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.
Young Rupert's Paper Trail: Succession, seditions, and power in 1950s Adelaide
The stories that make us.We invited journalist Walter Marsh to piece together the story of young Rupert Murdoch’s early battles against Adelaide’s conservative establishment. He explores how these formative...
In plain sight: Twentieth century LGBTIQA+ writers in our collections
The stories that make us.Learn what a recent unusual discovery, by one of our long-term volunteers, tells us about twentieth-century LGBTIQA+ writers in our collections. It was revealed that...
Sowing, Mowing and Growing
The stories that make us.Take you for a stroll through South Australian gardens from colonisation to the 1930s. Early gardening emphasised subsistence but British landscaping styles were soon introduced...
Shame, Shock and Awful Strife in the Holy Village
The stories that make us.Hear how a lady writer and a fiery preacher raised a ruckus in the City of Churches. You'll discover tales of lavish lifestyles, a riot...
Open hearts, open minds
The stories that make us.Revealed through diaries, newspapers and memorabilia held in State Library collections, discover the early days of a little known but living faith, Unitarianism. Its motto...
Debs, dobs and doodles
The stories that make us.Something to warm the cockles in the depths of winter. Three presenters put three quirky topics under the spotlight to reveal the diversity of State...
Art and craft of taxidermy
The stories that make us.Taxidermy was part of the 19 th century interest in natural science sparked by discoveries of scientists such as Charles Darwin. It became something of...
Written Out – Maria Gandy: Colonel Light’s lady, Dr Mayo’s wife
The stories that make us.Maria Gandy was companion to South Australia’s first Surveyor-General and founder of Adelaide, Colonel William Light. She was referred to publicly as his housekeeper and...
Double-cut fritz and sauce roll and a cup of tea please
The stories that make us.What was on the dinner menu at Government House in 1867? Take a look into the history of the wonderful gastronomic world of South Australian...