Ngutungka Henley

10/06/2026

Firstival is back in July! 🎉
Browse what's on at our City's libraries and community centres: https://brnw.ch/21x38RW

🎉 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 is back for its fourth year! 🎉

This July, join Charles Sturt Libraries and others across Libraries SA to try something new with a festival of firsts - fresh ideas, fun events and new experiences await.

Create your very first life drawing 🎨, strum your first ukulele 🎻, try your hand at bookbinding 📚, and there are so many more firsts to explore.

Browse what's on at our libraries and community centres: https://brnw.ch/21x38RW
See the full program here: https://brnw.ch/21x38RV

09/06/2026

We're grateful for SA-based author Becky Llewellyn, who dropped into Ngutungka Henley recently, for sharing this a deeply personal and important story.
Her book is, 'Handicapped: A Carer’s Memoir of Disability, Love and Making Change', is available through our library catalogue. https://onecard.network/client/en_AU/charlessturt/search/results?ln=en_AU&lm=&rt=&qu=Handicapped+A+carer%27s+memoir+of+disability%2C+love+and+making+change

📚✨Available to Borrow

We’re proud to highlight local author Becky Llewellyn at Ngutungka Henley, who shares a deeply personal story of resilience, love and transformation 💛

This powerful story explores resilience, compassion, and the drive to create meaningful change a read that stays with you long after the final page.

Looking for an inspiring read? Handicapped: A Carer’s Memoir of Disability, Love and Making Change is available through our library catalogue.
👉https://shorturl.at/LuC2w

09/06/2026

We love to see our Charles Sturt Libraries and librarians (like the wonderful Emma!) - on our City's TikTok. Watch here: https://www.tiktok.com/.../video/7648908171557293333

05/06/2026

✨ Our City's 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 is back this July. 🎨
https://brnw.ch/21wRttE

✨ Our 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 is back this July. 🎨

We've got loads of FREE and affordable activities happening all across our City, in our Charles Sturt Libraries and community centres.

Discover a vibrant mix of creative and hands-on activities for kids of all ages - think mask making, ukulele, bangle weaving, anime drawing and more.

Don’t miss out - check out what's happening here: https://brnw.ch/21wRttE

Bookings are required for many events, so get in quick. 👀

05/06/2026

Heads up: Our Charles Sturt Libraries, including Ngutungka West Lakes and Ngutungka Henley, will be closed for the public holiday, Monday 8 June.

All Council locations will be closed for the public holiday, Monday 8 June.
➡️ Waste and recycling collections will continue as normal.
➡️ Beverley Recycling and Waste Centre will be closed.

Need to report something?
You can easily make a report via our Customer Portal
👉 https://brnw.ch/21x0sIA
📞 If you need to report an urgent enquiry, please call our After Hours emergency line (24/7) on 8408 1111 for assistance.

03/06/2026

Our City is currently recruiting for two roles to help shape and deliver engaging, inclusive services across our Charles Sturt Libraries.
Roles: 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.
Applications close 9am Friday 12 June 2026
Apply now: https://careers.charlessturt.sa.gov.au

Are you passionate about community connection and creating meaningful experiences? We’re looking for two roles to help shape and deliver engaging, inclusive library services across our City.

𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
A key leadership role, you’ll guide how our community experiences library services across our network. You’ll lead teams, strengthen service delivery and use data and insight to continuously improve access, quality and connection.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
You’ll bring creativity and energy to delivering children’s programs and inclusive digital literacy initiatives, helping people of all ages build confidence, capability and connection. This role also provides key administrative support to keep programs running smoothly.

These are great opportunities for people who care about community, value inclusion and are keen to make a genuine impact through library services.

Applications close 9am Friday 12 June 2026
Apply now: https://careers.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/

21/05/2026

📢 Our 2026 Community Survey is now open!
https://brnw.ch/21x2DZj

Our 2026 Community Survey is now open.

The annual survey is a chance to hear your feedback on the services we provide, what matters most to you and how we performing as a Council.

Your responses will help guide future priorities, services and programs across our community PLUS you'll go in the draw to win one of 4 eftpos gift cards.

📢 https://brnw.ch/21x2DZj

17/05/2026

Come along today to our Rack & Roll Preloved Women’s fashion market from 12-4pm - we’re all ready for you!

15/05/2026

We’re excited to be hosting our very first Rack & Roll Preloved Market this Sunday from 12–4pm!

Come browse a curated collection of preloved women’s fashion, shoes and accessories - from everyday style finds to vintage and designer pieces.

Enjoy styling sessions throughout the afternoon, plus a pop-up change room with mirrors to help you find your perfect fit. It’s a fun and relaxed way to shop sustainably and give great fashion a second life.

👜 Please bring your own tote bags
💵 Cash is recommended - some stallholders may offer card facilities, but this is not guaranteed

Free entry - arrive early for the best finds!

14/05/2026

We are looking forward to hosting Samantha Battams - Author in this sold out event tomorrow.
For those who missed out on tickets but want to engage more in her work:
- Links to her books in our Collection here: https://onecard.network/client/en_AU/charlessturt/search/results?qu=samantha+battams&te=
- Follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BattamsSamantha

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀.

But while writing her latest book, 𝘗𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺, she discovered a connection far closer to home than expected.

Tracing her pioneer ancestors’ journeys from Europe to Australasia, Samantha unearthed an unexpected family link to our City. 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁-𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 at the Reedbeds, an area that now encompasses parts of the western suburbs, during the 1840s.

“I found quite a lot that I was surprised about, because those stories haven't been passed down to me,” Samantha said.

Drawing on sources including Trove, obituaries, newspaper reports and war journals, 𝘗𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺 explores migration, secrecy and the impacts of colonisation on First Nations people and settlers, through the stories of Samatha's own ancestors.

“I found that while William worked as Charles Sturt’s gardener, his wife took in washing and ironing to support the household. They saved up to buy a bullock dray after which he and his eldest son transported food and provisions to the Burra mines, at a time when there was tension between local settlers and Ngadjuri people.”

A public health academic and policy expert, as well as an amateur visual artist - Samantha's latest book blends personal discovery with broader social history.

She grew up in West Croydon and attended Kilkenny Primary School, and says she draws some of her creative inspiration from walks along nearby beaches with her Border Collie, Louie.

“Family histories often leave women out of the story,” Samantha said, noting that she aims to bring those voices forward despite gaps in the historical record.

As part of South Australia’s History Festival, Dr Samantha Battams will discuss 𝘗𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘺 in a sold-out conversation with Dr Lainie Anderson at Ngutungka Henley this week.

For those who missed out on tickets, several of her works are available through our Charles Sturt Libraries OneCard Network.

Samantha Battams - Author South Australia's History Festival