Local History Resources
The Collection - located at the Salisbury Community Hub
Books
The not-for-loan collection covers a wide range of historical and biographical information about Salisbury in South Australia and includes general Australian history.
Cemetery records for Salisbury
Providing a missing link in a family tree.
Online:
- St John’s Anglican Church - St. John's Churchyard in Salisbury, South Australia - Find a Grave Cemetery
- Salisbury Primitive Methodist Church (Hepzibah)- Copy of burial roll 1864-1964, transcription of head stones - Salisbury Methodist Church Cemetery in Salisbury, South Australia - Find a Grave Cemetery
- Burton Primitive Methodist Cemetery 1866-1971 - Australian Cemeteries - South Australia- Burton Primitive Methodist
For St Augustine’s Catholic Church Burial Records, contact the parish office or The Catholic Archives in Adelaide. Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide - Archives
Newspapers
The Salisbury Local History Collection holds the following newspapers in hard copy at the Salisbury Community Hub:
- Salisbury – Elizabeth Times – 1948-1964
- Para Gazette – 1983-1987
If searching for different dates or other newspapers, view the State Library of South Australia website which has scanned copies of many local and South Australian papers.
https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/home
The National Library of Australia’s website, known as Trove, also has scanned copies of Australian newspapers.
Photographs
Are you looking for a photo of one of your ancestors, or a historical building or house associated with Salisbury? Our Local History collection has hundreds of photographs from the Salisbury district that can be viewed on our Library Catalogue. Photograph Search Results for Salisbury Library Service.
Historical items and artefacts
The library has a selection of historical items and artefacts.
City of Salisbury Seal - used on official documents prior to the 1990s. The City of Salisbury seal is displayed at the Salisbury Community Hub on Level 1.
Time capsule placed in the foundation of the Salisbury Council building 1954.
When the building was demolished in the early 1970s, the time capsule was retrieved and archived and is only displayed on rare occasions.
Handmade nails from Dr Fisher’s house. Dr Fisher was the first qualified doctor in Salisbury. His house was located on Commercial Road, opposite the new St Augustine’s Catholic Church.
The house was constructed in the 1860s and when improvements were made, the original nails were saved and donated to the City of Salisbury. The nails are archived and displayed on rare occasions.
A flat iron used for ironing clothes by families in Salisbury in the early 20th Century.
This iron is archived and is displayed with other similar items on occasion.
Donations
Offers of donations are welcome and accepted from persons and organisations donating the item who have valid and/or legal title to it, own the copyright and will transfer copyright ownership.
Donations to the collection shall be accepted with the understanding that this item will be catalogued and available for public viewing and research and become the property of the City of Salisbury Local History Collection.
The Local History Officer is responsible for assessing all donations, and materials must meet the selection criteria. Please print and complete the donation form and submit via email library@salisbury.sa.gov.au for review by the Local History Officer.
Local History donation form 2025.pdf
Visits and Talks
Schools and other organisations are welcome to visit the Salisbury Community Hub.
The Local History Officer can also visit your location, in person or online. Topics for talks may include the general history of Salisbury and visits to local cemeteries and museums. Contact the Local History Officer library@salisbury.sa.gov.au for more information.