Yitpi Yartapuultiku
‘Naa marni are you all good?
Puki Puki tampi'dlu, nartangka wapi'dlu, marnintya
Welcome, let us recognise the past, act in the present and build a better future’
Years in the making, we are excited to share the plans for Yitpi Yartapuultiku, a new Aboriginal Cultural Destination we are building in the heart of Port Adelaide. Sarah Constructions has been selected as the builder for this project.
Since its inception, this innovative project has been working to establish a unique cultural connection within our local community, while creating a destination where people from all backgrounds can share, learn, and experience our rich heritage.
It will be an authentic place to be immersed in local culture, and our plan is for it to become a catalyst for economic growth, generating employment and boosting tourism opportunities around the Port Adelaide Area.
There are indoor and outdoor activity and performance spaces, a family-friendly park and playground, public amenities, state-of-the-art facilities, meeting rooms and event spaces, and areas accessible to the water. In line with our Sustainability Strategy, Yitpi Yartapuultiku will be Green Star certified to achieve Australian excellence in healthy, resilient, sustainable buildings and places, with the buildings also surrounded by environmentally sustainable natural spaces.
The journey towards the realisation of Yitpi Yartapuultiku has been marked by a commitment of respect, deep listening, collaboration, and shared learning between the City of PAE, the Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Working Group, Ashley Halliday Architects, and Wax Design.
The entire process has been undertaken together, to respect the Aboriginal connection to the site, with every aspect of the design and development shaped by cultural knowledge of Kaurna people. Cultural practices and narratives have been seamlessly integrated, ensuring an authentic representation of heritage.
This unique cultural place is a testament to the unity of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, where everyone can come together to share, learn, and experience the rich tapestry of our heritage.
In March 2022 Council endorsed a Concept Plan and Business Case for the project, and agreed to start on detailed designs. The occasion was momentous with Project Custodian Group members present, some of whom have been actively advocating for a Centre for over twenty years.
We’ve undertaken intensive culturally-embedded co-design processes with Custodians to establish a Concept Plan for the Centre. The shared design direction includes strong cultural principles developed in partnership with leadership from Custodians. The Concept Plan sets up a framework to ensure the delivery and ongoing management of the Centre is grounded in people and place.
Once open, the centre will offer a diverse and engaging program of activities and experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. It will be an inclusive and family-friendly environment, welcoming individuals to connect, play, and learn. The versatile spaces, both indoors and outdoors, will accommodate a wide range of cultural and community events, from intimate gatherings to vibrant festivals. Guided tours, immersive cultural education experiences, and dynamic programs will be led by knowledgeable Aboriginal custodians, ensuring an authentic and enriching experience.
At its core, Yitpi Yartapuultiku aims to heal the land and bring the community together, while offering unparalleled opportunities for events, community programs, and tourism.
Explore an interactive map of Yitpi Yartapuultiku and the Concept Design.
We are currently seeking Expressions of Interest from anyone wanting to collaborate with us to deliver programs and activities that will bring Yitpi Yartapuultiku to life as a space where people can meet, learn, experience, grow and develop strong cultural connections.
Whether you are an individual, community group or organisation, if you have an idea for a program, event, project, workshop or other activity, we would like to hear from you. Find out more on Participate PAE.
To stay up to date with future community engagement for Yitpi Yartapuultiku and other City of PAE projects visit Participate PAE.
To find out more about the collaboration and co-design process and watch more Yitpi Yartapuultiku stories visit our playlist on YouTube.
Project information
A place for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to learn, experience and be immersed in Aboriginal culture.
A culturally safe place to gather. A place to practice, share, celebrate and record culture past, present and emerging.
A place to connect to country and culture.
Join us on our journey planning an Aboriginal Cultural Centre for PAE.
Creating an Aboriginal Culture Centre in Port Adelaide video
Yitpi Yartapuultiku Working Group
The Yitpi Yartapuultiku Working Group (YYWG) is a large group of Aboriginal community members who have worked consistently and collaboratively on the design development for Yitpi Yartapuultiku over the past two years.
