Aboriginal History Project

The City of Tea Tree Gully Library Local History Service is working on an extensive local Aboriginal history project. The project is being conducted in consultation and collaboration with the local Aboriginal community.

The project will examine Tea Tree Gully's long Kaurna heritage and will also collect the stories and personal histories of Aboriginal people from all over Australia, who currently live in Tea Tree Gully.

The project was officially launched on 27 May 2011, coinciding with both the About Time South Australian History Festival and Reconciliation Week. The launch un-veiled the initial findings of our research and featured historical displays including a time-line of Australian history that stretched back 50 000 years. It also featured information on the missions that operated in South Australia. There was also a display of artwork made by local Aboriginal artists and speeches that recognised and celebrated the diverse and rich Aboriginal cultures that have existed and continue to exist in Tea Tree Gully.

The Local History Service is continuing to examine the ancient Kaurna heritage of the area, the initial period of contact and the continuing experiences of Aboriginal people in Tea Tree Gully. Part of this will be the collection of the oral histories of Aboriginal people in the area.
The Local History Service recognises that this collection of Oral Histories represents a great opportunity to promote inter-generational exchange between older and younger Aboriginal people.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to contribute your views or experiences please contact the Local History Service on 08 8397 7467.