Scotch College relinquishes access to Goose Island, on Yorke Peninsula, after Native Title decision

The principal of one of SA’s most expensive private schools says he’s “profoundly disappointed” after revealing why it will stop holding camps on a secluded SA island.

Prestigious private school Scotch College will relinquish access to an island that has hosted its school camps for almost 60 years following a Native Title determination last year.

The school will cease using Goose Island, called Mayibarrdu in Narungga language, at the end of 2024 — three years before its licence to access the site was due to expire.

The Federal Court handed down a decision in March 2023 recognising the Narungga People as Native Title holders of the Yorke Peninsula, including the island which sits 13km from Port Victoria.

Scotch College had used the island for its school camps since 1966, through a licence agreement with the Department of Environment and Water (DEW).

In a letter sent to parents and old collegians on Tuesday evening, Scotch College Principal Trent Driver said he was “profoundly disappointed” that the school’s younger students would not be able to use the island in future years.

“Earlier this year, a request was made that the College relinquish its licence in advance of its 2027 expiry, handing the island back to traditional owners for alternative uses,” Mr Driver said.

“After several months of good faith negotiations and discussions between the College and DEW, we were informed the licence agreement with Scotch will now end in December 2024, and we will not have access to the island for school programs in the years ahead.

“The College made every effort to negotiate a collaborative solution and will keep lines of communication open with the Narungga People.”

Scotch College students preparing to dive off Goose Island in Spencer Gulf.

Mr Driver said access to the island had allowed generations of students to take part in diverse activities including sailing, kayaking, wildlife studies, land regeneration, snorkelling through shipwrecks in the area and swimming with sea lions.

“As we conclude our time on Goose Island we celebrate the impact that our programs have had on our community and culture, and look forward to embracing the opportunities to provide extraordinary outdoor experiences for our students in the years ahead,” Mr Driver said.

A DEW spokesperson said discussions over the licence had occurred over several months after a request was filed by the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation (NNAC) following the Native Title determination.

They said the termination was within the terms of the licence granted to Scotch College and the department would work with the school to investigate alternative options for its outdoor education program.

NNAC CEO Doug Milera thanked Scotch for its decision to relinquish the licence and said the move would allow the Narungga people to reconnect spiritually to the land, as well as explore new cultural tourism opportunities for the wider community.

“For the 60-odd years Scotch College has held their licence to operate on the island we’ve not really been able to access it, so now we want to develop a three-pronged approach,” Mr Milera said.

“We want to look at how to spiritually reconnect with the island, look at how our Sea Ranger program can play a part in caring for and conserving the environment and also look at the economic opportunities that come from ecotourism.”

“This provides an opportunity for everyone to come there and enjoy, while understanding the cultural and spiritual connections to the island.”