About the Burnside Historical Society

Celebrating 43 years of Community History

The Burnside Historical Society is a community based group that promotes interest in the history of the City of Burnside.

Can you help? Researching Street Names and Suburb Names in Burnside

Can you help with updating our research projects:

If you find any errors, changes or additions in these two compilations by Burnside Historical Society members, please get in touch with us, and send evidence of your findings. Thank you.

Established in 1980, the Society has a membership of around 120 and new members are most welcome.

General meetings, which feature an address from a visiting speaker, and are held at the Burnside Community Centre at 7.30pm on the third Monday of each month (not January or December). Members of the public are welcome to attend any of the general meetings for a gold coin donation.

A bi-monthly digital Bulletin is published and emailed out.

An  annual Journal will be published later in 2021. 

Half day or full day trips to points of historical interest are held each year.

Objectives

  1. Arouse interest in and to promote the study and discussion of Australian and South Australian history and in particular, the history of the City of Burnside.
  2. Promote the collection, recording, preservation and classification of works, source material and artefacts of all kinds relating to Burnside history.
  3. Assist in the protection and preservation of buildings, works and sites of historical significance in the City of Burnside.
  4. Co-operate with similar societies and other bodies throughout Australia.
  5. Do all such other things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of any of the above objectives.

What the Society does

  1. Holds monthly meetings with a speaker – normally a visitor.  Subjects are varied, sometimes a Burnside subject, sometimes Adelaide, sometimes Australia.
  2. Produces a bi-monthly digital Bulletin.
  3. Produces an annual Journal.
  4. Conducts guided day trips to places of historic interest.
  5. Co-operates with the City of Burnside on matters of historic interest, for example the installation of historic plaques.
  6. Donates items to the Burnside Library.
  7. Produces self-guided walking tour leaflets around Burnside areas.
  8. The Society does not get involved in genealogy but does research and record local history of the City of Burnside.
  9. Conducts guided walks and bus tours in the Burnside area.

Office Bearers 2023 – 2024

  • Acting President: Margaret Ford OAM
  • Secretary: Anne Jarrett
  • Treasurer: David Monceaux
  • Public Officer: Margaret Ford
  • Committee: Helen Bills, Cathy Bransbury, Kerry Durrant, Gill Nield, Liz Silz, Bob Stace

History of the Society

The Burnside Historical Society was established in 1980 at the time when the City of Burnside was about to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The writing of the local history book The Paddocks Beneath by Elizabeth Warburton led to interviews with many long term residents of the community. This generated a spontaneous interest in local history and subsequently the society was formed under the Chairmanship of Dr Roger Angove. Further interest in local history was generated by the events surrounding the Australian bicentenary in 1988 and the society peaked with a membership of over two hundred members.

The main focal point of the society has always been the monthly meeting with a visiting speaker, but day and weekend trips to other parts of the state have always had a good following in the past. Research projects have led to a number of publications and self guided walking tour leaflets, and members also lead conducted walking and bus tours through the leafy suburbs of Burnside.

The society has been instrumental in the installation of many plaques in the Burnside area, providing historic information to the local residents.  More recently, together with Council,  they have researched and had installed several larger interpretative signs.

For many years they also conducted tours into the historic silver/lead/zinc mines on the slopes of Glen Osmond. These have had to be suspended for safety reasons.

There has always been close liaison with the Burnside Council, and the Local History Collection in the Burnside Library is a prime source of research material and the display of historic artefacts.

Since the Council has appointed a City of Burnside Cultural officer, in Michelle Toft, much activity has been happening there.  Go in and check it out.  She may even have some interesting activities for you.  Michelle is currently on leave so an opportunity to go in and meet her replacement.

Honorary Life Members

Volunteers are at the heart of our continued existence, and from time to time we recognise members who have made significant contributions by presenting them with an honorary life membership.

  • John Thomas AM
    April 17, 2023
  • Anne Both
    April 23, 2021
  • Colin Harris PSM
    April 17, 2017
  • Meredith Ide
    November 21, 2016
  • Ross Both
    November 21, 2016
  • Isabel Williams OAM
    April 16, 2012
  • John Love
    May 21, 2008
  • Elizabeth Rogers OAM
    April 18, 2005
  • Elaine Smyth
    April 18, 2005
  • Barbara Parker PSM
    August 14, 1998
  • Ted Bayfield
    April 17, 1995
  • David Reid
    April 17, 1995
  • John Clark
    April 13, 1992
  • Richard House OAM
    April 17, 1989
  • Margaret Preiss
    April 18, 1988
  • Elizabeth Warburton
    April 18, 1988

Constitution

View the Constitution of the Burnside Historical Society Inc.