South Australian Museum

From hands-on workshops, engaging with leadership, documenting future strategy, as well as a local Wikipedian on the ground to work with museum volunteers, this project has had it all!

3 October 2025, Ali Smith.

A Wikipedian in Residence has been hard at work at the South Australian Museum. Melanie Smith's residency came about through WMAU Partner Project funding when the South Australia Museum was awarded Wikimedia Australia Partner Project funding for 2024-2025.

From hands-on workshops, engaging with leadership & documenting future strategy, as well as local Wikipedian on the ground to work with museum volunteers, this project has had it all!

The Project

The South Australian Museum partner project, led by Museum digital transformation leader Adam Moriarty, aimed to increase the visibility of the South Australian Museum's research and collections, with a focus on local scientific research and South Australian cultural history, through Wikipedia and related platforms.

Phase 1 involved collaborating with museum staff, the Wikipedia community, and a consultant to develop a roadmap for engaging with Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons. This strategy prioritised inclusivity and ensure that contributions effectively represent South Australia’s history and culture. The roadmap will be shared with other local GLAM institutions to promote broader collaboration.

Phase 2 involved a part-time Wikipedian-in-Residence (WiR) for 100 hours to implement the roadmap. The WiR worked on priority areas to create and edit content, provide staff training, and engage the community. This work will lay the foundation for sustainable long-term contributions of the South Australia Museum to Wikimedia platforms.

South Australian Museum staff, volunteers and Director Dr Hamilton with Wikimedians.
Adelaide meet up no. 24 with Wiki strategist, Mike Dickison for a full day of training at the SA Museum on Wikimedia Commons.