Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park Infrastructure Concept Plan, Nildottie, SA 2021

At the Ngaut Nguat heritage site, Troppo are collaborating with the Traditional Owners, the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Inc and NPWS.

Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park is a unique and special dreaming place of rich cultural and archaeological history situated along the banks of the Murray River. Contemporary Aboriginal community members say that Ngaut Ngaut is in Nganguraku Country, but also acknowledge its rich heritage as a meeting point for Nganguraku, Ngaiawang and Ngarkat people, as well as more southern Peramangk and Ngarrindjeri nations. The park was created to conserve and protect the heritage of the Nganguraku people, the traditional custodians of this sacred land.

Steeped also in archaeological history, it is the site of Australia’s first scientific excavation by Hale & Tindale. The excavations provided the first clear evidence for the presence of Indigenous Australians in one place and over a long period of time. This was later confirmed in the 1950s when the deposits were radiocarbon dated and demonstrated to be over 5,000 years old.

The collaboration involves the reestablishment of critical visitor infrastructure including entry statement, viewing and interpretive shelters, boardwalks, amenities, and infrastructure for building successful tourism opportunities to be accessed from both land and river. With a rich and layered history, masterplanning also includes for keeping place and interpretive centre to return a significant collection currently held by the SA Museum and look after the artefacts.

“They are ours to take forward now – they have more meaning when they are on country” - Isobelle Campbell, Ivy Campbell and Anita Hunter - MACAI