2026 Annual Regional History Lecture & Local History Forum
A day of history and heritage at Penneshaw
Join the History Council of South Australia for the 2026 Annual Regional History Lecture & Local History Forum at Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island on the 6th of November.
Featuring a keynote from Associate Professor Rick Hosking, editor of the revised The Kangaroo Islanders: A story of South Australia before colonisation 1823 (Wakefield Press), as well as panels from key institutions on how to access resources about Kangaroo Island, and on key issues, concerns, and opportunities in history and heritage on KI.
The forum will end with a special guided tour of the Penneshaw Maritime and Folk Museum, including the new Frenchman’s Rock exhibit.
To join us at dinner, please add the dinner seat ticket so we can ensure we have enough seats on the night. Meals and drinks at attendees own cost.
HISTORY COUNCIL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA REGIONAL LECTURE & FORUM
IN CONJUCTION WITH THE PENNESHAW MARITIME & FOLK MUSEUM
9am | CWA Hall: doors open |
9.30am | Welcome and acknowledgement of country: HCSA president, Prof Matt Fitzpatrick. |
10am | Morning panel of representatives from major historical research institutions and associations including the State Library of Australia, Oral History Australia SA/NT and Genealogy SA. Advice will be offered on resources available to local researchers, and how our state history is collected, preserved and shared. |
11am | Morning tea (catered) |
11.30am | Regional Lecture by Associate Professor Rick Hosking, who edited an annotated and illustrated edition of William Cawthorne’s 1850s novel The Kangaroo Islanders for Wakefield Press in 2020. Associate Professor Hosking will explore Cawthorne’s work and the island’s early history, including the significance of Frenchman’s Rock, inscribed by French Captain Nicolas Baudin’s crew in 1803. The historic rock has recently found a new home at the Penneshaw Maritime and Folk Museum. |
12.30pm | Lunch (not catered) |
2pm | An afternoon panel discussing the opportunities and challenges of researching and championing history on the island. Panellists will include KI social historian Bridget Jolly and SA’s 2026 Digital Technologies Historian of the Year Daniel Clarke, a KI resident and documentary filmmaker (among others). |
3pm | A guided tour of the Penneshaw Maritime and Folk Museum, including the Frenchman’s Rock exhibit. |
6pm | An informal dinner at the Penneshaw Hotel to network and share stories and ideas. (not catered) |
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
