by Carla Caruso

Three of our Guided Walks in your Park Lands are among hundreds of events during the month-long South Australian History Festival.

We’re heeding the advice from History Trust of SA chair Elizabeth Ho to “keep the history flame alive and support South Australia”

Our trio of walks feature on page 14 of the 84-page History Festival booklet (below).

During the History Festival, there are many events in your Park Lands hosted by other organisations too, such as the Botanic Gardens of SA, West Terrace Cemetery, and the Adelaide Gaol.

You can do everything from go on a ghost crime tour at the gaol to join a Kaurna reconciliation tour with the Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation and learn about stories of the iconic Palm House at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11).

Another highlight will be a Heritage Friday Forum on Friday, May 5, co-hosted by Australia ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) and Heritage SA.

While it’s not an event IN the Park Lands, it’s nevertheless relevant to your Park Lands. If you love Adelaide's Park Lands and the nearby hills landscapes, come along to this event at the city’s newly restored Q on Hallett.

Cultural landscapes are an increasingly important heritage category, requiring special forms of custodianship and management.

The forum will feature discussion on the challenges of Park Lands management and protection, among other things. Speaking will be heritage practitioners Richard Mackay AM, Stephanie Johnston, Neale Draper, and Stephen Schrapel. 

On the festival overall, Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith mused on the theme for this year’s event, Wonder, in the History Festival booklet.

“For me, a visit to the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden [Park 12] in the picturesque Adelaide Park Lands always gives me pause for wonder,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

“It is a quiet place, away from the hustle and bustle, where I can sit and contemplate while also remembering the work of our state’s trailblazers.

“I encourage everyone to get out and participate in as many events during this festival as you can, especially those in Adelaide. Let’s celebrate the history of our wonderful city and state.”

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Ho, the chair of the History Trust of South Australia, described the fest as “one of a kind in our nation”.

“It is made by outstanding history experts, local enthusiasts, countless community and cultural groups, museum and historical society volunteers, and South Australians of all ages state-wide over May.”

She added: “Come along, bring friends and family, attend city and regional events, explore and learn, keep the history flame alive, and support South Australia.”

For more information on our THREE Guided Walks during the History Festival, please read on…

Guided Walk through the ancient Olive Groves (Parks 7 and 8)

Sunday, 7 May 2023, at 2pm.

Find out how, when, and why these olive groves were planted, and why they are nestled in between the major ring route roads on the city’s northwestern corner.

Discover hidden walking trails and see some of the biggest pine and eucalyptus trees in the Park Lands, dotted in between the olives.

Learn why a convicted offender was given the approval to plant olives as the first and only cash crop in the Adelaide Park Lands.

Discover a walking trail that replaced one of the former roads through the park and learn about the 1960s road-widening project that slashed the width of the Olive Groves. 

Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/6347982efd14efb4c6187387

Guided Walk through Red Gum Park / Karrawirra (Park 12)

Sunday, 21 May 2023, at 2pm.

A two-hour guided walk, learning about one of the best-loved parts of the Park Lands, along the banks of the Torrens - home to a variety of public artworks, significant heritage trees, university facilities, many ducks, and much more.

Features include the first arboretum in South Australia, the memorial to Forgotten Australians, Peace Park, Angas Gardens, Grundy Gardens, and the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden. 

Wear sturdy shoes for a walk of just over 2km, around two hours’ duration.

Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/6347982efd14efb4c6187387

Guided Walk through Tarntanya Wama (Park 26)

Sunday, 28 May 2023, at 2pm 

This park has many thousands of regular visitors but few who know its hidden treasures.

Join Park Ambassador Helen Hutton to discover the 1914 memorial oak, the breeding grounds of waterbirds, and the history of park losses as sporting bodies and government corporations have fenced off or built over many parts of this park.

The tour includes Pennington Gardens West, Pinky Flat, Stella Bowen Park, Creswell Gardens, and Light’s Vision on Montefiore Hill.

Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/6347982efd14efb4c6187387