Events
There are three types of YDHS events.
General meetings
Speaker at 7:00pm for 20 - 30 minutes. Followed by meeting and supper.
February, March, April, September, October and November
YDHS Friday Talks
Speaker at 10:00am for 40 - 50 minutes, then question time and morning tea.
March, May, July, September and November
Members' Tours and Social Activities
A range of activities, two to three times a year
Upcoming events
Digging for Treasure: the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum
YDHS Friday talk
10:00am Friday 31 March 2023
Venue: Yankalilla Library
Speaker: Dr Jane Olsson
From the treasure hunts of the mid-18th century to the more recent focus on documentation and preservation, the rediscovery and excavation of the ancient Roman sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum provide an insight into the emergence of archaeology as a discipline. In the late 1980’s Jane was fortunate to be involved in the “Houses in Pompeii” documentation project as part of her PhD research. Funded by the Australian Research Council this project was jointly managed by the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney in conjunction with the German Archaeological Institute. It formed part of a global effort to record and document areas of ancient Pompeii which had already been excavated but not well documented, and which were rapidly deteriorating due to weather, tourism, and natural disasters such as earthquakes. This talk will look at the history of the excavations of the two sites and how the methods used at different times have contributed to how the sites appear today.
Bookings essential. Fleurieu Coast Information Centre,
8558 0240, cooee@visitfleurieucoast.com.au or online

Pompeii: View of Vesuvius from the Forum. Ernest Breton 1855 (Engraving)
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Herculaneum: Excavated street of the ancient town, with the modern town of Ercolano above. Photo: Jane Olsson, 1987
Who Owns our Roads?
General meeting
7:00pm Monday 11 April 2023
Venue: Yankalilla Uniting Church Hall (Sanders Hall)
Speaker: Allan Barnes
Is it just some land we all drive across, or is it a road? This question can have multiple answers for the same piece of land. Different answers depending upon which legislation you rely. How this has come about will be explored starting with the first European settlers’ tracks, then by considering the impact of the colonial survey instructions and finally by probing a variety of state government legislation.
Allan Barnes worked in the Lands Titles Office for a number of years, managing those sections of the office approving the subdivision of land, the creation of strata titles, and the definition of property boundaries. In later years he was the Principle Drafting Officer and then a Deputy Registrar-General. Amongst his qualifications is a Master of Arts in social and economic geography.

Old Sellicks Hill Road c1909. Courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, B 26196
Time Travel Torrens Vale
A Festival Fleurieu Event
Wednesday 26 April 2023 12:30 - 4:00pm
Club Fleurieu, 140 – 142 Main South Road, Yankalilla (start and finish)
Adults $25.00 (afternoon tea included)

Day’s Cottage, Torrens Vale ©YDHS
Take a bus trip back in time and be transported to historic Torrens Vale. See some hidden gems, and meet local characters along the way. Making a move to protect our heritage, we will stop at Gully House, and see how this cottage is being painstakingly restored. Depart from Club Fleurieu and return there in time for afternoon tea and chat with the presenters.
Bookings essential. Fleurieu Coast Information Centre,
8558 0240, cooee@visitfleurieucoast.com.au or online
Scanfests
Special Events for History Month May 2023
Sunday 7 May 2023 11:00am - 2:00pm
Myponga Community Hall
Saturday 20 May 2023 11:00am - 2:00pm
Inman Valley Memorial Hall
SCAN, SAVE, SHARE, STORE
Can you help the Yankalilla District Historical Society preserve our community’s heritage? Do you have something we can add to our history collection? Such as photos, brochures, letters, clippings etc from any era. Would you like to have a digital copy of your images and memorabilia? Come to the Scanfest at Myponga or Inman Valley where volunteers from the Society will assist you using our scanning equipment and save to a USB. If you would like to donate a copy to the Society it will be added to our collection to preserve it for future generations. If you are unable to attend but would like to add to our collection please email yank.hist.soc@gmail.com
