The report South Australian State Historic Preservation Plan: Historical guidelines were prepared in 1979 by Susan Marsden in consultation with Dr John Tregenza. This was a foundation work of South Australia’s Heritage Unit, and was funded under the National Estate Programme. Since publication in 1980 the thematic framework (part 1, republished here) has been used to guide most government-funded heritage surveys, including Heritage Investigations, Sites, routes & items representing early European contact, exploration, pioneer transport and communication in South Australia (1980); regional surveys that covered all of the state’s incorporated areas between 1981 and 2000; local heritage surveys; and time-period surveys (Twentieth century heritage...1928-1945 and 1946-1959).

However, the report’s scholarship, and in particular the guide to sources (part 2), reflect the information available in 1979, and have not been updated, nor has part 2 been included in this online publication. Many of the cited sources remain significant. For example, ‘South Australian Archives’, which are now held at the State Library of South Australia (non-government records) and at State Records of South Australia (government records); the Australian Dictionary of Biography, volumes 1-12 (1788-1939) is now online, and includes many biographies contributed by Professional Historians Association members.

The author acknowledges Department of Environment and Natural Resources for permission to reproduce Historical guidelines, Part 1, and thanks Hamish Angas for supplying the PDF.