Burnside Historical Society events for the 2026 SA History Festival

Category: History Festival

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Official programmes are now available from Drakes Supermarkets, local councils, and public libraries statewide – or explore the full program online for this year’s May History Festival.

Now is the time to check out the programme of over 500 events and to make your bookings for what promises to be a busy and enjoyable month for history lovers.

BHS History Festival Events

Once again, we will be an active contributor to the History Festival with these events:

  1. Sunday 3 May 2026, Wheal Watkins 1843 Heritage Mine: Above Ground Tour
  2. Wednesday 6 May 2026, Burnside’s Waterfall Gully Creek: a short historical walk
  3. Thursday 14 May 2026, Writing our Stories: A local Burnside nonfiction writers “reveal”
  4. Monday 18 May 2026, Henry Eoin Sydney Melbourne – Surveyor and Engineer Extraordinaire

You can find full details, including booking arrangements, in the links above or in the official History Festival print Programme on page 37.

Programme for Meetings and Outings 2026

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The full Burnside Historical Society Programme of meetings events and outings was distributed to members at the recent February meeting.

The line up of guest speakers for 2026 covers nine topics of historical interest.

Meeting Venue and Times: All meetings are on the 3rd Monday of the month in the Hall of the Burnside Community Centre, corner of Portrush and Greenhill Roads, Tusmore, commencing at 7.30pm. Friends and visitors are most welcome to attend meetings. A $2 donation is much appreciated.

Highlights this year include:

View Programme and Outings

Burnside Historical Society events for the SA History Festival

Category: History Festival

Posted on

Official programmes are now available from Drakes supermarkets and online for this year’s May History Festival.

Now is the time to check out the programme of over 500 events and to make your bookings for what promises to be a busy and enjoyable month for history lovers.

BHS History Festival Events

Once again, we will be an active contributor to the History Festival with our five events. Our May meeting is detailed above and the other four are listed briefly below.

  1. Guided Walk of Dulwich: “Revealing the Secrets of Dulwich” with Polly Dundon (Sat 4 May, 10 -12noon)
  2. Guided Walk: “Eastwood: Burnside’s smallest suburb” with Ally Preiss (Tues 7 May, 10am – 12noon)
  3. Talk in the Burnside Library “The Bald Hills of Burnside” with speaker: Colin Harris (Thurs 9 May, 6.30pm – 8.00pm)
  4. Talk and Walk: “The Glen Osmond Mines with a focus on Wheal Watkins” commencing with a talk in the Burnside Library and then a walk at the Mine. (Mon 13 May, 10-12.30pm)

You can find full details, including booking arrangements, in the links above or in the official History Festival print Programme on pages 32 and 33.

“Burnside’s Memorial to the Fallen” at Rose Park

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The War Memorial was originally erected to commemorate those from the District who died in service or were killed in action in World War One.

A plaque was added at a later date to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War Two, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

From Dulwich to Dairy Farm: Women and Change During World War II

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History Month Festival

Thursday 27 May 2021 at 6.30 pm (approx 60 mins)

Burnside Library, 401 Greenhill Road, Tusmore

Per Person:  $5.00.

Bookings required – Event capacity 70

Contact Burnside Library, Phone: 8366 4280, e-mail: library@burnside.sa.gov.au

It’s February 1942.  With Japanese planes bombing Darwin, Adelaide fears an invasion.  Amid this tension a teenager, her life up-ended, begins a diary to store memories for her missing father.

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The Life and Times of Colonel William Light

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Wednesday 5 May, 2021

At 2 pm for (approx. 60 mins)

City of Burnside Library

401 Greenhill Road, Tusmore

Presented by Bob Stace, member of the Burnside Historical Society and former President of the Pioneers Association of South Australia, this illustrated presentation explores the life and times of Colonel William Light (1786-1839).  While the events of the final three years of Light’s life spent here in Adelaide are relatively well known this presentation examines now his first 50 years led Light to his final destiny as Adelaide’s founding surveyor.

Bookings essential

Event capacity  40

Price per person $5.00

Contact Burnside Library  8366 4280

The Story of Food and the Humble Olive in Burnside

Category: History Festival

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Olives

Olives

History Month Festival

Wednesday 12 May 2021 at 11.30 am (approx 90 mins)

Burnside Community Centre, 401 Greenhill Road, Tusmore

Adults:  $5.00.

Bookings required – Event capacity 70

Contact Burnside Library, Phone 8366 4280, e-mail: library@burnside.sa.gov.au

Have you ever wondered what was eaten in Burnside in the past? The available vegetables, fruits and meats?  The types of farming techniques and food storage? 

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Guided Tour of Historical Magill Wesleyan Cemetery

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History Month Tour

Saturday 22 May 2021 at 11.00 am (60 mins tour)

18 Jackson Street, Magill

Adults:  $5.00.

Bookings required – Event capacity 16

Contact Margaret, 0438 838 894 or email Burnside Historical Society

 

Subdivision for the village of ‘Makgill’ in 1838 included land for a chapel and cemetery.  Early European settlers, contributors to developing the district, were buried in Magill Wesleyan Cemetery, including Charles Bennett founder of Bennett’s Pottery, Joseph Crompton wine and olive maker and the Black family.

Mary Cock and her son donated land for the Magill Wesleyan Church and in 1878 it was held by trustees.  It changed title in 1944 and there was a trustee revision in 1958.  In 1974 the cemetery was transferred to the City of Burnside.

Join our guided tour to discover the stories behind the headstones.

From Settlement of Makgill the Village, to Magill the Suburb

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Makgill Village was subdivided in 1838 by two Scots, Robert Cock and William Ferguson.  Magill is part 0f both Burnside and Campbelltown Council areas.  You will be guided back in time from the early village to points of interest beyond.  Some rural elements and industries still exist – the Magill Grain Store, Bennett’s Pottery, Penfold Winery and the historic Romalo House.

Learn about early local businesses, changes to schools, the historic cemetery and local churches.  Join us to discover the history of parts of Magill.

Saturday 29 May 2021, 10.30 to 12.00 pm

Meet at Pepper Street Arts Centre

558 Magill  Road, Magill

Adults:  $5.00

Bookings required (event capacity 16)

Contact Margaret on 0438 838 894 or the Burnside Historical Society by email

Wheal Watkins 1843 Heritage Mine, Glen Osmond Above-Ground Guided Tour

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A History Festival Event

Wheal Watkins was part of Australia’s first metalliferous mining area.  It is a 178 year old silver-lead mine site that became the introduction to Cornish mining in South Australia. The area was worked in the 1840’s and was the forerunner to the mining industry based on copper in SA. It transformed the economy of South Australia from depression to rapid growth and prosperity.

 

Sunday 16 May 2021, for 1 h0ur

Groups limited to 16

Bookings required

Starting either 1.00 pm or 2.30 pm, arrive 15 mins prior

Cost: Adults  $5.00

Phone 0439 478 352

 

Sturdy closed in footwear needed.  Not suitable for wheelchairs. Walkers require a moderate degree of mobility as lengthy, undulating track and steps to get up and down along the path.

Meet guide at Wheal Watkins Reserve Fire Track, Allandale Avenue, Glen Osmond.  Park near 23 Allandale Avenue. but there are only a few parks at end of the road.