Place Naming
The Adelaide City Council was among the first Councils to sign a Reconciliation Statement in 1997. The Kaurna Naming Project stems from Council's Reconciliation Vision Statement (1997):
"Council acknowledges the prior occupation of this land by the Kaurna people, and will seek opportunities to recognise Kaurna heritage through physical features of the City and by supporting community cultural activities.
And reflects Council's Strategic Management Plan 2004 - 2007:
"Work with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the Adelaide City Council Reconciliation Committee to build effective Indigenous cultures in the community."
In meeting the objectives of Council's Reconciliation Vision Statement, the Project has resulted in the physical recognition of a substantial number of Kaurna heritage sites in and around Adelaide. The Project has also resulted in all 29 Parks around the City being assigned a Kaurna name and the dual naming of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri and Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga. The installation of signage was completed on the 30 June 2004. Text detailing the importance of specific areas of Adelaide's Park Lands was developed for each Kaurna sign in full consultation with Kaurna community culture and heritage groups. This reflects the intention of council’s Strategic Management Plan.
For more information about the Kaurna signs and their locations, please CLICK THE NUMBERS ON THE MAP. To hear the pronunciation, click on the name in the list to the right.
The Adelaide City Council was one of the first Councils to sign a Reconciliation Vision Statement in 1997.
As part of its Reconciliation Vision Statement :
Council acknowledges the prior occupation of this land by the Kaurna people and will seek opportunities to recognise Kaurna heritage through physical features of the City and by supporting community cultural activities. (Guiding Principle 5)
In 1997, Council resolved in principle that a list of Adelaide City sites and features for potential naming with Kaurna names be drawn up in consultation with appropriate authorities and community organisations. This work was undertaken and an initial list identifying Kaurna names for City Park Lands and City Squares was presented to Council.
In March 2000, Council endorsed the Kaurna naming of the first four Adelaide City Park Lands and made a formal request to the Geographical Names Advisory Committee to dual name the River Torrens and the Main Lake Botanic Garden with their Kaurna names.
In May 2001, Council endorsed the Kaurna naming of a further nineteen (19) Park Lands, taking the total number of Kaurna named Park Lands to 23. In March 2003, Council endorsed the Kaurna naming of all remaining Park Lands and the dual Kaurna naming of City Squares. Council has now endorsed the Kaurna naming or dual Kaurna naming of all Park Lands and Squares.
Council works closely with linguists, Kaurna communities and Council's Reconciliation Committee in the development of text for each of the Park Lands and City Squares that has been assigned a Kaurna name.
Kaurna signage for all 29 Adelaide City Park Lands has now been installed. Kaurna signage for Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga and the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri has also been installed.
Initial content courtesy of:
Kaurna Warra Pintyandi
Signatories: Dr Alice Wallara Rigney, Lewis O'Brien and Rob Amery
Final content approved after consultation with Kaurna Meyunna, Kaurna Elders and KACHA.
Kaurna Park Name & Translation
Significant Sites Map No 1 Piltawodli (Park 1)
'possum place'
Significant Sites Map No 2 Padipadinyilla (Park 2)
'swimming place'
Significant Sites Map No 3 Kandarilla (Park 3)
'kandara root place'
Significant Sites Map No 4 Kangattilla (Park 4)
'kangatta berry place'
Significant Sites Map No 5 Ngampa Yerta (Park 5)
'ngampa root ground'
Significant Sites Map No 6 Nanto Womma (Park 6)
'horse plain'
Significant Sites Map No 7 Kuntingga (Park 7)
'kunti root place'
Significant Sites Map No 8 Barnguttilla (Park 8)
'barngutta root place'
Significant Sites Map No 9 Tidlangga (Park 9)
'tidla root place'
Significant Sites Map No 10 Warnpangga (Park 10)
'bullrush root place'
Significant Sites Map No 11 Tainmundilla (Park 11)
'mistletoe place'
Significant Sites Map No 12 Karrawirra (Park 12)
'river red gum forest'
Significant Sites Map No 13 Rundle Park/Kadlitpinna
'Captain Jack'
Significant Sites Map No 14 Rymill Park / Mullawirraburka
'King John'
Significant Sites Map No 15 Ityamaiitpinna (Park 15)
'King Rodney'
Significant Sites Map No 16 Victoria Park / Bakkabakkandi
'to trot: a term applied to horses'
Significant Sites Map No 17 Tuttangga (Park 17)
'grass place'
Significant Sites Map No 18 Wita Wirra (Park 18)
'peppermint grove/place'
Significant Sites Map No 19 Pityarilla (Park 19)
'marshmallow root place'
Significant Sites Map No 20 Kurrangga (Park 20)
'blue gum place'
View public sign
Significant Sites Map No 21 Walyo Yerta (Park 21)
'walyo root ground'
Significant Sites Map No 21w Minno Wirra (Park 21 West)
'golden wattle grove'
Significant Sites Map No 22 Wikaparndo Wirra (Park 22)
'netball park'
Significant Sites Map No 23 Wirranendi (Park 23)
'to become wirra'
Significant Sites Map No 24 Tambawodli (Park 24)
'plain place'
Significant Sites Map No 25 Narnungga (Park 25)
'native pine place'
Significant Sites Map No 26 Tarndanya Womma (Park 26)
'Adelaide plain/oval'
Significant Sites Map No 27 Bonython Park / Tulya Wodli
'Police barracks'
Significant Sites Map No 28 Palmer Gardens / Pangki Pangki
'Kaurna tracker and guide'
Significant Sites Map No 29 Brougham Gardens / Tandotittingga
'Native lilac place'
Victoria
Square Tarndanyangga
'Red Kangaroo Dreaming'
Torrens River Karrawirra Parri
'Redgum Forest River'
Main Lake Botanic Garden Kainka Wirra
'Redgum Forest'