Monday 17 November 2025
Going to Town, The History of South Australia’s Department Store Buildings
Presented by Dr Julie Collins
This meeting includes:
- Launch of the 2025 BHS Journal
- End-of-Year Celebration
Department Stores flourished during the twentieth century. This illustrated talk will explore the history of some of these buildings in Adelaide city and the suburbs. While department stores were popular because they offered a wide range of stock, fixed pricing, and the opportunity to browse, there were additional services which made them destinations including facilities for dining, entertainment, exhibitions, and events, all of which made them more than just places to shop. Well-known retailers like Myers, Harris Scarfe, and David Jones, as well as those no longer with us including John Martins, Demasius, Charles Moore’s, Peoplestores, Cravens and Cox Foys will be featured.
Dr Julie Collins is Curator and Research Fellow at the University of South Australia’s Architecture Museum. With a background in architectural history, Julie’s work has focussed on histories of health-related buildings, with her book, The Architecture and Landscape of Health: A Historical Perspective on Therapeutic Places 1790-1940, released in 2020. She is also interested in the history of designed environments for children, architect designed modern houses in South Australia, and the work of South Australian women architects.
Document:
Record of Meeting
View the record of all past meetings which details all talks given at meetings by guest speakers since our foundation in 1980. Most meetings since 1985 have been recorded.
| No. | * | B | T | d | doc | Date | Topic, Speaker, Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 493 | 17/5/2027 | May 2027 Meeting | |||||
| 493 | doc | 17/11/2025 | Going to Town, The History of South Australia’s Department Store BuildingsPresented by Dr Julie Collins This meeting includes: Launch of the 2025 BHS Journal End-of-Year Celebration Department Stores flourished during the twentieth century. This illustrated… |
Legend
B: Burnside topic
T: tape
d: disc
doc: pdf document
*: on location
Disc and Tape recordings available in the Local History Room