Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival
The Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival is a biennial Festival conducted as part of the statewide SA History Festival. Initiated by the Yankalilla and District Historical Society in 2018, this Festival showcases the rich and diverse indigenous, natural, built and community heritage of the Western Fleurieu. Planning for the next Festival will commence in mid-2027.
HERITAGE FLEURIEU COAST 2026
The Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival 2026 was again a tremendous success and showcased the depth and variety of our District’s heritage, with over 40 events being presented by the Yankalilla District Historical Society and community partners. The Festival launch at Second Valley on 2 May, included the launch of the latest in the YDHS 'Old' series Old Second Valley and Wirrina. It concluded at Mitchell Cottage in Bald Hills, where we raised a glass to toast the happy couple George and Sarah Mitchell on the occasion of their 50th Golden Wedding anniversary in 1925! In between these two flagship events, every township in the region participated to celebrate our indigenous, natural, built, people and community heritage. There were walks, talks, exhibitions, photo and memorabilia displays, cemetery tours, demonstration days, quiz nights, a live music concert and even a film screening.
HERITAGE FLEURIEU COAST 2024
The month of May was filled with Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival 2024 events presented by the Yankalilla District Historical Society and community partners. The launch of the festival by mayor Darryl Houston and the launch of the book “Old Inman Valley and Bald Hills” was held at the Inman Valley hall. It was a huge event which set the bar high for the festival to follow. Our Festival logo reads – Enjoy festival events celebrating our region’s heritage – Indigenous, Environment, Built, People, Community and the 36 events across the district which included walks, talks, a photo shoot, exhibitions, displays, a play, Family fun day of old school games, music, Kaurna language, tours, Museum demo day certainly achieved this aim. A truly local festival our district can be proud of.
HERITAGE FLEURIEU COAST 2022
The Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival 2022 was awarded Community Event of the Year by the District Council of Yankalilla. The Award was presented to YDHS President Sue Speck at the Australia Day Ceremony on 26 January 2023.
From the launch in Myponga where Vanessa the cow won the hearts of all, through to the intense concentration of those learning traditional weaving at the Yankalilla Showgrounds, the award winning 2022 Heritage Fleurieu Coast Festival offered a truly diverse and exhilarating experience for all. The geographical diversity of the region was celebrated, with events not only in our main townships of Normanville and Yankalilla but further afield at Myponga, Ingalalla Falls, Second Valley, Wirrina Cove, Inman Valley, Silverton and Delamere. Several events honoured the region’s indigenous heritage with music performed by Indigenous composer Cheryl van Wageningen at the launch (watch out for Cheryl in the 2024 program). and the thought-provoking and challenging, standing-room-only Named Aboriginal Places presentation at Sanders Hall Yankalilla. And many other events and displays enjoyed by all!
HERITAGE FLEURIEU COAST 2018
In August 2017 a public meeting was held to support the idea of a local Heritage Festival every two years, in conjunction with the South Australian History Trust Festival, for the month of May. The name reflects the District Council of Yankalilla signage ‘Fleurieu Coast' and the word 'Heritage' to suggest a broad interpretation of history.
The inaugural Heritage Fleurieu Coast Program 2018 was a tremendous success. The opening event at the Yankalilla Historical Museum was a great start to the Festival, with many fascinating displays, musical items, demonstrations (including the forge in operation), as well as the official speeches.
The inaugural HFC Festival launch was also the SA History Trust Regional Launch.
Other memorable events included the bus trip around Myponga and Myponga Beach (so popular that a second bus had to be hired to cater for the number of bookings).
Also popular was an archaeological dig at Bald Hills (120 people attending over the two days), and the rededication of the historic Garnet Kelly Reserve. There were also many talks, displays, a play and concerts enjoyed by all.
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