10/09/2026
Did you know Bowden is home to a little piece of South Australian sporting history?
The SANFL History Centre is a treasure trove of footy memorabilia, with thousands of items spanning generations of South Australian football. Think historic photographs, scrapbooks, grand final footage, trophies, blazers, guernseys, footballs and plenty more.
Best of all, the collection is cared for by a dedicated team of volunteers who are passionate about preserving these stories and ensuring they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
The collection has even made its way beyond Bowden. In 2017, the State Library of South Australia hosted In a League of its Own – 140 years of SANFL, showcasing rarely seen pieces from the collection. The exhibition attracted around 70,000 visitors, making it one of the State Library's most highly attended exhibitions.
Not bad for a footy archive tucked away in Bowden.
Image 2: Norwood 1888 team which won the championship of Australia after defeating South Melbourne in three matches at the end of the season.