Alice Springs residents opposed to ‘done deal’ national art gallery on historic oval call out process

Members of the Alice Springs community have made their feelings clear about an art gallery set to be built on Anzac Oval, with one slamming the process as ‘bull---t’.

Alice Springs locals opposed to the building of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery on Anzac Oval made their voices heard on Sunday, August 4, on Todd Mall. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Alice Springs residents have banded together in opposition to an art gallery being developed on a historic oval – with calls to “get a bit cranky” about the government’s decision to go ahead with the project.

Dozens of Alice Springs residents gathered on the lawns of the Flynn Memorial Uniting Church on Todd Mall, on Sunday to lament the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia being built on Anzac Oval.

Speakers included traditional owners, custodians, and Elders, Faron Peckham, Doris Stuart Kngwarreye, Barbara Liddle – with a statement read out on behalf of Ian Conway by Amber Kunoth.

While the speakers didn’t oppose an Aboriginal art gallery in Alice Springs, many pushed for the location to change further south of town in the Desert Knowledge precinct – a more culturally appropriate place, according to Mr Peckham.

“The alternative site, Desert Knowledge Precinct, is culturally safe and supported by Elders,” Mr Peckham said.

“We walk in a world where we have no authority; the project is another example of how development can erode cultural and spiritual identity.”

Local Historian Alex Nelson with Elders Doris Stuart Kngwarreye and Barbara and Karen Liddle. Picture: Gera Kazakov

To Stuart Kngwarreye, the proposed site is a sacred women’s site – therefore making it an inappropriate location.

“That area is a sacred site to those of us who belong here – why would you want to put other stories on top of what’s been there for thousands of years,” she said.

“Those stories don’t belong there – they belong to us who belong here, that’s where we get out identity from, not from having someone else’s stories been brought from elsewhere.”

Local historian Alex Nelson also spoke, alongside resident Bill Davis.

Mr Nelson said it wasn’t the first time Anzac Oval was under threat – with previous attempts made to repurpose the site in the 80s and the 90s.

Resident Bill Davis called on the community to “get a bit cranky” about the plan.

“I feel really sorry that the owners of this country have to go through so much bull---t – always,” he said.

“We’re getting stomped on, and bypassed, and the whole thing’s been obfuscated and smeared like a bit of margarine on a bathroom mirror.

Alice Springs resident Bill Davis. Picture: Gera Kazakov

NT Greens candidate for Braitling, Asta Hill, spoke, as well as CLP Braitling incumbent Josh Burgoyne, who noted the difficulties in changing the location of the proposed gallery.

“A tender document – a contractual agreement – has been signed between the Labor government and a builder to build the gallery on Anzac Oval,” he said.

“That is extraordinarily frustrating for myself; I do not want to see a community asset taken away.

“Any future government … will have to then deal with the very real ramifications of if they tear up that contract, that builder will more than likely take the NT government to court, and we’ll have to pay costs.

“That is the reality of the situation we’re now in.”

An artists impression of the completed National Aboriginal Art Gallery for Alice Springs. A tender for the project was awarded on June 7, 2024, with the project expected to be completed in 2027.

A Northern Territory government spokesperson said the gallery was a “done deal”.

“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia will be built at the Anzac Hill Precinct. This is a done deal and early works are underway,” they said.

“The site was selected following extensive stakeholder and public consultation and with consideration of maximising exposure of First Nations work; the best aesthetic and centralised setting; and reinvigorating the CBD by bringing a new focus to nearby businesses in order to maximise economic benefits for the community.

“The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority has issued Authority Certificates for the The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia.

“These identify sacred sites, and under the terms of the Authority Certificates, no construction or development work can occur within the bounds of the sacred sites.

“The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia will have no impact on the sacred sites.”