Adelaide or tarndanya in Kaurna, has a captivating Indigenous history that is celebrated and respected. The Indigenous attractions of Adelaide below are a way for visitors to the region to learn more about the traditional owners of the land.
The Kaurna people are the traditional owners of Adelaide and the surrounding areas, and you’ll find their language has been woven into the design of South Australia’s capital city. The main square is known as Tarntanyangga – which means Red kangaroo dreaming, and the river which runs through the city is named Karrawirra Parri meaning Redgum forest.
The Traditional Owners overlook country stretching from Crystalbrook in the north to Cape Jervis in the south. In the summer the coastal plains provided hospitable camps with natural springs and dunes. During colder times, the Kaurna people would move inland to the foothills. By moving seasonally, it allowed for food sources to replenish which is a major factor in the respect of their lands.
Known for its food and wine, Adelaide shares a rich Indigenous culture with its visitors. Here are a number of sites and attractions to visit to set you on the right path of acknowledging the culture of the Kaurna nation.
Tjilbruke Spring
Within the Kingston Park Coastal reserve is the sacred spring site which plays an important role in the Tjilbruke Dreaming story. This freshwater spring, and Dreaming ancestor, has been bubbling away for thousands of years. At this site you’ll find the Tjilbruke Monument. Erected in 1972 to commemorate the Dreaming story, it represents Tjilbruke carrying his dead nephew, Kulultuwi, on his journey south.
The Riverbank is Kaurna Market installation
Paul Herzich, The Riverbank is a Kaurna Maret, 2018. © Sam Roberts, Image first appeared here.
Running between the Adelaide Central Market and the Riverbank precincts, this art installation by Aboriginal artist Paul Herzich uses imagery and text to explore the future, past and present of the Kaurna people. Walking along this permanent exhibit, you are following in the ancient footsteps of the Kaurna people.
Kingston Park cliff face reserve
This seaside location contains some of the last examples of the original vegetation in Adelaide’s coastline. The Kaurna people would use the 76 species of native plants here for food, tools and weapons.
Old Gum Tree
By State Government Photographer – The History Trust of South Australian, South Australian Government Photo from 1936. The image depicts a historic site for the Indigenous history of Adelaide.
A site of significance for both colonial and traditional history, here you will be able to acknowledge the meeting of these vastly different cultures coming together. Located at the corner of Macfarlane and Bagshaw Streets in Glenelg North, this site is commonly thought to be where Governor Hindmarsh presented the Proclamation of the Colony of South Adelaide in 1836. It has its own significance to the Kaurna People and was known as Yakuna, ‘crooked gum’.
Indigenous history of Adelaide explored in the SA Museum
Home to the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts that have been curated in partnership with Aboriginal people and communities. The exhibit has been ongoing since 1890, and today it is a fascinating look into the ancient traditions and history of Australia’s Traditional Owners.
TANDANYA National Aboriginal Cultural Institute | Indigenous attractions of Adelaide
Tandanya is a Kaurna word for ‘place of the Red Kangaroo’. This is Australia’s oldest Aboriginal owned and managed multi-arts centre providing the opportunity for visitors to hear about Aboriginal heritage and their stories.
Want to know more about Indigenous history of Australian towns? Explore Canberra’s Indigenous heritage.
If you want to experience this rich culture for yourself, why not book a flight with Rex Airlines? Click here to discover more.
