The Board is responsible to the Minister and its functions are laid out in the Act, including: carrying out, or promoting, research relevant to the history of the State; accumulating and classifying data on any subject of significance to the history of the State; accumulating and caring for objects of historical interest; exhibiting objects of historical or cultural interest; maintaining registers of objects of historical significance to the State; managing museums and other premises placed under the care of the Trust, and several other functions.
[6] In July 2019, the state budget slashed funding to the History Trust, Carclew and Windmill, as part of "operational efficiency" cuts.
[7] The offices of the History Trust were at the Torrens Parade Ground for 18 years, before temporarily relocating to 77 Grenfell Street as various organisations wished to create a "veterans' hub" in the Drill Hall.
The Centre examines the history of South Australia by looking at key players and issues, showing how democracy evolved in SA, what it meant for Aboriginal Australians and how protests have played a part in developments.
[16] The History Trust also partners with other Australian museums to present exhibitions, manages a Community Museums Program and offers grants for research and writing, and puts on the annual South Australia’s History Festival as well as community events such as the Bay to Birdwood vintage car run.