In 1995 the Yacka Historical Society published Hard Yacka: the story of a mid-north town in South Australia written by local resident historian Dr Julie-Ann Ellis. It was launched by the then Governor, Dame Roma Mitchell as part of the town’s 125 years’ celebration and the following year it won Australia’s National Community History Award and Christina Smith Medal. Through profits from their award-winning book’s sales, the group bought the town’s historic 1929 State Bank building in the main street and established an Archives and Community Centre.
Here the Historical Society stores Yacka’s local records which include maps and photographs; certificates of titles of the Hundred of Yackamoorundie; local birth, death and marriage records; local school records; Yacka WW1 service personnel military records; local family histories; and community records belonging to the Yacka Hall Committee, CWA Red Cross, Golf Club, Bowling Club, Uniting Church, Tennis Club, Yacka Progress Group.
The Yacka Historical Society is always keen to hear from anyone with information on Yacka history, historical photographs, mementos, artifacts and other memorabilia.
Copies of Hard Yacka can be purchased from the Secretary of the Yacka Historical Group for $40 plus postage (the book weighs 751 gms).