Australian History and Genealogy Expo

by Dave Walsh (subscribe)

Event: 07/10/2016 - 08/10/2016

There are many people in Adelaide with a keen interest in history and genealogy, and lots of groups where these interests can be pursued. Local company Gould Genealogy has organised the first ever national Australian History and Genealogy Expo to bring people in Adelaide and interstate together to share and exhibit their areas of knowledge.

The Expo is being held on October 7-8 at Immanuel College in Novar Gardens, with around a hundred exhibitors showcasing their specialist fields of family history and genealogy at exhibition stalls. Some of the Expo exhibitors are commercial groups such as book publishers and companies offering genealogy services, but there are also many libraries from all about South Australia, historical societies and not-for-profits.



From the Adelaide Northern Districts Family History Group and South Australia Police Historical Society to the Wend/Sorb Society of South Australia, these small historical societies cover an enormously diverse range of our culture. I was particularly surprised to see no less than eleven football history groups attending, none of whom I had ever heard of before.

Of course major SA government organisations such as History SA and its museums are represented together with State Records at their own information stall. Peak groups including the History Council of South Australia will exhibit alongside the Professional Historians Association and Genealogy SA.



However the Australian History and Genealogy Expo will be far more than simply static information stalls of exhibitors. A comprehensive program of about forty presentations are on offer from local and national experts. Talks will cost $5-10 to attend although a Gold ticket will be available at for $50 allowing entry into any number of presentations. The lecture program is still under development but you can see here what is already locked in.

Some of the lectures are on very practical topics such as how to Make the Most of Digitised Newspapers, Researching WWI Ancestors and Identifying and Dating 19th Century Photos. Others give fascinating glimpses into a period of history such as Christeen Schoepf's Women Who Worked at the Cheer‐up Hut, SAPOL Historical Society's Police History, and Why Did the Irish leave  Ireland in the 19th Century?



Admission to the Australian History and Genealogy Expo at Immanuel College costs $15 for one day, or $20 for two days, but once inside there are lots of free things to do too. Two mini-theatres will offer information and demonstration sessions by Genealogy SA, and free demonstrations of Genealogy software by other groups.

Gould Genalogy is expecting many interstate visitors at this event as well as a horde of history lovers from South Australia. There's a helpful section on the website with information for visitors.



Find out more about South Australia's first national Australian History and Genealogy Expo on their website or if you're on Facebook you can view the event information there. I'm really looking forward to visiting the Expo, and will be very surprised if I don't see a few familiar faces while I'm there.

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Why? Learn about your family history, or the history of South Australia

When: 10am to 5pm

Website: www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/australian-history-genealogy-expo-2016

Where: Immanuel College, 32 Morphett Road Novar Gardens SA

Cost: $15 for 1 day, $20 for 2days

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