Yitpi Yartapuultiku Cultural Centre: Building a Place for Community and Reconciliation
Yitpi Yartapuultiku Cultural Centre or “Soul of Port Adelaide” in Kaurna language, is an exciting new placemaking project for unity and collaboration. Located within a coastal environment of high cultural and community value, Yitpi Yartapuultiku will be a space for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to be immersed in First Nations culture and re-connect to the land and community.
Decades in the planning, inspired by Kaurna heritage and stories, and designed in collaboration with a diverse community, Yitpi Yartapuultiku will integrate the built environment with the unique natural landscape and coastal features of the site.
In 2023, Sarah Constructions was proud to be chosen as the project’s building partner, with a scope of works including indoor and outdoor community activity, performance and exhibition spaces, gathering places, public amenities, offices and meeting rooms, extensive native landscaping, and pathways to the ‘Living Shoreline’.
This blog explores Sarah’s commitment to building relationships with the project’s stakeholders, understanding and sharing project objectives, developing cultural and community initiatives across the project lifecycle, and creating legacy opportunities for all South Australians.
A Once in a Generation Opportunity
Yitpi Yartapuultiku is inspired by the heritage and stories of the Kaurna people and is designed to be a place for all people to gather, connect, and heal.
The City of Port Adelaide Enfield and design consultants WAX Design (Landscape Architect) and Ashley Halliday (Architecture and Interiors) worked closely with the community in a co-design process including Kaurna’s nominated custodians, Elders and Council’s Aboriginal Advisory Panel.
Aunty Pat Waria Read is a Kaurna Elder and explains the cultural importance of the project: “We are proud of our land and of our stories and are willing to share them. This project is a bridge – it will open up our local area and join communities together.”
Warwick Keates (WAX Design) and Ashley Halliday (Ashley Halliday Architects) have led a collaborative design process characterised by a mutual respect of the natural environment, cultural considerations, and a desire to connect communities.
And now, Sarah’s team is wholly invested in delivering on the community’s vision for Yitpi Yartapuultiku.
“We understand that Yitpi Yartapuultiku has significant cultural and community meaning to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people of Port Adelaide Enfield. The Sarah team have a deep understanding of the project objectives, developed over some 2 years through a highly collaborative process between the City of PAE, Ashley Halliday Architects, Wax Design, and local Aboriginal Custodians. We are committed to successfully delivering on the community’s vision for Yitpi Yartapuultiku.”
– Robert Maiolo, Project Manager, Sarah Constructions
Meaningful Opportunities
Sarah’s commitment to take strategic and meaningful action to support reconciliation with Aboriginal people was formalised in 2019 with the development of its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
In the five years since, Sarah has proactively sought to engage and collaborate with Aboriginal businesses, increase Aboriginal representation in its workforce and promote cultural awareness amongst all personnel.
Belinda Wood is the company’s RAP Working Group Facilitator and explains Sarah’s excitement around Yitpi Yartapuultiku:
“This project signifies our commitment to fostering inclusivity and preserving cultural heritage, we are privileged to contribute to the community’s cultural landscape in a meaningful way.”
– Belinda Wood, RAP Working Group Facilitator and Marketing & Communications Manager, Sarah Constructions
Sarah was selected as the project’s building partner for its commitment to increasing the capacity of Aboriginal and local businesses and its respect for the project’s cultural and design principles.
Claire Boan is the Mayor of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield: “People are at the forefront of everything we do, and it is critical that this project invites local businesses to be part of this journey.
“In Sarah, we have selected a builder that shares our ‘people first’ focus and has a history of building legacy for local businesses and Sarah is excited about this project in the way we hoped a builder would be.”
“Sarah is a highly respected, proudly South Australian business, and we know it shares Council’s values and truly believes in the importance of the Yitpi Yartapuultiku project.”
– Claire Boan, Mayor, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Building Capacity and Respect
To demonstrate its commitment to building capacity and respect, Sarah engaged with hundreds of local and Aboriginal-owned businesses to understand the capabilities of the supply chain, building relationships that are now enhancing the project with local knowledge and experience.
“We understand that a project as significant and unique as the Yitpi Yartapuultiku will require us to take a unique approach to inclusivity, building capacity, listening, and learning from each other. These learnings will be instrumental in building capacity in the local and Aboriginal supply chains.”
– Belinda Wood, RAP Working Group Facilitator and Marketing & Communications Manager, Sarah Constructions
Sarah’s personnel quickly integrated into the wider project team, building their understanding of the project objectives and co-developing several initiatives to build community, cultural awareness and realise the project’s sustainability goals including a 6-Star Greenstar rating.
Rodney Welch is Yitpi Yartapuultiku’s Place Leader and is responsible for engagement across the local community and ensuring that authentic local Aboriginal people are involved and consulted throughout the planning and building processes.
“Yitpi Yartapuultiku is a true partnership between the community and Council and a place where the cultural design narrative and authority must co-exist across decision making and the procurement process. We have welcomed Sarah into the relationship that is delivering this place in a truly unique way and look forward to modelling cultural authority alongside them.”
Tools for Reconciliation and Healing
One of Sarah’s first commitments was the production of a multimedia Cultural Induction – developed in collaboration with Kaurna people and the Council, welcoming project personnel and subcontractors to Country, and advocating for respectful relationships with the natural environment and the cultural backgrounds of all project stakeholders.
Josef Hawke is an Aboriginal man and one of Sarah’s Site Supervisors: “This is the first time I have seen a project induction developed in this way, and it demonstrates to the Kaurna people that we are invested in building Yitpi Yartapuultiku alongside them in a culturally respectful way.”
Sarah’s partnership approach has continued with frequent invitations to stakeholders to visit the site, and a traditional Kaurna smoking ceremony during National Reconciliation Week, to mark the completion of the bulk earthworks and the commencement of the construction phase.
Aunty Joan Lamont Williams, a Kaurna Elder and a member of the project’s Elder Advisory Group explains the significance of the ceremony:
“Smoking brings healing. It washes away the old and brings purification and connection, and protects people associated with this special place.”
Aunty Joan Lamont Williams, Kaurna Elder
Yitpi Yartapuultiku is now progressing as scheduled to be completed in early 2025.
“Yipti Yartapuultiku is a shining light for Port Adelaide. It is a place for people of all nationalities, and a space that we can all be proud of. To see the place taking shape is a dream come true, and is uplifting for the whole community.”
Uncle Rodney (Rod) O’Brien – Kaurna Elder
