Holdings & Collections
The Adelaide City Council Archives is responsible for preserving the archival records of the Adelaide City Council and individuals and organisations closely associated with it. The records date from the formation of the Council—Australia’s oldest—in 1840.
They relate mainly to matters connected with the Council’s municipal governance of the City, North Adelaide and the surrounding Park Lands. They include files, volumes, maps, plans and other documents as well as a large collection of photographs. About 5,000 shelf metres of records are stored at the Archives, and most of these can be made available to the public for research.
In addition to the Council’s own administrative records, the City Archives also houses the historic City of Adelaide Civic Collection. This consists of about 3,000 items relating to the City and its history. These items have either been purchased by or presented as gifts to the Council. The Collection includes many museum artefacts and artworks such as the Queen Adelaide and Colonel Light relics, and presentations from Adelaide’s Sister Cities.
The Archives is also the custodian of the City of Adelaide Oral History Collection. This comprises over 100 taped interviews and transcripts of former Lord Mayors, Councillors and Corporation staff, as well as elderly City residents and business proprietors.
Archival Records Available for Public Research
City of Adelaide Assessment Books
These were rate records of City properties, produced annually from 1847. They can help you find out the age and use of properties, and the names of their occupants and owners.
Annual Reports
They summarise the activities and achievements of the Council from 1878, and include reports by the (Lord) Mayor, Town Clerk and each of the Council’s chief administrative officers.
Council Minutes
These are held from 1840, and consist of minutes of meetings of the City Council and Local Board of Health. They also contain reports of the various Council Committees which dealt with the day-to-day administration of the City.
Citizens’ Rolls
Annual lists of persons entitled to vote in municipal elections. To qualify citizens had to either own or occupy property within the City, and this included women. The earliest Roll is for 1852–53.
Municipal Year Books
Year Books were published annually from 1911–1974. They are a short guide to the Council and the City, containing information about many municipal services and amenities, the Park Lands, streets and statues, and prominent public buildings.
Town Clerk’s Records
These include correspondence, files and newspaper cuttings of the old Town Clerk’s Department, 1852 to 1982, together with records relating to inspection and licensing, parks and gardens and public health.
City Engineer’s Records
Consist of correspondence and other records, 1852–1982, relating to planning, construction, and maintenance of streets, squares, drains, and bridges. There’s also the Smith Survey which shows details of City buildings in 1880.
Licensing Records
The records of the City Inspector’s Office 1854–1973 deal with the inspection and licensing of a range of business and other activities carried on within the City, including lodging houses, private hospitals, places of public entertainment, taxi-cab owners, street hawkers, milk vendors, street musicians, newspaper vendors, motor car drivers, boot blacks, and cow keepers.
Health Records
Information about the health of the City’s population is contained in such records as the City of Adelaide health returns, Health Inspectors’ reports, records of bacteriological examinations and visits by the Medical Officer of Health and Trained Nurse to premises occupied by sufferers of infectious diseases.
Parks and Gardens Records
Records relating to the laying out, landscaping, planting and maintenance of the City’s parks and gardens from 1856, including reports of the City Gardener and Park Lands Ranger. There are also applications for permits to depasture sheep and cattle on the Park Lands.
City Building Plans
Copies of plans of building work in the City, including alterations and additions, submitted to the Council for approval are held from 1924. Plans of many non-government properties are available including houses, businesses, offices, hotels, factories and warehouses.
Historic Photographs
These date from about 1860, with the bulk of the collection being from around the turn of the century to the 1970s. They include views of City streets and buildings, parks and people, and various civic events such as Royal visits and Mayoral garden parties. There is also a collection of engineering photos.