Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia Archives and Museum, Adelaide

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Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia Archives and Museum, Adelaide

• Royal Adelaide Show Museum
• Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Archives Foundation of SA
• RA&HS Archives and Museum
• RA&HS Archives

• Business
• Community
• Educational

Covering the Society’s 180-year history, the RA&HS Archives and Museum demonstrate just how important agriculture, horticulture and viticulture are to the fabric of South Australia. The Society is the organiser of the State’s largest event, the Royal Adelaide Show, and the archival material includes everything from showbags and souvenirs, to the history of woodcutting, sheaf tossing, livestock, wine, cookery and craft.

In the absence of a Department of Agriculture, the governments of the early colonial days welcomed and supported the Society's activities. They relied on them to:

• organise trials to test farm machinery
• stage competitions for pruning in order to cope with the rapid growth of the viticulture industry
• advise them on essential services such as the opening up of export markets and make provision for quarantine laws
• provide continuing educational and research facilities in other fields.

In 1870, the Register editorial reported "although formed originally to foster the Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural pursuits, the Society has now become a national institution."

The records held date from 1856 to the present and are a valuable collection of South Australian history. Some of the information available includes:

• Past Royal Show results
• Correspondence
• Minute books
• Office records
• Annual reports
• Stud stock registers
• Press cuttings
• Catalogues
• Artefacts, trophies
• Ribbons, medals and badges
• Posters, paintings and photographs.

Finding aids currently only available onsite.
'Sharing The Good Earth, 175 Years of Influence and Vision': History of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia written by Rob Linn, 2014.

Monday to Thursday: 9am-5pm.

Open by appointment, individuals and groups welcome.

17 February 2023

• Agriculture (Thematic area)
• Arts and Culture (Thematic area)
• Built Environment (Thematic area)
• Education (Thematic area)
• Environment (Thematic area)
• Family / Domestic Life (Thematic area)
• Genealogical (Thematic area)
• Industry, Manufacturing and Commerce (Thematic area)
• Labour (Thematic area)
• Local Studies (Thematic area)
• Natural Resources (Thematic area)
• Recreation / Leisure / Sports (Thematic area)
• Science and Technology (Thematic area)
• Social Organisations and Activities (Thematic area)