This park, and surrounding hills is a significant place for the Kaurna people, who historically used this area in winter as makeshift Wardli (shelter).
Many Kaurna yarta (land) family groups look after the Kaurna pangkara (country), which stretched from the plains and hills south of Crystal Brook and west of Mount Lofty, down to Cape Jervis.
While the Kaurna people sheltered in this area they gathered and hunted the necessities for survival to sustain their family groups including:
- Mai (bush vegetables)
- Pardu (bush meats from animals)
- Mintirninthi (healing) and
- Bush ‘textiles’ which were used to make woven products for gathering bush fruit and vegetables.
Go for a walk along the Mai Tappa Trail using the brochure to interpret the Kaurna ‘food pathway’, and learn about Kaurna history and living culture.
Aboriginal peoples have occupied, enjoyed and managed the lands and waters of this State for thousands of generations. For Aboriginal first nations, creation ancestors laid down the laws of the Country and bestowed a range of customary rights and obligations to the many Aboriginal Nations across our state.
There are many places across the State that have great spiritual significance to Aboriginal first nations. At some of these places Aboriginal cultural protocols, such as restricted access, are promoted and visitors are asked to respect the wishes of Traditional Owners.
In places where protocols are not promoted visitors are asked to show respect by not touching or removing anything, and make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave.
Aboriginal peoples continue to play an active role in caring for their Country, including in parks across South Australia.