A voluntary, not-for-profit organisation for advancing geographical science and promoting public awareness and enjoyment of Geography and related topics.
Advance public awareness of, and interest in, geography and related disciplines, including environmental issues
Encourage research and scholarship in geography
Recognise and reward achievements in geography
Commemorate past achievements of significance to geography
The Society is custodian of an extensive library of antique, rare and current books and maps. Many are featured in our Treasures. Amongst its various activities the Society organises lectures on topical issues, publishes a scholarly journal, recognises contributions to geography through an active awards program, and convenes an active field activities program.
The RGSSA welcomes professional geographers, geography graduates, and all those with an enthusiasm for geography, travel and exploration to join.
Experience. Geography. Together.TM
The RGSSA Library contains over 25,000 volumes and is one of the most significant collections of rare geographical books and manuscripts in Australia.
The Society supports a number of awards and prizes to promote geographical education and research, and to recognise members’ efforts.
11 April 2025
20 March 2025
14 November 2024
29 May 2025 | 10:30 am
Rare Books Group
The talk will cover topics including the Coronation of Charles II, the Black Plague and the Great Fire of London.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
12 June 2025 | 12:00 pm
Lunchtime Meeting
Rose de Freycinet’s Journal covered a three-year circumnavigation around the World from 1817 to 1820, including a shipwreck.
Is it more enriching for the Anglophone reader to hear the woman traveller’s own voice, albeit in translation, than to take cognizance of Rose’s adventures in a third-person narrative, as told by several scholars?
Professor Rivière is a recipient of an RGSSA Library Research Fellowship.
Image from Rose de Freycinet - Wikipedia
16 June 2025 | 12:30 pm
Lunchtime Meeting
This lecture traces strands of the environmental history(ies) of the Black Swan – particularly its long disruption of settler-colonial imaginaries of possibility – to open up what ‘black swan’ events and disruptions might yet be crafted for our shared uncertain climatic and ecological futures.
Melina is the recipient of an RGSSA Library Fellowship.
19 June 2025 | 5:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
Skye Krichauff will draw on maps and other historical documents to illustrate the types of country that was most sought after by colonists and to discuss the failure of early-colonial government officials to recognise Aboriginal people’s proprietary rights.
Image from David Collin's account of the colony of NSW, 1798
26 June 2025 | 10:30 am
Rare Books Group
For over 4,000 years these islands provided a valuable source of spices to the world.
17 July 2025 | 5:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
Iain will discuss why the public, professional geographers, and their professional associations should engage with voluntary, community-based, learned societies such as RGSSA for mutual benefit and the discipline of geography's sustainability.
23 July 2025 | 12:00 pm
Lunchtime Meeting
The 19th century saw the formative development of botany into the scientific discipline we recognize today. The construction of networks among practitioners and correspondents is a means of exploring the foundations of modern botanical science and horticulture.
James Wilson is a recipient of an RGSSA Library Research Fellowship
16 October 2025 | 6:00 pm
Events
The RGSSA is a voluntary, not-for profit organisation for advancing geographical science and promoting public awareness and enjoyment of Geography and related topics. This year marks its 140th anniversary which will be celebrated with an event to remember!
28 October 2025 | 8:00 am
Field Trip Trips & Tours
This is a specially curated tour using a purpose built, four wheel drive coach with expert driver for a small group of fellow adventurers. We will take in the quintessential aspects of the South Australian outback and one of the great arid mountain ranges in Australia, one of our best hidden secrets.
FULLY BOOKED - email admin@rgssa.org.au to be added to the waiting list.
© The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia