A Brief History of the Society presented at the Society's 25th Birthday and Launch of History SA Week, 22nd May 2006:

 

Having been established in 1981, the following decade gave us an opportunity of promoting interest in local and national history with the celebration of the South Australian Jubilee 150 in 1986 and the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.

 

The SA Jubilee 150 saw the launching of our first publication “A Pictorial History of John Street.” This was well received and over 1,300 copies have been sold. We also featured our first major public display in the gallery which was previously on this site. Also in 1986 Rotary established the Waterwheel Museum and our Society took over the opening of this to the public on a regular basis. We continue to do this after 20 years.

 

On the occasion of the Australia Bicentenary in 1988 we set two plaques in the Parabanks Shopping Centre. One in honour of John Harvey, the founder of Salisbury and one in honour of Ruby Davy, the celebrated musician. In 1990 we were involved in the heritage survey to list the buildings to be preserved. Unfortunately, there were not many left.

 

Then followed further publications. In 1990 we issued “I Called It Salisbury” by Pat Harvey. In 1995 “Ruby Davy” by Rita Wilson. In 1996 , “Be Still”, the history of the Congregational Church in Salisbury, and in 1997 “Little Para Pilgrims ”, the history of the Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan and Methodist Churches in Salisbury. In 1994 we were able to open a Folk Museum in the Old Police Station. It began in only a small portion of the building and has now grown to take over the whole building and the stables. This is now open to the public every Sunday afternoon. The admission to both the Waterwheel Museum and the Folk Museum is free.

 

In 1998 we ran a successful music competition as part of the Jubilee 150 celebrations of Salisbury. During the 25 years we have carried out surveys of both the Methodist and St Johns cemeteries and this information is available to the public on website and hardcopy. We have delivered some 80 talks to Community Groups and Schools. We have conducted over 25 public historical walks and over 200 excursions for school children. We are called upon frequently to supply historical information on local history and assist people doing family histories.

 

Over 25 years we do feel some sense of achievement and that we have provided a useful service to the Public of Salisbury and district. Salisbury is continually changing and history continues to be made so our task is endless. We hope that we can keep with it.

 

* * * * * *