Adelaide Town Hall Architecture Tour 

When: Wed 3 May, Wed 31 May

The Adelaide Town Hall is a wonderful display of Italianate design with local bluestone, freestone and marble. Glen Woodward takes you on a journey to discover the many changes to the historical Adelaide Town Hall since the first stone was laid in 1863.

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‘Whispering Curtains’: Art Exhibition by Fiona Connell

When: Mon 8 May – Fri 2 Jun

Celebrate your family history with our artist in residence, Fiona Connell, and her heart-warming installation, Whispering Curtains from 8 May to 2 Jun.

If walls can walk, then curtains whisper. Fiona pays homage to grandmothers everywhere through revitalising vintage doilies by embroidering them with the wisdom of our grandmothers. She sees this as a way of recording what could soon be lost words of wisdom from our families as well as honouring the exquisite workmanship in these old textiles that now rarely see the light of day. You’re invited to sit with the artist whilst she stitches your saying onto a doily and share a story about your grandma, or attend a workshop. The final pieces will create a permanent installation.

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Vickers Vimy Exhibition

When: Throughout May

Adelaide Airport’s Vickers Vimy Exhibition commemorates the first official flight from England to Australia – the Air Race of 1919 with Adelaide brothers Ross and Keith Smith. The restored Vickers Vimy converted bomber (registration G-EAOU) flown by the famous aviators is housed inside the terminal for public display. The epic long-distance flight was made just 16 years after the Wright Brothers flew the first-ever powered aircraft.

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Many residents have a passion for flying and aircrafts. Howard was a volunteer for many years at the South Australian Aviation Museum, Peter’s older brothers were the founding members of the Gliding and Soaring Club, where Peter also became a member and instructor. Keith gained his pilot’s licence and flew Victa air cruisers around the Broken Hill area, and has enjoyed sharing many stories since visiting the exhibition.

Nurses Roll Call Exbihition

When: Throughout May

To mark International Nurses Day on 12 May, we invite you to step into a curated display of historical photographs, stories and memories from nurses who undertook hospital-based training at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital (as it was then known).

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Adelaide Arcade Guided History Tour

When: Every Monday in May

Come and experience the history and grandeur of Adelaide Arcade with a guided tour. You’ll learn not only of the Adelaide Arcade’s architecture, design and purpose, but you’ll also discover stories of a bygone era and learn about its journey from 1885 to the present day.

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The Adelaide Arcade Tour was very informative. Residents learned the rich history of the arcade and accessed the famous underground Tea Rooms that have been closed for decades.

Rare Books and Manuscripts: The Stories They Can Tell Us

When: Wed 3, 10 & 17 May

A free guided event where you will view rare, beautiful, and historically significant works from the State Library of South Australia’s rare books collection. Including hand-lettered and illuminated manuscripts and rare printed works, discover how each contributes to the story of books and printing.

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This tour was perfect for all the book lovers! Residents had a look at some of the rare books and manuscripts of the State Library of SA. There was so much to see and experience. Did you know that some of the books were read around a campfire and still smell of smoke more than one hundred years on?

Vintage Radio Display and Audio Equipment Display

When: See link below

Visit Noarlunga and Woodcroft Libraries in May to see the pop-up display of vintage radio and audio recorders by the Ellison Museum of Radio and Magnetic Recording. At Woodcroft you will see Bland, His Master’s Voice and Philips radios, Byer/Rola reel to reel recorders and radiola, and a school PA system with speakers made in Adelaide in the 1950s. 

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Not Just locomotives: Commonwealth Railways Photographs

When: Tue 23 May

National Archives of Australia has been digitising thousands of photographs from its collection during the past year and many of these relate to the Commonwealth Railways.

Spanning from the early twentieth century until the 1960s, these photographs document the building of the Trans-Australian, Central Australia and North Australia Railways and the communities who lived and worked along the line.

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Adelaide Town Hall: Colonel William Light

When: Thu 11 May, Fri 26 May

Glen Woodward tells the story of Colonel Wiliam Light’s remarkable life in the Colonel Light Room located in Adelaide Town Hall. Colonel William Light had a remarkable life moving from Malaya to England, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Egypt and then South Australia. From his life as a soldier, sailor and surveyor makes a wondrous story.

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