Barracks and Courthouse. Holds collections of clothing, artefacts, local early records and photographs (copies can be ordered), wagons and farm implements. Clare is one of Australia's important wine producing area with 38 wineries in the area, approx 136km from Adelaide by road.Approx. 2000 photographs pf pioneers - pioneer clothing and domestic farming artefacts.

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