Sacred Site Under Threat as Adelaide Golf Course Upgrade Sparks Outrage
Adelaide, Australia – Plans to upgrade North Adelaide Golf Course to host a Saudi-backed LIV tournament in 2025 are facing fierce opposition from Indigenous leaders and reconciliation advocates, who say the redevelopment will disturb a notable burial site and demonstrate a disregard for Kaurna cultural heritage. The proposed changes have ignited a debate over economic gain versus the preservation of indigenous history and spiritual connection to the land.
The controversy centers on a section of the golf course known to contain ancestral remains and hold deep cultural importance for the Kaurna peopel, the conventional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Dr.Jenni Caruso, an Eastern Arrente woman and academic at Adelaide University who has researched the site, stated unequivocally, “they should not be doing it in any way, shape or form.” She added, “It is the foundations of this state that are being disturbed,” and lamented that Indigenous history is treated as “disposable as it doesn’t carry a dollar alignment.”
The South Australian state government is defending the project, citing an economic impact analysis from consultants Vision Insights, which estimates the 2025 LIV tournament will generate $81 million for the state and attract 86,000 “visitor nights” from tourists. However,critics argue that financial benefits should not come at the expense of cultural sensitivity and respect for Indigenous heritage.
The City of Adelaide’s reconciliation council has formally urged the state government to preserve the site, emphasizing the need to “safeguard, honor and interpret” it in a way that supports cultural continuity and community understanding, as expressed in a letter sent earlier this month. The council’s stance underscores growing concerns that economic growth is repeatedly prioritized over Indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
North Adelaide Golf Course has been contacted for comment. The situation remains fluid,with ongoing discussions expected between the state government,Indigenous representatives,and golf course officials to determine the future of the site and the proposed redevelopment.
