State Treasures
In the course of South Australia’s history, innumerable objects have been produced, used and either kept or discarded. A small number of them are memorable in some way, are directly associated with important people or events, or have otherwise had a significant impact on the State’s development. They can now be regarded as ‘State Treasures’. Some of them, such as the first General Motors Holden car produced in Adelaide in 1949, or Charles Hill’s painting of the Proclamation at Glenelg, are held by major collecting institutions such as the History Trust of SA or the Art Gallery of SA. Many others are managed by local museums or other community groups. PHA (SA) members have written about some of these ‘State Treasures’. A selection is entered on this site.
Those drawn from Community History, the house magazine of History Trust of South Australia are republished here appear with the kind permission of the History Trust of SA (history.sa.gov.au). Others have copyright details attached to the entry.
Photo: Timber jinker, Burra, built in 1851 by coachbuilder Mr Coulls of Hindley Street Adelaide, and used to transport the two largest beam engines used at the Burra mines – Schneider’s and Morphett’s. The Schneider engine was hauled by a record 72 bullocks from Port Adelaide to Burra, with the journey taking two weeks.
Bagot Cup, Kapunda Museum, Kapunda
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.30. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.30. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Bark Canoe, Camp Coorong Cultural Center, Meningie
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.38. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.38. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Blackstone Oil-Burning Engine, Bungaree Station Homestead, Clare
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.42. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.42. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Bread Trough, 1930s, Lock Museum
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.37. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.37. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Camel wagon, Melrose Heritage Museum
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.46. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.46. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Chinese proclamation; Zirka -- the Star of Bethlehem
This article originally appeared in Community History 3.1 March 1993, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
This article originally appeared in Community History 3.1 March 1993, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
Chronometer, Paul Barraud, London, 1850 (part 1), Services SA Historical Collection
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.22-23. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.22-23. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Chronometer, Paul Barraud, London, 1850 (part 2), Services SA Historical Collection
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.38. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.38. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Clifton Pugh, 'A Cat in the Rabbit Trap', oil on masonite, 1957, Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Adelaide
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.45. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.45. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Clipper, City of Adelaide, Port Adelaide (part1)
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.18. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.18. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Clipper, City of Adelaide, Port Adelaide, (part 2)
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.18-198. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.18-198. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Coat stitched from sugar bags
This article originally appeared in Community History 4.4 December 1994, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
This article originally appeared in Community History 4.4 December 1994, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
Cutting from tree blazed by McDouall Stuart 24 July 1862 (part 1), Joh McDouall Stuart Society, Adelaide Masonic Centre
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.26-27. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.26-27. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Cutting from tree blazed by McDouall Stuart 24 July 1862 (part 2), Joh McDouall Stuart Society, Adelaide Masonic Centre
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.26-27. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.26-27. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Dingo Skeleton Fromm's Landing, Lower Murray River, South Australian Museum
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.10. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.10. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Dingo Trap, Melrose Heritage Museum
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Dumpy Level, Cary, London, Adelaide City Council Archives
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.11. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.11. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Epergne, 'The Boundary Rider', Henry Steiner, 1879, Mining and Minerals Museum, Broken Hill
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.28. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.28. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
H.B.Hawke Patent Seed Sower, Kapunda Museum, Kapunda
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.39. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.39. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Hannaford 'Ideal' Grader & Pickler, Roseworthy Agricultural Museum
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.43. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.43. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
John Ridley Testimonial Candelabrum, Julius Schomburgk, 1860 (part 1), University of Adelaide Visual Arts Collection
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.34-35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.34-35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
John Ridley Testimonial Candelabrum, Julius Schomburgk, 1860 (part 2), University of Adelaide Visual Arts Collection
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.34-35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.34-35. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Letters Patent Erecting and Establishing the Province of South Australia and Fixing its Boundaries,19 February 1836, State Records of South Australia, Adelaide
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.12. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
Geoff Speirs, The History Shapers: South Australian History in 100 Objects, Axiom Publishers, Adelaide, 2016, p.12. Reproduced here with the publisher’s permission.
MacKIllop Banner & the 'Shepherd Broadcaster'
This article first appeared in Community History 3.4 december 1993, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
This article first appeared in Community History 3.4 december 1993, and is republished here with the permission of History SA.
