South Australia

South Australia

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

We will be closed from Friday 22 December, reopening Wednesday 3 January 2024.

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
Italian women at the Golden Circle Cannery in Queensland holding pineapples.

Event

A new home abroad

13 Dec 2023

Online

Join us to hear migration stories of Italians who settled in Australia.

Festivals and celebrations - Christmas - New South Wales - Santa Clause at Wanda Beach

Event

Christmas around Australia

19 Dec 2023

Online

Travel around the country with National Archives to find out what our records show us about this festive time of the year.

Family disembarking a migrant ship.

Members

Researching immigration records

10 Jan 2024

Online

Join us online for a dive into the types of immigration records held in the national archival collection.

School children presenting a petition outside parliament house to Bill Hayden, Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Senator Tate.

Event

Petitions in National Archives

23 Jan 2024

Melbourne

Explore citizen activism through petitions in the national archival collection.

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Event

Two truths and a lie

27 Feb 2024

Adelaide

Can you tell the difference between the truth and lies?

A paper conservator working in an archive laboratory.

Members

Preserving family records

28 Feb 2024

Online

Join us online for an expert tutorial on how to preserve and care for your family records.

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