Cultural Advice

Aboriginal Peoples are advised the Library Collection contains images, voices and names of deceased people in physical and online resources.

The Library recognises the significance of the traditional cultural knowledges contained within its Collection. The Library acknowledge some materials contain language that may not reflect current attitudes, was published without consent or recognition, or, is offensive. These materials reflect the views of the authors and/or the period in which they were produced and do not represent the views of the Library.

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History of Primary Education in South Australia Collection

This Collection was established to support research into the history of primary education in South Australia. It comprises more than 8,000 items used in South Australian primary schools across the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

The heart of the Collection includes textbooks, readers, audiovisual materials, kits, and curriculum documents. It also features a small but valuable selection of teachers’ lesson plans, school roll books, and students’ copybooks. In addition, non-fiction works published in or about South Australia—with significance to primary education and educational research—form part of the Collection.

Some materials are rare or fragile, and access may be restricted at the discretion of the Special Collections Coordinator.

The Collection began in 1972, initiated by academic and library staff at Wattle Park Teachers' College, a predecessor of the University of South Australia.

Picture - Student exercise books dating between 1855-1960, History or Primary Education in South Australia Collection, UniSA Library 2020

Access and explore the collection


The Collection is housed in an offsite warehouse. UniSA students and staff are able to borrow items from the Collection for a maximum of four weeks. Please place a hold through Ask the Library and the item will be sent to your nominated campus.

All other access is by appointment only. Contact Ask the Library to make an appointment.

You can explore the Collection by browsing Collection Discovery or searching the Special Collections Catalogue. A small number of items have digital versions available.

Picture  - Items used in South Australian primary schools during the 20th century, UniSA Library 2021

Discover more



Related UniSA Library Guides

 

Related UniSA Library Collections

 

  • The Pedagogies in Practice Collection contains physical and digital resources that can be used by students to plan and prepare for field placements within schools
  • The de Lissa Association Collection contains the records from the de Lissa Association of Early Childhood Graduates and relates to the history of the Kindergarten Movement and the development of early childhood education in South Australia

 

Picture - Extract from W.H. Thomas' student exercise book, 1855, UniSA Library