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.
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.
14 November 2024
22 July 2024
19 July 2024
20 February 2025 | 5:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
An update on the lecture presented in September 2020: ‘Youth & Well Being in Timor Leste: Opportunities & Challenges for the Nation Building Process'
11 March 2025 | 8:00 am
Trips & Tours
Bookings are now open with the early bird discount being available until 20 December.
27 March 2025 | 12:00 pm
Rare Books Group
When the Treasures Project was conceived, it was planned to identify 100 treasures, but the Society has so many more to offer ...
Photo: Hugh Orr (manager & main author), Robert Dettman (photographer), Melissa Gibbs (web)
27 March 2025 | 5:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
The Society has a real connection with this topic through several of its maps and journals.
10 April 2025 | 5:30 pm
Monthly Lecture
Understanding your elevation is integral to many decision-making processes; from determining a safe development threshold to avoid flood risk, for monitoring sea-levels, through to making sure sewers flow downhill as designed. But have you ever wondered how a vertical datum is defined and how you then establish this for a country that is also a continent? This talk will explore the history of the Australian Height Datum, the huge task of realising the concept, and how it has been modernised more recently to remain fit for purpose in a modern world where understanding your 3D position is becoming more important than ever.
24 April 2025 | 12:00 pm
Rare Books Group
The country north of the vast and inhospitable Sahara Desert was well known to the Greeks and Romans of ancient times. But what lay beyond: the terra incognita in Ptolemy’s map above?
© The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia