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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-02 Daily Xml
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KAURNA LANDS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:23): I acknowledge we meet on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people and my contribution today concerns Kaurna settlement on the land we know as the suburb of Tea Tree Gully in the council area of the City of Tea Tree Gully. The exact place I am referring to is in the electorate of my friend and colleague the member for Newland. The area known as Pine Park has been of interest to me for many years because of its proximity to my favourite garden and plant nursery, Newman's Nursery, and the historic settlement of Tea Tree Gully which dates back to 1839—three years after proclamation of the state.

The Tea Tree Gully National Trust cares for the old Highercombe Hotel Museum, which is beside the old Dunn's store, now a beautiful Indian restaurant. The old flour mill, now the Fox and Firkin Pub, is on the north-eastern side of Dunn's store which for many years was the North-East Highway Restaurant—the venue for many celebrations for north-eastern families. These premises are close to the Tea Tree Gully Hotel, a site used by travellers for refreshments and coach companies to change their horses.

Up a little on the Haines Road side is the site of the old council chambers, one of the oldest in the state, as the council was one of the first established. In 2002, with the help of the local Kaurna people, a scar tree was identified in Pine Park, a verdant strip of land between the Tea Tree Gully Hotel and Newman's Nursery. Newman's Nursery was originally the summer home of Archdeacon Farr, who was the husband of Julia Farr after whom the Julia Farr Centre was named.

Nearby stone quarries had some of the highest quality stone in the state and it was used to dress state buildings such as the GPO, the Town Hall and parts of St Peter's Cathedral. Angove Scrub, I believe, is the last remaining remnant untouched native vegetation in Adelaide. Nearby Anstey Hill provides wonderful bushwalks and spectacular views across the plains to the sea. These views are a significant pointer to the importance of the area for Kaurna people, as Tea Tree Gully was one of only two spots where the Kaurna could come through the hills on their way to the summer camps, the other being Glen Osmond Road.

With the help of Heather Burke and Alice Gorman from the Department of Archaeology at Flinders University, three students—Rani Attwood, Jo Thredgold and Ollie Spiers—have worked on projects, giving us a tremendous amount of new information. We now know that two of the eight Kaurna groups used Tea Tree Gully as permanent settlements.

The now unfortunately dead double scar tree grew beside a permanent water source of very high quality, which we believe was the first piped water in the settlement of Adelaide. There are many other attractions within walking distance of Haines Park, a triangular grassed area in front of Tea Tree Gully Hotel. With the assistance of the students, we hope to develop a brochure emphasising the use of that other great north-east icon, the O-Bahn, which will collect and deliver people to the historic precinct, ensuring a relaxing day for all.

A working group will soon be called together and, all being well, we should see an exciting program of events scheduled early in 2010, showcasing this area for the benefit of all. This work has been possible through the efforts of the Florey Reconciliation Task Force. In particular, I would like to thank Lea Crosby, whose initial work with the task force some eight years ago encouraged us to continue. Many other people were involved in the task force over the years, and some of those people are now returning after some time as we are looking to get this project off the ground.

In closing, I would like to thank my staff, Wendy Herbert, Victoria Pollifrone, Lea Crosby, Gary Lockwood, Marlene Fenwick, and our new trainee, Gabi Prideaux, who recently replaced Adreena Ghislandi, for their help and work. I look forward to working with them as we represent and serve the people of the electorate of Florey.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Parliament House staff, particularly chamber staff, Hansard, and our great friends in the library for all they do. I wish everyone a safe and happy festive season. In doing so, I extend every good wish to retiring members in this house and the other place, especially the members for Little Para and Taylor. I wish them very well in all they do, and I hope to see them. Don't be a stranger!

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