Full Circle: A Personal History of the South Australian Aboriginal Heritage Branch 1974-1994

by Philip Fitzpatrick

Concerted efforts to legislatively protect Aboriginal sites and heritage in Australia did not occur until the late 1960s. South Australia was an early pioneer in the field with the introduction of the Aboriginal and Historic Relics Preservation Act in 1965. This Act was superseded in 1989 by the Aboriginal Heritage Act, which is still in force. Aboriginal heritage legislation is difficult to administer because it inevitably clashes with many vested interests, particularly mining and development. Advocating for the protection of Aboriginal heritage almost always takes place in a politically charged environment. Such endeavours are not for the faint hearted and can be a minefield for the uninitiated. Even for the most progressively minded it can be anxiety inducing. This memoir describes how the staff of the Relics Unit and its successor, the Aboriginal Heritage Branch, strived to carry out that difficult role in South Australia between 1974 and 1994. The account documents where they succeeded and where they failed.

263 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2022