Cultural Heritage

First Nations heritage

Adelaide Plains forms part of the traditional Country of the Kaurna people. Council pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land and we acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

The Kaurna People have had a deep and spiritual connection with land and waters of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park - Winaityinaityi Pangkara for thousands of years and are the recognised Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains.

Second Nations heritage

The Lower North Regional Survey - District Council of Mallala was instigated by the former Department of Environment and Heritage in 1983. From this study, 11 buildings and structures were designated as State Heritage Places. These include the Mallala Hotel, Two Wells Library and the Dublin Institute.

The 1983 Survey recommendations for several sites to be considered for local heritage listing have not been actioned.

Local Heritage Code Amendment

In 2020 we engaged Hosking Willis Architects to review the original 1983 findings. This report was considered as a confidential item at the May 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting. Council resolved to commence the Adelaide Plains Local Heritage Amendment to the Planning and Design Code to formally designate 34 properties as Local Heritage Places. Early commencement of the Amendment is being sought, which means that the buildings would be heritage listed on an interim basis to prevent risk of demolition during consultation.

A Proposal to Initiate document seeking the Minister for Planning’s support to commence the investigations and engagement with property owners and the wider community was forwarded to the Minister for Planning in late 2022. More information about the Adelaide Plains Local Heritage Code Amendment is available on the PlanSA website.

Initiated Code Amendments – Plan SA

In 2022 Council resolved to nominate the Buckland Park Station complex of buildings on Port Gawler Road to the SA Heritage Council for consideration as a potential State Heritage Place.

Comprehensive Heritage Survey

From observations by Hosking Willis in 2022, there are likely extensive properties of heritage value that have not been identified or assessed for their heritage value. Acknowledging 34 properties are proposed in the Adelaide Plains Local Heritage Code Amendment, for comparison, there are 135 and 237 local heritage places in Wakefield Regional and Light Regional Council’s respectively. There are no local heritage places currently in Adelaide Plains.

To acknowledge our region’s cultural heritage as part of planning for ongoing growth, in 2025, Council received grant funding from the Minister for Planning to cofund what is called the comprehensive heritage survey’. This survey is commencing in 2026, with the Adelaide Plains Thematic History being completed as an initial component.