Art, Culture and Lifestyle - Heritage
Rich and diverse
South Australia’s 175 years of European settlement is only a fraction of a story that dates back 40,000 years.
Visit the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Adelaide to hear dreamtime stories and traditional didgeridoo music. See the art of Adelaide’s Kaurna people (pronounced Gar-nuh) and other Aboriginal communities.
Then travel to historic Glenelg and Port Adelaide where European settlers wrote the first pages of the South Australian story.
Ancient and living culture
Stay for a film or cultural performance. See the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal antiquities at the South Australian Museum. Take a trip to the Adelaide Hills, dance performances, art exhibition and boomerang painting can give you an idea of what life was like for the Peramangk people in the Hahndorf area.
Art and artefacts
Adelaide is “Australia’s arts capital”. Take a stroll along North Terrace to see why. Our “cultural boulevard” features war memorials, the South Australian Museum, Migration Museum, State Library and Art Gallery of South Australia. See rare fossils, unique artwork and vast collections of work only able to be viewed here.
The Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design in Adelaide’s west end, is a real arts “centre of excellence”. Some of Australia’s best designers and makers work in four purpose-built studios producing high-end, contemporary ceramics, furniture, metal and glass art and collectables for sale.
Early settler history
South Australia’s maritime history began in Port Adelaide. Scattered among the port’s historic buildings are some excellent museums covering everything from maritime and railway history to aviation and toys.
Germans were among the early settlers where they established the world-famous Barossa and the town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.
Hahndorf is one of our most popular tourist spots with boutique shops, art galleries and traditional German food and drink.
Heysen’s art
Sir Hans Heysen is one of Australia’s most famous artists and he lived and worked in Hahndorf. A German migrant, Heysen built a gallery and studio called The Cedars. Visit the studio and garden to see the land that inspired him for 60 years.
South Australia is rich in history and heritage and just waiting for you to experience it.
Things to do
Here are some great ideas for you to try while you’re in the area.
What's on
There are plenty of art and culture events in South Australia.
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