Keith Conlon, fondly known as “Mr South Australia,” was stunned when he learned he’d been awarded the Key to the City of Adelaide recently.
“I was flabbergasted. Really. I was amazed,” he says.
“The Key to the City usually goes to people who’ve climbed one incredible mountain. I feel like I’ve just been frolicking in the foothills. I’ve always been a generalist.”
Conlon’s legacy speaks volumes. He is a media icon. He is a historian. He is a heritage advocate, a cyclist, and a community champion. He has spent decades shining a light on Adelaide’s stories, places and spaces.
“I’ve lived within the Park Lands for over half my life. My daughter grew up here,” he says.
“Even looking out my window now, I see 120-year-old street trees and a bluestone cottage across the road. You can’t just find that kind of character anywhere, we are lucky in South Australia.”
Conlon’s love of heritage and storytelling started early.
“When I was a teenager and I won my first history prize at school, I spent the money on a book called Founder of a City, about Colonel William Light,” he recalls.
“I was hooked. History is a bit like jazz. Some people catch the bug and never lose it.”
One of his proudest achievements was in the early 70s leading the team at 5UV, Australia’s first community radio station.
“We were lucky to be part of a movement that believed media didn’t need to be purely commercial or national,” he says.
His five-year role as chair of the South Australian Heritage Council is another highlight but shared an important reminder. “There’s a danger in thinking once something’s heritage-listed, it’s safe. The demolition of the police barracks showed us how vulnerable we still are.”
He is passionate about recognising mid-century architecture and churches from the 1950s and 60s.
“There’s now a move to acknowledge the Adelaide Movement. It was a unique branch of Australian modernism. These homes and churches aren’t Gothic or grand. They tell the story of our design evolution.”
Even myths and lesser-known tales are part of his storytelling.
“There’s no cannonball theory behind the width of our parklands. It’s just that William Light had a great understanding of topography. And those tunnels under Adelaide? Mostly basements connected over time. Sorry, no secret passageways.”
His enthusiasm goes beyond history. Since 2014, he has led the weekly “Ride with Keith” cycling group.
“We meet every Wednesday at 9am outside Bicycle Express on Halifax Street. It’s free and full of stories. One of our favourite destinations? The historic manure pits up Brownhill Creek,” he laughs.
Anyone can join in these weekly rides for a fascinating look at Adelaide with lots of stories shared by Mr South Australia himself along the way.
“We even sprinkle our water bottles on historic sights, new paths and discoveries!”
His favourite café is The Bakery on O’Connell. “There’s even a corner named after me. It’s called the Keith Conlon Pocket. It’s got a great vibe and, importantly, you can still get a pie floater.”
Conlon is also passionate about the revival of the Kaurna language in Adelaide.
“Thanks to early German missionaries way back in 1837 who recorded the vocabulary of our First Nations people along the banks of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri, we’re now able to share and learn from Kaurna people who are generously interpreting and teaching the language. It has become one of the great cultural riches of this city.”
What will he do with his new key? “Figuratively? I’d love it to unlock a South Australian Social History Museum. We need a place where people can go and say, ‘I didn’t know that,’ and connect with our past.”
Despite the accolades, Conlon remains grounded.
“These moments always come down to great people. It’s never just you. The key is for everyone I’ve worked with over the years. They all helped open those doors.”
As for wearing the key around his neck? “It’s a bit heavy for the bike,” he chuckles. “But I should show the cycling crew. They’re part of the story too.”
Keith Conlon is a storyteller to the end. He is now, quite literally, a keyholder to the city he has always championed.
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