Events Calendar 2026

Guests are very welcome to join us at all Pioneers SA events

Please note that bookings are required for all events seven days prior to the scheduled date.  Payment in advance is preferred for all events.  Booking and payment options below.  For any issues with a booking, please text or call the Events Co-ordinator on 0409 251 185

 Wednesday 25 March 10.30am – 12.30pm

SM-02 SameShips - 'Isabella Watson'

The 'Isabella Watson' made two voyages to South Australia.  The first departed London on 17 December, 1844, and Plymouth on 21 December, 1844.  She arrived in Port Adelaide on 3 April 1845 carrying 119 assisted emigrants, mainly from Devon and Cornwall.  Returning to the UK later that year, she departed London commanded by Captain A G Thompson and arrived in Port Adelaide on 14 May 1846.  Come along for morning tea and share your stories

Cost:  $5 per person.

Bookings & payment in advance appreciated

Monday 27 April 12pm - 3pm

E26-03 - Pub Lunch 

'Cracking Light’s Code: Celebrating Light’s Birthday with a Fresh Look at How Adelaide Was Planned Across the Torrens'

Colonel William Light faced an extraordinary challenge: to design a city of 1,000 one‑acre lots on a site unlike any other, split by the River Torrens. How did he achieve it?

Light’s working drawings and notes were lost—most likely in a house fire—leaving historians with the final plan but no record of the thinking behind it. In this presentation, architect, urban designer and cultural heritage consultant Ron Danvers explores how Light may have constructed his master plan. Drawing on international planning precedents of the era, Danvers “reverse engineers” Adelaide’s layout to reveal a compelling and highly plausible explanation of Light’s method.  Join us to celebrate the 240^th birthday of the remarkable man who had the creative genius and skill to create the city that we all enjoy today.

The Edinburgh Hotel

1-7 High Street, Mitcham

Cost:  Members $65     Guests $75

Booking essential and will close on Tuesday 21 April.

When booking, please provide a contact phone number, the names of all attendees, their meal selection, and/or dietary requirements.  

Main Course selections:

- Fish & chips, Greek salad, chips, lemon, or

- Roast beef, seasonal roasted vegetables, (GF)

        (gravy available upon request); or

 - T hai noodle salad, with chicken or tofu (GF )

Dessert selections:

 C offee & kahula parfait, coffee anglaise, strawberries (GF); OR

 E ton Mess, meringue, cream, berry compote, fresh berries (GF)

Wednesday 22 April 10.30am – 12.30pm

SM-02 SameShips - 'Caroline', 'Delhi', 'William Barras'

These three ships arrived at Port Adelaide within a three-day period in December 1839. Their arrival marked a significant moment in the growth of the fledgling colony, with approximately 470 emigrants disembarking to begin new lives in South Australia. Join us for morning tea to share your stories or learn more about these remarkable voyages.

Cost:  $5 per person.

Bookings & payment in advance appreciated

Saturday 2 May 11am

Pioneer Poster Exhibition Launch - Campbelltown Public Library

Join the Pioneers SA Librarian, Alison Hicks, for a fascinating talk on early settler Martha Silke (née Painter). Arriving in South Australia in 1840 aboard the Fairlie, Martha went on to build a life in Paradise with her husband, Henry Oak Silke, a horticulturalist. Alison's presentation will explore Martha’s family life, and active contributions to South Australia’s early history.

Bookings open 1 April 2026  via  Humanitix:   Martha Silke: Pioneer Settler of Paradise

Thursday 7 May 7pm - 9pm

Pioneers SA History Festival Launch - Burnside Library

"London, Lancashire & Orkney: Families Connecting in South Australia"

A journey tracing the unexpected links between families from the slums of London, the industrial heart of Lancashire and the remote Orkney Islands. This presentation by Pioneers Association President Anthea Taylor, follows lives shaped by poverty, resilience and quiet ambition, woven together by migration, chance and shared beginnings in SA.  Free event

Bookings to events@pioneerssa.org.au please.

Sunday 17 May 10am - 4pm

Step back in time at History Day at the Gaol!

Explore the iconic Old Adelaide Gaol with self‑guided tours, hands‑on activities, and fascinating talks that bring the past to life. As part of the History Festival, tickets are half‑price for one day only, making it the perfect chance for families to discover something new together.  Pioneers SA will also be on site with a special poster display and information desk, adding even more stories and insight to your visit.    TICKETS are essential and available from https://www.adelaidegaol.sa.gov.au/ - be sure to book early!

Friday 1 May - Tuesday 31 May

Pioneers SA Poster Exhibitions

"Pioneers of the Mid-North"                                      Pioneers SA Office,  Level 2, 25 Leigh Street Adelaide   Tue & Thur   10am - 2pm

"Pioneers of Campbelltown & the N E Suburbs"      Campbelltown Public Library                                            Daily 10am - 6pm  (1-5pm Sun) 

"Pioneer Connections with Old Adelaide Gaol"        Old Adelaide Gaol, 18 Gaol Road, Adelaide                     Sun 17 May Only 10am-4pm