Geographic Origins
Scandinavia is a region in northern Europe. It includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Community Activities
A number of South Australian Scandinavian organisations have been formed since settlers from that region arrived in the colony in the nineteenth century. Early clubs were founded in Adelaide and at Port Adelaide due to the concentrations of Scandinavian settlement in these regions.
The first known Scandinavian Association was founded in Adelaide in 1883. Its members, including a Mr Welin, met regularly at a hotel in Pirie Street. The group disbanded in 1891.
Another Scandinavian Association was founded at Port Adelaide in 1891. Most of its 60 members were Swedish seamen and wharf labourers. This organisation only lasted a few years.
A Scandinavian Friends’ Association was established in the late 1920s. It aimed to promote cultural life in a social context. This group declined as the number of Scandinavian South Australians diminished during the 1930s.
The Free Denmark Association was formed during the Second World War to raise funds to assist Nazi-occupied Denmark. The group dissolved after Denmark’s liberation at the end of the war.
A Danish Club was founded in Adelaide in 1956, and was active until 1963.
Danish, Norwegian and Swedish South Australians formed a Scandinavian Friends’ Association in 1963. It organised cultural gatherings and welcomed Scandinavian visitors and immigrants. This club disbanded in the following year.
Another South Australian Danish Club was founded in 1970. For several years it published a newsletter called Øresund. Oresund is the name of the Strait between Denmark and Sweden.
A Swedish Club was founded in Adelaide in 1972. It published a newsletter called Vikingen, Viking. In 1975 the Swedish Club became the Nordic Club. In that year it had approximately 100 members.
In 1980 the Danish Club became the Scandinavian Association of South Australia (SASA). It amalgamated with the Nordic Club in 1982. In July 1986 SASA established premises at Hindmarsh. The association then moved headquarters to the Klemzig Community Hall, but due to diminishing membership SASA went into receivership in May 2019, with no activities scheduled for the foreseeable future.
From the mid-1980s the Scandinavian Association of South Australia held biennial Scandinavian Festivals that showcased the food and culture of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The last festival was in 1999.
In 1987 SASA started a senior citizens’ group. In 1998 the group moved to premises at Hillcrest, changed its name to Scandinavian Seniors of South Australia and became independent of SASA. A new constitution was drafted and the club became an incorporated club in 2003. The club now operates out of the Klemzig Community Hall and is still going strong with monthly lunch meetings, a Christmas party and many interesting excursions to places in South Australia during the year. In January 2002 a members’ newsletter, Scandinavian, was started.
For further information about community activities consult Danish, Norwegian and Swedish entries.
Although Finland and Iceland are Nordic rather than Scandinavian countries, a small number of Finnish and Icelandic South Australians belong to the Scandinavian Association of South Australia. For further information see Finnish and Icelandic entries.
Organisations and Media
Scandinavian Seniors of South Australia publishes a members’ newsletter, Scandinavian.
For statistics and bibliography consult separate entries.
