Our History

These pages provide a brief history of The South Australian Ornithological Association which now trades as Birds SA.

The SAOA celebrated its centenary in 1999. The Association was founded in Adelaide on 17 March 1899 with seven members and is the oldest birding association in Australasia.  The founding members were Edwin Ashby (land broker and estate agent), J.W. Mellor (farmer and pastoralist), M. Symonds Clark (land broker and estate agent), Dr A.M. Morgan (medical practitioner), A.H.C. Zietz (Assistant Director of the South Australian Museum) and F.R. Zietz (Museum Assistant at SAM).  At a second meeting on 24 March 1899 when the draft set of rules were ratified Captain S.A. White (racehorse owner, explorer) was also present.

The first house of Peter Waite in 1891 is the original house of Waite House, Urrbrae, near where Birds SA holds its monthly meetings at The Waite, Adelaide University. (House photo courtesy of Marion Wells, photo modified under Birds SA image policy). 

 

 

In January 1914 the first part of The South Australian Ornithologist was published.

In 2001 we adopted the much simpler name of Birds SA.

Birds SA retains the original focus of the SAOA. We are a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and study of Australian native birds.

Below is a historical timeline for the SAOA, gleaned from the book Birds, Birders & Birdwatching 1899-1999 published in 1999 to celebrate the organisation's centenary and up to the present time.

The timeline is a work in progress...