Last chance to have your say on SA’s regional stories
From innovation and investment to heritage, resilience and community spirit, 20 stories are vying for InDaily’s Regional Showcase People’s Choice Award – but there’s only days left to decide your favourite.
From the Far North to the Fleurieu, the Riverland to the Eyre Peninsula, regional South Australia is full of people finding new ways to build, protect and strengthen their communities.
Now there’s only a few days left for South Australians to decide which of those stories deserves the 2026 InDaily Regional Showcase People’s Choice Award.
Voting closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday, September 30, giving readers one final chance to explore the 20 shortlisted stories and cast their vote. Read the finalist stories and vote here.
The finalists, featured in InDaily’s Regional Showcase program presented by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, reflect the remarkable diversity of life beyond Adelaide – from agriculture and business to science, tourism, heritage, conservation and community initiatives.
The program runs throughout the year, uncovering stories of individuals, groups and businesses making a difference across regional South Australia.
This year’s finalists demonstrate just how many different ways there are to make an impact.
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On Kangaroo Island, researchers are using detector dogs and thermal imaging as part of a world-leading approach to tackling feral animals, while on the Fleurieu, campers have returned to fire-ravaged Deep Creek – where researchers have made a unique discovery as the landscape recovers.
There are stories of regional infrastructure and renewal, too. Brown Hill is set to gain a multimillion-dollar mountain bike park, while the Yorke Peninsula Field Days is rising from the ashes with a new silo centre. In Whyalla, attention is focused on the future of the steelworks as the region prepares for major changes, while a multimillion-dollar health hub has opened in another regional centre.
Heritage and history feature strongly among the finalists. The historic Anlaby Station is on the market after two decades of restoration, while a heritage prison is set to reopen after years of closure. In the Adelaide Hills, the story of the historic Bickford home offers another glimpse into the buildings and places that have helped shape the state’s regions.
Elsewhere, the stories look at the people and businesses creating new opportunities. Langhorne Creek is exploring its potential for growth, a South Australian distiller is turning a historic bank into a new chapter for the region, and a major wine company has unveiled plans for the future of the historic Bridgewater Mill.
There are also stories that capture the changing character of regional communities – from a picturesque historic river town preparing for a population boost to a rural ghost town whose last remaining residents are preparing to leave after 35 years.
And then there are the stories that are simply unexpected: Maggie Beer turning a signature product into a growing business, and shiny new fire trucks arriving in the Hills as South Australian firefighters continue to respond to emergencies across the state.
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Together, the 20 finalists tell a much bigger story about regional South Australia – one of innovation, resilience, heritage, investment, community spirit and change.
The stories also highlight the connections between regional communities and the rest of the state.
By bringing these stories to InDaily’s audience, Regional Showcase helps shine a light on the people and places that contribute to South Australia’s economy, culture, environment and identity.
The program’s objective is to uncover and showcase stories of regional success, with the stories shared with local, national and international audiences to build awareness of the regions and highlight opportunities for future investment and growth.
Now readers get the final say.
The People’s Choice Award is determined by public voting, giving anyone who has followed the stories – or anyone discovering them for the first time – the opportunity to choose the story that made the biggest impression.
Perhaps there is a finalist from your own community. Perhaps one of the stories has introduced you to a place or initiative you knew little about. Or perhaps it is simply a story that stayed with you after you finished reading.
With 20 very different stories to choose from, there is plenty to discover.
And while the focus is on finding a People’s Choice winner, the vote is also a chance to celebrate the people and communities behind every finalist.
The 2026 Regional Showcase winners will be recognised at a celebration event on Thursday, November 5.
But first, there is one final opportunity to have your say.
Voting closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday, September 30. Read the finalist stories and vote here.
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