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

Heritage Fleurieu Coast 2024
The Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival is a biennial Festival showcasing the rich and diverse heritage of the Fleurieu Coast. Initiated by the Yankalilla District Historical Society the first festival was held in 2018 with the aim to promote and share our indigenous, environmental, built and community heritage.
Upcoming events
A Few of my Favourite Things
Speaker: Museum members
Friday 6 October 2023
10:00am (YDHS Friday talks)
Venue: Yankalilla District Historical Museum
Bookings not required
Five members of the Museum will present the history of ‘their favourite things’, including the history and establishment of the Museum, the wheat era, St Thomas Church, the dairy industry and the transport sector.
There is no charge for this event, but a donation would be appreciated.

Yankalilla Museum
Papua New Guinea in the 1960s
Speaker: Nigel Pile
Monday 9 October 2023
7:00pm (General YDHS meeting)
Venue: Yankalilla Library Meeting Room
Bookings not required
Nigel Pile was a Patrol Officer for six years in the Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Patrol Officers carried out important administrative duties in pre-independence Papua New Guinea, prior to it achieving self-government in 1973. They represented the Australian government and had wide-ranging authority in all parts of the country, including very remote areas. Papua New Guinea became independent in September 1975.

Early PNG Courthouse
The Mitchell Cottage
Speaker: Rob Kirk
Friday 10 November 2023
10:00am (YDHS Friday talks)
Venue: Yankalilla Library Meeting Room
Bookings not required
The ruin of The Mitchell Cottage is at Bald Hills Farm in Torrensvale. George and Sarah Mitchell lived here in 1877 but the 4-room cottage was built earlier by Samuel Letheby -possibly in the 1850’s. The main fireplace still exists, as does an underground brick water tank. Finds from the garden will be shown, along with a little local information on tracks and a cemetery.

Fireplace at Mitchell Cottage