Indigenous elders and native title holders say they feel “sick” and “distressed” as the South Australian government considers disturbing a significant ceremonial and burial site to upgrade a golf course for the Saudi-backed LIV tournament.
The state government wants to host the tournament at the North Adelaide golf course from 2028 but cannot do so without expanding it. This will involve tearing up parts of the course, despite being told there is “a high probability” of burial sites 1.5 metres underneath the grass.
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Several academics and Indigenous elders have told the government the southern section of the course contains a “substantial archaeological record” of a large-scale ceremonial precinct, known as Pirltawardli, which was a gathering place for the Kaurna people.
Government documents show Pirltawardli has been recognised as playing a “central role in the history of South Australian race relations” and once hosted an Indigenous language school, a colonial store and the first Christian mission in the state.
The course upgrade has not been finalised. But the government has conceded bones could be disturbed. A report by the attorney general’s department outlines the plan to deal with human remains that “cannot be avoided”. They would be removed by an archaeologist.
“This is quite distressing,” said Mitzi Nam, the chair of the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, the native title owners of the Pirltawardli.
“This is really making our community very anxious as there has been no consultation. We know there’s a need for development, but there should be more compassion about what this land means to us”.
Susan Dixon, a Kaurna custodian and a member of the state’s First Nations Voice to Parliament and Mitzi Nam, Chair of the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation at Piltawodli Memorial in North Adelaide’ Photograph: Sia Duff/The Guardian
Nam said she had an informal discussion about the site with the state’s minister for Aboriginal affairs, Kyam Maher, but that there had been no formal consultation about the course design. Under the state’s heritage act, the site cannot be disturbed without ministerial permission.
A government spokesperson said there had been consultation with tradition owners and the Indigenous community about the application, including a public meeting. A deadline for submissions was extended to facilitate more feedback.
“Consultation on the application has closed and a report is currently being prepared for a decision,” the spokesperson said.
“It just makes me feel sick,” said Lynette Crocker, the chair of the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association, who has also recently discussed the proposal with Maher.
Crocker said more than 1,500 of her ancestors had already been removed from burial sites along the River Torrens and stored in museums. In recent years, Kaurna elders have sought to rebury their ancestors to “bring dignity to every one of them”.
“I have said on numerous occasions to state government, if you don’t do anything else for Kaurna people, return their ancient ones to where they come from. They are spiritually angry with successive governments”.
“It’s not only frustrating, it is demoralising and shows a total disrespect for Kaurna people and our elders and ancient ones.”
Susan Dixon, a Kaurna custodian and a member of the state’s First Nations voice to parliament said her people had a deep spiritual and historical link to Pirltawardli.
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“It actually saddens me,” Dixon said. “This government has shown initiative to have a voice and I’ll give credit where it’s due. But you know what? They actually need to listen to our voice too.
“Our cultural footprint is in that site. We wouldn’t knock down Adelaide’s catherdral. We need to honour this parkland. It should have the same value.”
Dr Jenni Caruso, an Eastern Arrente woman and academic at Adelaide University who has researched the site’s cultural importance, said “they should not be doing it in any way, shape or form”.
“It is the foundations of this state that are being disturbed,” Caruso said.
“Once again, we become disposable don’t we? Our history falls into the bucket of disposables as it doesn’t carry a dollar alignment.”
The state government has highlighted analysis from consultants Vision Insights, which claims the LIV tournament brought $81m to the state in 2025, with 86,000 “visitor nights” from tourists.
The City of Adelaide’s reconciliation council wrote to the state government earlier this month and said the site should be preserved to demonstrate respect for Kaurna custodianship.
“Any redevelopment must ensure the site is safeguarded, honoured and interpreted in ways that support cultural continuity and broader community understanding,” a letter to the state government said.
North Adelaide Golf Course was contacted for comment.
