South Australian Parliament Research Library

We were visited this morning by the Clare Regional History Group as the guests of David Paton MP - Member for Ngadjuri. A fair trip in but apparently everyone is used to early starts! Hope everyone enjoyed their time in the Library and a safe journey back. Lyn Breuer

Two photos of inside to-day! Undated but likely of the Library when our new home was completed in late 1939. Three things to notice: the ashtray stands at the end of each bookcase; and two things about the terrestrial globe (look carefully). One I will explain: the Library legend is the scar on the globe above Australia was care of a school boy in the 1970s, but clearly it was delivered much earlier (that original carpet was gone by 1955) than we thought.

Every time we tidy, we find more things. In the latest folder, this image of one version for the proposed 'new' parliament house. I love the car out the front. You can just make out to the rear the former Government Printer's building, since demolished to make space for the Festival Plaza/Centre site.

From "Progressive Adelaide" - Rundle St (now Mall) dating to the mid-1930s. The Beehive Corner we would recognise to-day, but even that looks different!

1936 Progressive Adelaide also meant 'Progressive Seacliff': a leading South Australian pleasure resort emerging from The Seacliff Improvement Society, formed to raise funds for 'the pick of Australia's manhood...covering themselves with glory" during WWI. You can see the 1936 Seacliff Esplanade, Handby's Hotel Australia, the Argosy Dance Palais, SA's largest open-air skating rink and the historical pines, Pat and Charlie (planted by George Strickland Kingston who founded this library and named for two of his children). City of Holdfast Bay

On this day in 1967, Australians were asked to vote, via a referendum, to approve the alteration of the Commonwealth Constitution to "omit certain words...so that Aboriginals are to be counted in reckoning the Population". In effect it recognised Indigenous Australians as part of the population and equal citizens for whom the Commonwealth could make laws. From our Historical Pamphlets collection, this pamphlet advised citizens on what was proposed and the supporting arguments.

Found this very tiny publication (11 x 7 cms) dating to 1917 - the all-you-need-to-know about South Australia! Lots of interesting stats. This page lists the professions of the day: bedstead makers, brushmakers, candlemoulders, curriers, harnessmakers, linotype attenders, mantelpiece makers, shoeingsmiths (my favourite word here!). Also note the wages for tailor vs tailoress. More to add later!

'Progressive Adelaide 1936 SA Centenary' is great for local photos, but also fascinating for the ads it carries (same in the old newspapers - we complain now, but retrospectively the best bit!). These are interesting not only for what kind of business once operated and where, but also for what mattered: the butcher who made absolutely certain we knew the 'fridges were powered by electricity!

Again, while searching for something else, I found this fabulous volume for the 1936 centenary of the State of South Australia - Progressive Adelaide as it Stands Today'. It is as fascinating for the advertisements as much as anything else and will post more later. Glenelg Town Council features for today. City of Holdfast Bay

To search for something worthy and find something else instead is always fun. 'The Children's Hour' was an SA Dept of Education publication for primary schools,1889-1963. I don't know quite what to make of it, but certainly communication styles and tones are very different now. September 1959 was all about the miracle of television - less 'magic' and more 'idiot box' as it was put to us. (And I love the front cover illustration.)