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.
![Bob, the railway dog' at Port Augusta [B 6422]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_native_1x/public/2021-07/B-6422.jpeg?itok=MWEyj72b)
‘STOP ME NOT, BUT LET ME JOG; FOR I AM BOB, THE DRIVER’S DOG’
The stories that make usIn 1882 Bob, a scruffy brown German collie dog covered with thick shaggy hair, was born in Macclesfield, South Australia. He travelled the railways of...
Arthur Studio Collection
The stories that make usOne of the State Library’s most significant photographic collections came from ‘ Arthur and Son studio’ which operated in Mount Gambier from 1904 to 1989...
A borrowed book returned to the State Library over 100 years later
The stories that make usThis book has a fascinating history. It was borrowed from the Adelaide Circulating Library more than 100 years ago by a young Lawrence Bragg, who...
![Park Lodge Apartments on South Terrace, Adelaide [SLSA BRG 346/29/149/6]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_native_1x/public/2021-05/park-lodge-apartments-south-terrace-BRG-346-29-149-6.jpg?itok=kOB7ox_I)
At the archival coalface: John S. Chappel collection
The stories that make usOne of the projects on the go in the State Library Archival Collections team is centred around the John S. Chappel Collection (BRG 346). The...
Admella Shipwreck reward and relief fund
The stories that make usA shipwreck in 1859 The SS Admella was an iron-hulled ship that was on its way from Adelaide to Melbourne when it hit a reef...
Australia Day in South Australia
The stories that make usPublic debate around the celebration of Australia Day on 26 January has continued to grow in recent times. Originally, the date of 26 January was...
The tale of an ark, a wounded soldier and an Adelaide school
The stories that make usWhen the Library was recently offered a wooden Noah’s Ark we recognised straight away there was something special and appealing about this toy. As we...
A ship, a strong rope and some strange coincidences
The stories that make usIn October 1880, the S.S. Ferret is chartered in Glasgow by several men desiring to take a Mediterranean pleasure cruise. Built-in Glasgow originally for use...
The Skipper Sketchbook featuring Lola Montez
The stories that make usArtist John Michael Skipper sketched many aspects of colonial South Australia, including the landscape, Adelaide streets, buildings, people, and notable events. Skipper made several sketches...
Clara Serena: from Lobethal to the London Stage
The stories that make usWritten by Peter Kolomitsev, Audio Preservation It is often said that to make it in the music industry, wanna-be stars need to make it in...
![East Adelaide Hotel [B 10927]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_native_1x/public/2021-05/East-adelaide-hotel-B-10927_0.jpg?itok=NKkEXT6j)
Occult powers at the East Adelaide Hotel
The stories that make usOne of the best things about this job is bringing together stories and collection material. This might be for our exhibitions, social media, our websites...
City's lone barmaid
The stories that make us"CITY'S LONE BARMAID Forty years ago this week, Adelaide stopped registering barmaids. Only one is still on the job, Miss Lily Dear, of the Oriental...
![Penny dreadful Australian dick turpin [Au/19 BOR b]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_native_1x/public/2021-05/Penny-dreadful-Australian-dick-turpin-hero1.jpg?itok=PehBMxpc)
A Penny Dreadful
The stories that make us'Penny dreadfuls' was the name given to a range of mass-produced, sensational fiction published in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Though not...
![Toy koala with scarf [clrcri22543752_1]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_native_1x/public/2021-03/Keifee-post-war-koala.jpg?itok=xXkjk8M_)
Meet Keiffee the post-war koala toy
The story of Valerie’s koalaValerie was busy tidying her things and had to decide what she would do with Keifee the koala, her treasured childhood toy. Three generations of...