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Warriparinga Interpretive Centre - a community reconciliation project

The vision and efforts of local Kaurna people, Marion Council and the Marion community has led to the development of the Warriparinga Interpretive Centre.

A $1.45 million grant in 1998 from the Federation Cultural and Heritage Program will help see this project through to fruition.

The aim is for the new Centre to be opened in 2001, as part of the celebrations marking the Centenary of Australia's Federation.

The result will be an Aboriginal and European Heritage and Environmental Interpretive Centre of national significance. It will offer local residents and visitors alike an attractive environmental and heritage destination.

The design includes a Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, Kaurna food trails and European heritage and environment trails.

It will be built on land adjacent to the Sturt River, at Belford park, 12 kilometres south west of Adelaide's GPO, that has recently been given to Council by the State Government.

The heritage listed Fairford House farmhouse and coach house, located on the same land, will be transformed into a local history museum.

Research at the Australian Museum in Canberra indicates that this is the only documented project in Australia that is currently working to achieve a mix commemorating both our Aboriginal, European and environmental heritage.

"This project is the culmination of seven years hard work by the Council and its community," said Don Chapman, Council's Cultural Planner.

"Individuals, the community and especially the Kaurna people, Council and State Government agencies have worked together, to take a great opportunity for reconciliation and make something of deep significance out of it."

With the Interpretive Centre linked to the Warriparinga Wetland project and a number of other related projects, Marion's approach to reconciliation is that it is not done in isolation but is part of a wider integrated community project.

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