Free Family Fun at the State Library on North Terrace, Adelaide.
Looking for something to keep the kids entertained during the Autumn months? Why not visit the State Library for some creative activities inspired by their collections for the whole family to enjoy.
To start, they are serving up menus from the Library’s collection in their exhibition, Sweet and Savoury. The LEGO model of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina has anchored in the Library’s foyer, along with some hidden LEGO displays to kick off a fun scavenger hunt.
From restaurant menus, football, and bugs, to reading stories and following trails, children and families can visit the Library for some Autumn fun and discovery.
For those that can’t make it to the Library they have downloadable activity sheets so you can entertain the kids at home.
Discover the Library with their Family Trail
Take an adventure through the library to discover the many treasures and stories to be found.
Pick up your printed Family Trail from the Welcome Desk in the glass foyer of the Spence Wing. Continue to the famous Mortlock Wing, and then on to the Treasures Wall exploring the library to finish at the Institute Building.
LEGO RSV Nuyina Docks At The State Library
Until 12 June 2023
It’s sailed across the sea from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and now a massive LEGO model of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina has anchored in the State Library’s foyer.
The model is on loan from the Australian Antarctic Division and was brought to life in LEGO by Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught. It’s 3.2 metres long, uses 117,612 LEGO bricks and took a team of three people 328 hours to build. Most recently it was featured on the hit TV show LEGO Masters Australia.
The inspiration to build the model came to Mr McNaught while he was in Hobart in 2016 where he learned that a new icebreaker was under construction. RSV Nuyina is the main lifeline to Australia’s research stations and the central platform of Australia’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research. ‘Nuyina’ (pronounced noy-yee-nah) means ‘southern lights’ in palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aboriginal People.
LEGO Scavenger Hunt
Until 12 June 2023
To celebrate the arrival of the LEGO RSV Nuyina at the State Library, they have a scavenger hunt for you to solve.
Follow the clues… 6 Lego displays, created by the South Australian Lego Users Group, are hidden around the Library and each will help you answer a question. Download the scavenger hunt or collect a copy from the Information Desk upstairs.
Build a Bug
Be inspired to build your own bug from watercolour paintings of insects by George French Angas’ South Australia Illustrated. Download and print the free activity sheets to build a bug, then once completed there are lots of things you can do with your bugs, such as put them on a specimen card or create a bug poster or a hanging mobile or maybe a bug wall with your creations.
Sweet And Savoury – Menus From The Collections Of The State Library
On until June 2023
Menus are kept as part of the State Library of South Australia’s ephemera collection. Ephemera is material which is designed to be short lived – such as posters, handbills, programs, wine labels, and advertising material. In fact, such everyday ephemeral items are a record of South Australian life and social customs, arts and popular culture, and local and national issues.
From the plain to the ornate and from the simply functional to the beautiful, the State Library has many thousands of menus. This exhibition looks at menus from their oldest, a dinner at Government House in 1867, through to those recently acquired from South Australian restaurants large and small celebrating cuisines from around the world. The menu collection has many hidden stories, showing not just how our eating and drinking tastes have changed, but also the changing styles of graphic design.
Design Your Own Party Menu
Until end of June 2023
It’s time to get creative!
Does your child have a party planned over the school holidays? Or perhaps they have a birthday party coming up and want to get involved in the planning. Visit the family table in the Treasure Wall and get them designing their own ultimate menu.
What will be on the menu? Something sweet or savoury or both. Hot and cold foods, or maybe food from other countries and what about the drinks?
Be inspired by the Sweet and Savoury exhibition and plan a menu for your special party on the printouts provided.
Can’t make it to the Library, not to worry just download the template and design it from home.
Family Reading Nook
Take some time out with the kids in the reading nook in the Treasures Wall. You’ll find all sorts to read including a delicious new adventure about the very hungry caterpillar’s Australian feast, super-simple recipe for budding bakers, the story of how your favourite food is made and much more.
State Library opening hours:
- Monday: 9am to 5pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 7pm
- Wednesday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 12 to 5pm
- Closed on public holidays
For more information and all enquiries please visit the SLSA website
What: Family Fun at the State Library
When: Autumn 2023
Where: State Library of SA | North Terrace, Adelaide
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: SLSA website
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