Out of this world: A space-age adventure lands in Adelaide

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A man in a spacesuit stands holding a piece of paper, set against a backdrop of stars and space.
From flying saucers and funky fashion to rockets and the Moon landing – the space race of the 20th century was full of excitement! And guess what? Australia had a big part to play. Now, you can explore all the cool stuff from back then at a new exhibition called Out of This World: Australia in the space age, now showing at the State Library of South Australia.

This exhibition, created by the National Archives of Australia, takes you back in time to the 1950s, 60s and 70s – when space was the place, and Aussies were dreaming big! From science and satellites to space-themed TV shows and groovy designs, Out of This World has something for everyone.

The State Library’s Director Megan Berghuis says “space holds a special place for South Australians, with so much of Australia’s early space research activity taking place in Woomera”.

“Today, South Australia remains at the forefront of space innovation – with the Australian Space Agency based at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, and astronauts Andy Thomas, Eric Philips, and Katherine Bennell-Pegg – the first person to qualify as an astronaut under the Australian flag – inspiring the next generation through their achievements,” she explains.

Even Aussie culture got a space-age makeover! Curator Catriona Donnelly says:

“New technologies were developed, inspiring people of all ages to explore their own ideas and aspirations for the future. What occurred was an explosion of creative responses from Australian scientists, designers, architects, television producers, community groups and children alike.”

What to expect

There’s heaps of fun stuff happening! You can check out family-friendly tours, hands-on workshops and creative activities – all thanks to a cool collab with the Australian Space Discovery Centre. Plus, don’t miss the super-fun interactive art installation for families called Moon Builders Wanted!

Out of This World: Australia in the space age is free and on at the State Library Gallery until 5 October 2025. Plan your visit and find out more: slsa.sa.gov.au/series/out-ofworld-programs-and-events

 

 

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