Resthaven is celebrating its 90th birthday by taking a walk down memory lane with a brand-new ‘living history’ website — Resthaven: A History of Caring. The website coincides with South Australia’s History Festival and showcases the stories, faces, and moments that have shaped Resthaven over the decades.
Darren Birbeck, Resthaven’s CEO, says the site is more than just a collection of dates and facts — it’s a tribute to the people and events that made Resthaven what it is today. “Our beginnings go back to the tough days of the Great Depression,” he shared.
Visitors to the website can scroll through a timeline packed with photos, videos, and newspaper clippings, all divided into distinct eras. It’s a chance to meet some of the key players in Resthaven’s story, from Lady Isabel Kidman and Mrs Lorna Playford to Prime Minister Bob Hawke and long-time CEO Richard Hearn AM.
Back then, older South Australians relied on charity to get by, and that’s where Resthaven stepped in.”
Darren Birbeck, CEO, Resthaven
The site also invites visitors to share their memories. “We know there are so many untold stories out there,” Mr Birbeck says. “People have such fond and vivid memories of Resthaven, and we want to hear them. This is a living history that will keep growing as more people add their voices,” he added.
The project builds on research by the late historian Dr Rob Linn, who worked with Resthaven in the early 1990s to publish their first printed history. Now, those stories and more have been brought to life online, creating a lasting record of Resthaven’s important place in South Australia’s history.
To share a memory or explore the timeline, visit the Resthaven: A History of Caring website.
