History & Heritage

The traditions, history, and heritage that link us to our past and to each other are simultaneously crucial to our well-being but can often be overlooked or ignored. Festivals and events provide great opportunities to strengthen the bridge to our past and carry traditions forward into the future.

Extensive networks of cultural heritage organisations and groups operate across South Australia, many community-based or not-for-profit and volunteer groups, and also local councils, work to preserve and promote cultural heritage and identity every year. Events and festivals can help pull and transform traditional stories from communities, reconnecting members of the community in new and interesting ways. By making cultural history more accessible and to a wider audience, we can break down preconceptions and bind our communities together.

Heritage South Australia in the Department for Environment and Water is the lead agency for heritage management across South Australia. In partnership with the South Australian Heritage Council, they are responsible for administering heritage legislation, providing advice, ensuring good information is available to customers, and promoting an understanding and appreciation of our State’s heritage. This includes the development and delivery of a 10-year Heritage Tourism Strategy, ‘Growing our Heritage Future’, which recognises that heritage is at the heart of the South Australian visitor experience.

The History Trust of South Australia is a statutory authority of the Government of South Australia, reporting through the Minister for Education. The Trust manages the Migration Museum, the National Motor Museum and the South Australian Maritime Museum, the Centre for Democracy (a collaboration with the State Library). It also delivers the annual South Australian History Festival and partner to present other community events, festivals and celebrations on South Australia’s cultural calendar.