The Aboriginal Cultural Centre to be 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 we held a naming ceremony at the 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.

Artwork by Ingrid O'Loughlin