The South Australian Aviation Museum started in 1984 as the South Australian Aviation & Warbirds Restoration Group. In 1995, the name was changed to the South Australian Aviation Museum. Our focus is to collect, record and display the history of civil and military aviation in South Australia. SAAM volunteers have rescued and restored many notable (historic) aircraft, and are currently working on an Avro Ansen, a Fairey Battle and our latest aquisition, a Victa Airtourer. To find out more about being a SAAM member, click here.

South Australian Aviation Museum Inc.
66 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide 5250
PO Box 150, Port Adelaide 5015

SAAM's library houses an extensive collection of books and DVDs as well as several archival and reference collections. Access is reserved for SAAM members and bona fide researchers. If you wish to access the library collections, please contact us.

For information on SAAM membership, click here.

The SAAM Library Collection contains:

• Ansett Transport Industries Ltd Annual Reports: 1958–1979.
• Aviation books: approximately 3,500
• Aviation magazines: approximately 63 publications
  (including Aircraft 1922–2004, The Aeroplane 1936–1964)
• Aviation newspaper clippings: 1946–1975 and from 2005 to date
• Aviators' Log Books: a collection of more than 30
• DVDs and VHS Tapes: approximately 700 in total
• Erich Sommer Collection (ex-Luftwaffe): memorabilia and correspondence
• Memorabilia: eight four-drawer filing cabinets of civil and military aviation
• Oral history interviews: tapes and CDs
• Photographic collection (civil and military): transparencies, prints, negatives and digital photographs – approximately 120,000 (and growing).
• Raymond Deane OAM: aviation newspaper collection 1929–1938
• Roy Gropler Collection: memorabilia, photographs and pilot log book
• Royal Aero Club of South Australia: Minute Books 1926–1980
• Technical handbooks: approximately 1,000 on subjects such as air frames, engines, operations manuals, etc.

In 1984 a group of people interested in aviation and the restoration of aircraft formed the South Australian Aviation & Warbirds Restoration Group. The Group was incorporated on 1 August and leased premises behind the former Pier Hotel at Glenelg in the old Ravens Garage for two years. The site housed the Museum's first aircraft, the Avro Anson, as well as the start of our collection of aviation artefacts. The Group became The South Australian Historical Aviation Museum Incorporated on 18 March 1985 (later the name was simplified to The South Australian Aviation Museum Inc.). The first 'Open Day' was held on Sunday 7 July 1985, followed by the first Annual General Meeting in August 1985, with the princely sum of $527 in the kitty!

In October 1986 notice was served on the Museum to vacate the Glenelg premises by 30 November. After a frantic search for new premises, the SA Lion Flour Mill at Mundy Street, Port Adelaide, was secured by lease. We moved into that site on 18 November 1986. The serious job of transforming a very dirty pigeoninfested building into a museum then began. The dedication and effort of members in cleaning, washing, connecting power and securing the building were enormous and ran into hundreds of hours. From then, the setting up of displays and exhibits continued steadily.

The Museum first applied for accreditation by the History Trust of South Australia (now History SA) in 1988, and although it was not granted the Trust gave us advice to improve our displays and presentation, which resulted in a second application and inspection in 1990. This was successful and we became a provisionally accredited museum on 28 June 1990. Full accreditation was achieved in January 2000.

In January 1996 a further move was made when an aircraft hangar became available at the corner of Ocean Steamers Road and Honey Street, Port Adelaide. We opened for business there on 19 January 1997. This transfer was arranged by the then South Australian Government Minister for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts, the Hon. Diana Laidlaw. The new location officially opened on 16 March 1997. After moving, the Museum's collection was revitalised, a mezzanine gallery was installed, along with updated exhibits including video displays and public entry to some of the aircraft.

The start of the new Port River Bridges project required yet another move. In 2005 the hangar was dismantled and re-erected at its present location in Lipson Street, Port Adelaide. It was refurbished by the SA Government Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and funded jointly by the State and Federal Governments. Adjoining extensions were added as a workshop and administration areas at the same time. The new premises were officially opened on 20 May 2006 by Mr Rod Sawford, the then Federal Member for Port Adelaide.