Stories
Explore fascinating stories from the collections of the State Library of South Australia.
We also have extended stories from the collection for you to read and explore.
What’s in the oven?
The stories that make us.Written by the Digitisation and Digital Preservation team Did you know the State Library has a special ‘oven’ that is critical to preserving our magnetic...
Having a quiet one
The stories that make us.Step back in time and explore the colourful history of Adelaide's hotel scene through fascinating stories of the SP illegal betting, after-hours drinking, lurk merchants...
‘Australia’s Titanic' - the sinking of the SS Waratah
The stories that make us.The fate of the SS Waratah remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the sea. 'It is almost like a Greek tragedy, a story...
The Mortlock Chamber
The stories that make us.We invite you to journey back in time and experience the splendour of the Mortlock Chamber.
A Brief History of Balfours
The stories that make us.Anyone who has ever tried one of their famous Frog Cakes knows about Balfour’s. But did you know it began as the City Steam Biscuit...
Adelaide Modernism: 101 Houses
The stories that make us.Experience the impact of modernism on Adelaide's architecture with award-winning author Tim Reeves. His latest book delves into 101 modernist houses built between 1939 and...
The fabric of war
The stories that make us.The First and Second World Wars impacted every aspect of everyday life in South Australia, including clothing and fashion in South Australia. Australian women on...
A lifetime of stitching
The stories that make us.Embroidery samplers stand out as the most enduring evidence of the needlework skills cultivated by young women in 19th-century Australia. Through these intricate creations, we...
Adventures in the archives
The stories that make us.If you have ever examined archival material at the Library, it is likely that they were presented to you in one of our standard archival...
Speaking our history
The stories that make us.Written by Dr Nicholas A. Sparks is Team Leader of Archival Collection Development, State Library of South Australia, and Visiting Research Fellow, School of Humanities...
The remarkable story of General Motors Holden
The stories that make us.Discover the fascinating history of General Motors Holden, from its humble beginnings as a leather supply store to its key role in World War II...
Finding 'Johnnies' in the archive
The stories that make us.Guest writer: Paul Flavel, researcher and author of John Martin's Book The love I have, as thousands of South Australians share, for John Martin’s made...
A cachet of croquet
The stories that make us.The first thing many people think of when you mention croquet is the image from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ where Alice is playing croquet...
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Don Bradman
The stories that make us.The State Library of South Australia thanks the Bradman family and the Bradman Foundation for its support with the development of the Sir Donald Bradman...
Sipping history
The stories that make us.Step into the intriguing world of Adelaide’s early coffee rooms, teashops, and cafés. Explore their vital role in shaping politics and society from the 1870s...
Words on silk
The stories that make us.Silk, one of the world's most luxurious fabrics, was first woven in ancient China before 3500 BC. By the eighth century AD, Chinese artisans were...
Protecting the Hands that Built ‘Australia’s Own Car’
The stories that make us.General Motors Holden (GMH) frequently asserted that workplace safety was the company’s priority. Yet, in its factories, major accidents did occur, and many workers were...
Proud Girls and Determined Women
The stories that make us.South Australia has always prided itself on being a progressive state. In 1894, after a ten year battle, women here were granted the vote, second...
Rear Vision: The Holden Collection
The stories that make us.General Motors-Holden’s was a cornerstone of Australia’s industrial identity and remains deep in the country’s psyche. Holden was established as a saddlery in Adelaide during...
Love in the stacks: After-glow memories
The stories that make us.The State Library, in both its published and its archival collections, holds memories of countless love stories and romances of the past. Buried within letters...