Adjahdura Land - Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

Adjahdura Land (Yorke Peninsula) is located 1 hour north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Three quarters of the country is bordered by sea and the Aboriginal community of Point Pearce is located by the sea. Looking at a map, Adjahdura Land stands out - as Adjahdura people say, "It’s the leg that’s holding up Australia". 

The Aboriginal lands, national parks and coastal areas of Adjahdura Land are remote and beautiful – with rugged cliffs, sandy white beaches and crystal clear sea water. It's been a rich farming region ever since white settlement, in the mid 1800's.

This country was occupied for 40,000 years before white fellas stepped foot on this land. The Adjahdura people were a peaceful people and they lived in harmony with the land and nature.

Through Dreaming stories, Adjahdura traditional owners with knowledge, like Quenten Agius, explain how this country was formed. These Dreaming stories are re-told by Quenten on his Aboriginal Cultural Tours.

In 1867 the Aboriginal mission of Point Pearce was established by missionaries. Land was allocated to grow crops and farm sheep. This land grew in acreage as a small township developed.

Bad things are spoken about Aboriginal missions - but Adjahdura elders Irene Agius and Elaine Newchurch talk about how important Point Pearce was in the survival of their people - they say, "It was a place where you could run away from the bullet - a sanctuary for Aboriginal people".

Today the Aboriginal lands and township of Point Pearce have survived - but Adjahdura cultural landscapes on other parts of their country have been desecrated by farming and land developments - desecration that continues today. To gain an incredible Aboriginal insight into this country, it's history and culture, Quenten Agius (knowledgeable traditional owner) offers Aboriginal Cultural Tours of Adjahdura Land.