The YYWG was identified as a collective of Aboriginal people who represented the Council region and who provide cultural authority and leadership for and on behalf of the community and Yitpi Yartapuultiku.
The Soul of Port AdelaideThe Aboriginal Cultural Centre currently being built at the reserve formally known as Western Region Park (where Old Port Road meets Bower Road, north west corner) has been officially named.The project group met with local Elders to discuss ideas and concepts, and together decided on the Kaurna name Yitpi Yartapuultiku. This means ‘Soul of Port Adelaide’: Yitpi meaning Soul, Yartapuulti being the name that the Kaurna people gave to the land around the Port River and ku means ‘of’, a Kaurna joining word.On Tuesday 16 August 2022 a naming ceremony was held on site, which included a Welcome to Country by Senior Kaurna Elder Lewis O’Brien, a Smoking Ceremony by Michael O’Brien and three ceremonial fires.Yitpi Yartapuultiku will be a community place providing a range of activities and opportunities for both First Nations and non-First Nations people. It will be an authentic place to be immersed in local culture and will have indoor and outdoor activity and performance spaces, public amenities, office and meeting rooms, extensive landscaping, artwork and entry statements and areas with access to the water.
FAQS
The Aboriginal Cultural Centre is envisaged as a community place providing a range of activities and opportunities for both First Nations and non-First Nations people. It will be an authentic place to be immersed in local culture.
The Centre will have indoor and outdoor activity and performance spaces, public amenities, office and meeting rooms, extensive landscaping, artwork and entry statements and areas with access to the water.
The site, formally known as Western Region Park, is located on Bower Road Port Adelaide and has direct connection to Yerta Bulti Country (the area around the Port River) and the rich cultural
history of the Kaurna People.
Council has worked closely with community to develop the Yitpi Yartapuultiku concept design. The project design team worked through a co-design process with a group of Project Custodians and with Council’s Aboriginal Advisory Panel. More information about the Aboriginal Advisory Panel can be found here. The concept design is informed by a clear set of Cultural Guiding Principles, developed with our community.
A tender process was undertaken to select the principal contractor to construct Yitpi Yartapuultiku. This process ensures the project achieves value for money, high quality, respect for cultural principles and design direction, employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and engagement with Aboriginal supply chain.
Sarah Constructions has been selected as the builder for this project.
Culturally Safe - A locally authentic, culturally safe place.
Cultural Practice - To bring back / repatriate cultural ways.
Connection to Country - A place to return to Country, foster deep understanding and respect for Country and each other.
Cultural Immersion - A place to be immersed in local culture.
Cultural Learning - A place of learning through listening, observation, exploring and doing.
A Place of Healing - Reminded that healing is a shared process.
Construction has begun at Yitpi Yartapuultiku (the Aboriginal Cultural Centre). The Centre will be a community place providing a range of activities and opportunities for both First Nations and non-First Nations people. It will be an authentic place to be immersed in local culture.
The Centre will incorporate indoor and outdoor activity and performance spaces, public amenities, office and meeting rooms, extensive landscaping, artwork and entry statements, areas that facilitate access to the water and car parking.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
The Parnpa-parnpalya (Kaurna for Conference) artwork was created by local Narungga Artist Ingrid O'Loughlin.
The story of the artwork reflects how many people gather on country connecting our soul to place. A place to be safe, share, learn and experience together. A place we sense and feel through practices, environments and attitudes that bring us greater relationship, connection and belonging.
Ingrid’s artwork represents the Yitpi Yartapuultiku design journey. The City of PAE, the Yitpi Yartapuultiku Aboriginal Working Group, Ashley Halliday Architects, and Wax Design are committed to collaboration and work together with respect, deep listening and a sense of shared learning to create a place that will provide a strong sense of community.
When Yitpi Yartapuultiku is launched in early 2025, its identity will reflect the next phase of the project for the community. It will showcase a unique place where people can connect to culture, nature, activities and play, and use of state-of-the-art facilities and spaces.
The Yitpi Yartapuultiku “Living Shoreline” redevelopment is supported by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources