Resources

Historians are taught to interrogate sources. They compare as many different sources and historical perspectives as they can find. This is a skill that, when you master it, will open up a window into the past. So, how do we get started?

Historical evidence can come in many forms and once found, it is categorized and analysed. But where do historians find historical sources to begin with?  

Inquiry is the way into history. It requires us to research, question, dive deeper and create our own opinions. Historians conduct inquiries into topics of particular interest to them. They then create different outcomes such as research papers, museum exhibits and podcasts to share their results and conclusions. And it all begins with a question.

This video showcases Ballot Box 31, a container which was used to collect remote votes from rural areas of South Australia. Boxes in this style were designed to be carried by camel to remote polling places around the state. This particular box was used in Pimba, a small settlement located on the transcontinental railway line approximately 500 kilometers from Adelaide. It is often on display in the Adelaide CBD in the Centre of Democracy. The video considers the perspectives of a person from the Adnyamathanha nation who is unable to vote, and a woman living rurally, excited to vote for the first time.

This video showcases the story of the “First Ute”. This car from the Ford Motor Company was commonly owned in rural South Australia from 1934. An example of this vehicle is on display in the National Motor Museum. The video considers the perspectives of the woman credited with requesting the car's creation and the perspective of a designer who worked on the vehicle.

This video showcases a tea set sold in “The China Gift Store”, the shopfront now known as “Miss Gladys Sym Choon”. The store is named after Gladys Sym Choon who ran the store. The China Gift Store was one of several stores owned and run by the Sym Choon family. South Australia’s Migration Museum now looks after several items from the original store stock. This video considers the perspectives of Gladys Sym Choon and of a customer visiting her shop.

This video showcases Don Dunstan’s iconic pink shorts. Dunstan donned the shorts in 1972 at Parliament whilst in his term as Premier of South Australia. The shorts caused somewhat of a media frenzy, one which has never quite died down. The video considers the perspectives of a press secretary and a young boy reacting to the media frenzy.

This video showcases a medical kit used by Dr Everard during his voyage on the Africaine in 1836. The kit is now on display in the South Australia Maritime Museum. It contains all sorts of medical instruments common to that period of medicine – many of which were used for surgical medical procedures. The video considers the perspectives of Mary Thomas, a woman travelling on the Africaine with her family, and the perspective of Dr Everard himself.

This video showcases the Monsoor Hawker Van, a vehicle currently housed in the National Motor Museum. The mobile shop, which was owned and driven by Hassan (Harry) Monsoor, was taken on a regular route through the Flinders Ranges and delivered goods to many rural South Australian communities. The video considers the perspectives of two men who regularly shopped from Monsoor. It questions ideas of business economics and consumer culture.

Civilization as we know it is no more. Glimpse the past through objects from a forgotten time. Play relics.