Significant Local Areas

For many thousands of years, Kaurna people have occupied this region, including the land that is now the Town of Gawler. A number of sacred sites remain and Gawler continues to be a significant and meaningful place for the Kaurna people and other First Nations peoples and language groups.

The Gawler Reconciliation Action Plan highlights the importance of working towards improving the understanding of Aboriginal culture and history and the significance and meaning of land and places within Gawler.

Kaurna Cultural Mapping Project

The Kaurna Cultural Mapping Project saw a cultural assessment of 40km of significant riverside space along all banks of the three main rivers within the Town of Gawler boundaries – the North Para, South Para and Gawler Rivers.

In 2022, Council engaged Integrated Heritage Services, who worked in partnership with RAWsa and the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC), to undertake both archaeological and anthropological Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys, as defined by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. KYAC representatives provided the cultural expertise and services to assist in identifying any potential issues, concerns and/or Aboriginal heritage sites within the project area.

The archaeological survey affirmed locations of all previously recorded Aboriginal archaeological cultural heritage sites throughout the project area and did not identify any previously unrecorded Aboriginal archaeological sites.

There were no Aboriginal anthropological sites identified within the project area, although anthropological significance is attributed to all Aboriginal archaeological sites and the wider cultural landscape as areas where the ancestors of present Traditional Custodians once lived.

Integrated Heritage Services provided Council with a comprehensive report regarding the field survey, engagement with Traditional Custodians, associated background research, and a risk sensitivity profile for the archaeological sites.

Many elements of the report are culturally sensitive and will remain confidential, noting the Town of Gawler does not have permission to share such aspects of the report. However, the report does identify and provides the location of six scar trees, an artefact scatter, three potential shelter trees, and several other areas of significance.

Some key aims of the Kaurna Cultural Mapping Project:

• Identify all visible archaeological features and anthropological values within the project area.
• Provide a cultural heritage sensitivity profile that assists with the future care and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and values.
• Continued engagement and collaboration between Council and the Kaurna community to appropriately monitor, conserve and protect significant areas.
• Assist Council in managing risks associated with the ongoing preservation of Aboriginal sites, particularly those sites protected under heritage legislation.
• Keep informed Council field staff, through awareness and learning opportunities for providing appropriate care and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.
• Enhance understanding and awareness of Aboriginal cultural heritage management through ongoing collaboration and regular review.
• Opportunities for Aboriginal led tourism and educational activities, as well as broader opportunities to add economic and social value to the community.

This initiative was jointly funded by the Town of Gawler and the Building Better Regions Fund: Community Investment Stream.