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The City of Holdfast Bay has a rich history spanning thousands of years. We offer many history services, including a dedicated History Centre and the Bay Discovery Centre.
Holdfast Bay History Centre
Please note that the History Centre is closed until Monday 22 July. We apologise for any inconvenience.
The Holdfast Bay History Centre aims to preserve and raise awareness of the City of Holdfast Bay's heritage. Onsite, volunteers manage historical enquiries from the public, conduct research, and help care for our collection.
We are open every Thursday from 10am to 4pm or by appointment outside of these hours. If you have a particular research topic, we recommend completing the research enquiry form below so we can help in advance.
Research Enquiries
Please note that the Enquiry Program is closed from Monday 10 June to Sunday 14 July.
For assistance with research enquiries, we recommend contacting the State Library of South Australia's Ask Us service.
The City of Holdfast Bay’s History Collection provides access to various research materials, including its vast catalogue. Volunteers can help you with general research. Popular historical research topics include:
- family history
- local businesses
- property/buildings
- war-related research
- house history report (currently paused for the remainder of 2023)
Please note that the history collection and research materials are held onsite at the Holdfast Bay History Centre, accessible on Thursdays or by appointment. Depending on the backlog, the estimated turnaround time for requests can be up to one month.
Submit the form to begin your research journey.
Public Programs
We currently offer a range of programs across the calendar year. Upcoming highlights include:
- Glenelg Air-Raid Shelter openings
- History Festival 2024
- History by the Seaside Talks June - September annually
Our new-look historical walking brochures are available via the link below or in person at the Brighton and Glenelg Library, Holdfast Bay History Centre, and the Bay Discovery Centre.
Please note that we cannot provide in-person speakers for external events. We highly recommend booking a visit to the Bay Discovery Centre to view our historical museum and changing exhibitions.
Upcoming events can be viewed on our What's on page.
