The Bradman Collection, part of the State Library of South Australia, North Terrace Adelaide.

Adelaide was the home of Don Bradman for most of his life. From 1934 until his death in 2001, Bradman lived and worked in Adelaide. As a cricketer and cricket administrator he spent thousands of hours at the Adelaide Oval, ran his stockbroking business from an office in the city and raised his family in the suburb of Kensington Park. During the 1980s he gave much of his private collection of cricket memorabilia to the South Australian Government.

The Bradman Collection (www.slsa.sa.gov.au/bradman), features this  material and was opened in a purpose-built facility within the State Library of South Australia. Here the public can view many of Bradman’s treasured possessions including significant cricket bats, caps, artwork and unique presentation items such as the Worcester and Warwick Vases.   

The Bradman Collection is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm and entry is free.

Some display items are listed below;

This cap is one of two issued to Don Bradman for the 1948 Australian Tour of England – the team later became know as ‘The Invincibles’. A gift from Don Bradman to Owen Truscott at the end of the 1948 tour in appreciation of assistance given. Kindly donated to the State Library of South Australia by Kevin Truscott in November 2004.

1948 'Baggy Green' Australian Test Cricket Cap

Bradman's World Record Test Innings Bat

Used by Don Bradman in scoring the then world-record Test score of 334 for Australia against England at Headingley, Leeds July 1930. This total included 309 runs in one day.

Bradman's World Record Test Innings Bat

The Worcester Vase

Porcelain vase presented to Don Bradman in 1938 by the directors of the Royal Worcester Company to commemorate his scoring three consecutive double centuries on the Worcester ground. The front panel features a painting by renowned ceramic artist, Harry Davis, depicting Bradman at the crease at Worcester.

The Worcester Vase