Camel trains to steel wheels

Life on the Trans-Australian Railway

Event details

Events and Exhibitions

Date & time

24 August 2024 to 26 January 2025

Mon
9 am to 5 pm
Tue
9 am to 7 pm
Wed to Fri
9 am to 5 pm
Sat and Sun
12 to 5 pm
Closed on public holidays

Location

State Library of South Australia
North Terrace, Adelaide
SA 5000

 

Price

Free

Explore a colourful chapter of Australia's history at National Archives' latest exhibition Camel trains to steel wheels: life on the Trans-Australian Railway.

Opening in 1917, the Trans-Australian Railway was Australia's most economically and strategically important line. It ran from Port Augusta in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, crossing the Nullarbor Plain and connecting the nation's east and west.

This exhibition features fascinating archival records, photos and footage that captured the events and challenges from the railway's first 60 years, including its impact on First Nations people.

From the construction effort and its diverse workforce to the unique lives of communities that sprang up along the line, this is a must-see exhibition for those who revel in Australia's railway history through time and place.