The Story of Yitpi Yartapuultiku; an Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Concept Image: Port Adelaide Enfield Council

Laura Harris, a Kaurna woman, grew up with her mother at the Glanville waterfront. However, when she was fourteen, she was forced off the land by the Government as they built a sugar factory there in 1891.

Laura revealed this story to her granddaughter, Veronica Brodie, and asked Veronica to try to regain the land once the factory was demolished.

The factory was demolished, and in 1995, Veronica made a claim for the land in Glanville, where her ancestors had lived.

Veronica envisioned the land could be used as an elders’ village and an interpretive centrer.

The proposal was ultimately rejected by the State Government though, as they had already planned to build apartments along the Glanville waterfront.

The Brodie family and others continued to fight advocate for the cultural centre. They protested and distributed leaflets to commuters on trains and buses, that detailed their alternative plan for the Glanville waterfront.

In response, the Government then offered to build a park beside the apartments, this was built in 2009. The Brodie family planted native Kaurna plants and daughter of Veronica, Margaret Brodie, has done guided tours through the park.

But in March 2022, the Port Adelaide Enfield Council endorsed a plan to build an Aboriginal cultural center, Yipti Yartapuultiku, beside the Port River on Bower Road. Yipti Yartapuultiku will have educational and cultural programs, as well as art and cultural ceremonies. There is a 240-seat auditorium for exhibitions, while outside there is a self-guided trail and shoreline that aims to restore the natural ecosystem.

Yitpti Yartapuultiku opening day is June the 1st, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.