Adelaide University has officially opened a new Kaurna Yarning Circle at its Roseworthy Campus today, creating a culturally significant meeting place that reflects the University’s commitment to reconciliation and embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing.
Located adjacent to the Eastick building at Roseworthy, the Yarning Circle has been designed as a gathering space for ceremony, teaching and connection.
Today’s event began with a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country by Kaurna Elder Uncle Frank Wanganeen and Senior Kaurna man Robert Taylor, followed by addresses from Professor Steve Larkin, Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous, and Professor Rob Woodgate, Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Science which is located at Roseworthy Campus.
Yarning Circles have been central to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years, serving as sacred spaces for the sharing of knowledge, stories, values and cultural law. The Roseworthy Yarning Circle continues this enduring practice, offering a place where First Nations and non-Indigenous communities can come together in respectful dialogue and learning.
In his opening remarks, Professor Larkin reflected on the significance of the moment and the importance of creating visible, tangible spaces that advance reconciliation within university environments.
“Adelaide University is the first university in Australia to be gifted an Aboriginal name, Tirkangkaku (Place of Learning) and the Yarning Circle at Roseworthy expresses the Kaurna concept of “Kaurna meyunna” – Caring for Country,” Prof Larkin said.
“Through its landscape design and artistic elements, the space tells a story about environmental stewardship and the impact of modern agriculture, encouraging reflection on the responsibility to care for land and community.”
The circle features striking artwork by Kaurna artist Paul Herzich, whose design is woven throughout the footprint and infrastructure of the site.
Cultural elements inspired by the local mallee and grassy woodland landscape are embedded in the space, with native plantings and symbolic references to local fauna, including the red-bellied black snake, known as “Ilya”. Colours drawn from the natural environment – greens, ochres, reds and blacks –reinforce the connection to place.
The project has been shaped through collaboration and co-design, recognising the importance of First Nations leadership and community engagement in its development.
Prof Larkin said the Roseworthy Yarning Circle is part of a broader initiative to establish culturally meaningful gathering spaces across Adelaide University campuses.
“The Yarning Circle will provide a welcoming setting for ceremonies, teaching, reflection and community events, strengthening cultural preservation and understanding for generations to come,” he said.