More questions than answers over potential sacred site at Darwin Esplanade

A TRADITIONAL custodian has disagreed with claims the Esplanade site on which the Darwin RSL wants to build its clubhouse is 'sacred’

THE possibility that a sacred Larrakia site occupies the Esplanade has been revealed as the reason for Darwin council’s eleventh hour decision to abandon making a call on the RSL’s development proposal.

THE STORY SO FAR

Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis reveals reason why Council delayed vote on RSL’s Esplanade proposal

200 leave Darwin council without an answer on RSL Esplanade club house proposal

What would the Darwin RSL look like, where would it be located?

Larrakia elder Bilawara Lee said she called Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting saying the RSL site was part of the Rainbow Serpent dream song and was a sacred Larrakia women’s birthing site.

The proposed RSL building at The Cenotaph carpark, highlighted in yellow, would be built about 80m from the back of The Deckchair Cinema’s screen.

The two sites as they are now, showing their relative locations and the distance between them. Picture: NT News

But those claims have been questioned by a traditional custodian, Tibby Quall, who said anyone making those comments ought to “be ashamed”.

“Those people who call themselves Larrakia don’t know the culture or laws or customs or Dreaming tracks,” he said.

“There’s no birthing site there, there’s no scared site there. They should be ashamed of themselves for making those comments.”

Mr Quall said there was one birthing site in the Darwin area but it was 2.5km away from the CBD area.

Tibby Quall said anyone claiming that land was a Larrakia birthing site should be “ashamed”

“My grandmother was born there (at the other site) and her children were born there, my mother was born there … we want it protected, that’s why our families know that site,” he said.

“We are trying to get that heritage listed, it’s been on the table for many years but because it’s a developed area it’s been difficult but the site is still there.”

RSL president Stephen Gloster said no issues over the proposed Esplanade RSL site had been raised by Larrakia elders during recent works to The Cenotaph area.

“The Darwin RSL recently completed a $1m upgrade of The Cenotaph precinct, including the installation of the Eternal Flame at The Esplanade and, at that time, engaged with and confirmed with Larrakia traditional owners that there were no cultural issues related to the precinct area. including the carpark site,” he said.

Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) chief executive Benedict Scambary said while there were a number of sacred sites in the vicinity of the RSL’s proposed clubhouse, it didn’t mean a development couldn’t go ahead.

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“Sites along The Esplanade have previously been protected by AAPA, while allowing development,” he said.

“To date, AAPA has not been asked to consult on the proposed RSL development.”