South Australia

South Australia

Our South Australia Office is located on the land of the Kaurna people.

We are open to the public. Bookings are required to visit.

Address

State Library of South Australia
Corner North Terrace and Kintore Avenue
Adelaide SA 5000

Get directions

Hours

  • Wed–Fri 10 am–5 pm
  • Sat–Tues Closed

Phone

08 9470 7580
Housing - Hotels, motels and hostels - Gwalia State Hotel - naa: A6135, K1/6/76/14

Members

Boom to bust

06 Jun 2023

Online

A rundown pub and empty streets are sometimes all that is left of once thriving settlements.

P Romano sheet music 'The Adelaide' the original celebrated Kreuz polka.

Event

19th century copyright records

27 Jun 2023

Adelaide

National Archives of Australia has recently digitised a collection of South Australian copyright applications from the nineteenth century.

Drawings for toilet patent by Joseph Walter Oakman.

Event

Toilets through time

25 Jul 2023

Adelaide

Whether you call it the loo, dunny, or restroom – toilets are part of our everyday life.

NAA: B3114, VOLUME 21 PHOTOGRAPH 41

Members

More than locomotives

01 Aug 2023

Online

Join us online to explore recently digitised photographs in the national archival collection relating to the Commonwealth Railways.

Two Maltese children sitting on a suitcase.

Event

Finding Maltese families

07 Aug 2023

Online

Were you or your family Maltese migrants to Australia? Do not miss this family history month event!

An intra ocular camera telescope developed by Ronald Plummer.

Event

Picture this! Guide to PhotoSearch

22 Aug 2023

Adelaide

An image is worth a thousand words. Learn how to explore images in the national archival collection.

About the Somerville Reading Room

The Somerville Reading Room in the State Library of South Australia is shared between the library and the National Archives.

For more information about the records collection of State Records of South Australia visit their website at archives.sa.gov.au

Records about South Australia

The National Archives' diverse collection of records relating to South Australia ranges from 19th-century colonial records to substantial holdings on immigration and defence in the twentieth century.

Of particular interest are the Defence Science and Technology Organisation records and material relating to railways and internment in South Australia.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation records include files, slides and plans of the Woomera testing site. It shows the human side of the missile testing in South Australia through:

  • the Gibber Gabber newsletter
  • the Bulldust news sheet produced by staff involved in atomic bomb testing.

The railway collection contains files, plans and photographs which capture the broad history of mainland rail and reflect South Australia’s central role in the rail industry, including records about:

  • Australian National Railway
  • Central Australian Railways
  • Northern Australian Railway
  • the Trans Australian Railway.

The records of the Loveday internment camp document security service aspects of individual people’s internment. They include:

  • personal particulars
  • arrangements for appeal and release
  • security service
  • tribunal notes
  • mail censorship material.

Visitor information

National Archives of Australia
Somerville Reading Room, State Library of South Australia
Corner North Terrace and Kintore Avenue
Adelaide SA 5000

Visiting the Research Centre

The Research Centre is closed on public holidays.

You will need to book a time to visit the Research Centre. Please call us on 08 9470 7580 to make a booking.

Computer facilities

The PCs in the Research Centre are provided by the State Library of South Australia. You can use them to search our website and records, but won't be able to access other websites, send email or use desktop applications.

The State Library provides free wi-fi for visitors.

Entry

Entry to the State Library of South Australia is free.

Getting here

Car parking

The closest parking station is Wilson Parking at 251 North Terrace, next to David Jones.

Public transport

The State Library is serviced by bus stop G1 on North Terrace. The library is 300 metres from the Rundle Mall tram stop and 500 metres from the Adelaide Railway Station. Maps and timetables are available from adelaidemetro.com.au.

Taxis

Taxis can drop off in front of the State Library on Kintore Avenue. The nearest taxi rank is on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue.

Onsite accessibility

Wheelchair access

All public areas of the State Library are wheelchair accessible.

Toilet facilities

Public toilets with disabled facilities are available on Level 1 of the Spence Wing.

Assistance animals

Visitors with recognised assistance animals, including guide and hearing dogs, are welcome.

Further details about disability access

Postal address

PO Box 3563
Rundle Mall
SA 5000