- What's On
-
Research
- Using the State Library Catalogue
- Ask Us
- Browse eResources - online newspapers + more
- Access eResources
- Browse our Library Guides
- Indigenous collection and services
- Order a copy or permission to publish
- Copyright and our collection
- Search like a Librarian
- Research Tips for Students
- Searching TROVE
- Inter-library services
- Public Libraries
- Pay an invoice
- Collections
- Stories
- Plan your visit
- About Us
- Give today
The people's park
The fascinating story of Belair National Park
Belair National Park is a big, beautiful place filled with stories of tranquil walks, family picnics and joyful outings, all of them true. But this is the story of the park’s early days and how Belair National Park came to be. It involves some questionable land acquisition by very powerful people in the early years of British colonial settlement.
It’s a tale of a hard-done-by squatter and the 1840 creation of Government Farm on prime Adelaide Hills land. Here, police horses and survey team bullocks could go to rest up and government workers could make hay while the sun shone. The story continues with a failed attempt to divide and sell off the land.
Watch and learn how the public won, when South Australia’s first National Park was finally declared in December 1891.
This presentation was recorded as part of the State Library's stories from the stacks talk program on 08 October 2024. Presenter: Isabel Story, Engagement Librarian.