First Peoples of the Mt Lofty Districts

Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc.
Acknowledgement of Country

The Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc. recognises that the lands of the Adelaide Hills and Adelaide Plains hold deep and lasting spiritual significance to their traditional custodians. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

The Mt Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc. aims to “…uncover, preserve and publish the Histories of the Mt Lofty Districts”. These histories include those of the Peramangk and Kaurna Peoples of the Adelaide Hills and Plains.

To advance these aims the MLDHS is working to establish a collection of maps, manuscripts, images, documents, recordings, books and papers which reflect the developing relationships between the First Peoples and new settlers as they spread from first landings on the coastline of St Vincent’s Gulf, across the Adelaide Plains and into the Mt Lofty Ranges.

A major collaboration between the MLDHS and the Coventry Library will commence in February 2021 with the digitisation of a recently donated collection of publications which investigate and describe frontier conflict. These books will be housed in a First Peoples cabinet in the MLDHS shared research space where they can be accessed for research purposes.

Portion of the First Peoples’ Collection on display in the History Centre

The map which is illustrated below identifies the density and complexity of Aboriginal tribal lands across the Australian continent. A similar but less colourful map is already in our collection. We intend to acquire a copy of this map to enhance our collection as soon as possible.