Cornucopia: Gardens and Gardening in South Australia

Step into a world of blooming beauty and historical wonder at Cornucopia: gardens and gardening in South Australia. Immerse yourself in South Australia’s rich gardening heritage, where gardens are not just landscapes but living, breathing reflections of our past.

From First Nations peoples’ caretaking of the land to the charming gardens of the mid-20th century, Cornucopia invites you to explore different types of gardens, including suburban, country, school and market gardens.

Drawing from the State Library’s extensive collections, see how South Australians transformed their gardens into more than just plots of greenery. They became havens for afternoon teas, scenic backdrops for photographs, playful playgrounds for children, serene sanctuaries for contemplation, and so much more.

Exhibition highlights include South Australia’s first gardening and viticulture book from 1843 and a 1947 silent film by Hubert Wicks. Explore some of SA’s most magnificent gardens, and fascinating oral histories of market and community gardeners as they share their experiences and the evolution of gardening practices over time. And don’t miss everyone’s favourite, the iconic Hills Hoist – an ornament of many Aussie back gardens.

With an array of rarely displayed garden manuals, seed catalogues, diaries, records, photographs, maps, and even vintage toys, Cornucopia is a must for all garden lovers. As Marcus Tullius Cicero wisely said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”