Immersive VR Marks 30 Years of Native Title in SA
An innovative virtual reality exhibition is bringing more than three decades of Native Title history to life in South Australia, combining culture, history, and modern technology in a compelling public display.
Developed in partnership between South Australian Native Title Services (SANTS) and creative studio Topbunk, the showcase titled Country, Culture, People offers an opportunity for visitors to engage with the journey of Native Title in the state. The narrative spans from the introduction of the Native Title Act in 1993 to the landmark De Rose Hill determination in 2005, and extends to the present day, where over 60 per cent of South Australia is now covered by Native Title determinations.
The exhibition seeks to educate audiences of all backgrounds about the meaning and importance of Native Title. At its centre is a weekend-only virtual reality feature running throughout August. This immersive experience transports visitors to Country, where Traditional Owners guide them across ancestral lands and waters. Through this journey, they share cultural knowledge, stories, and insights into a connection to Country that extends over countless generations.
Housed in the South Australian Museum foyer on North Terrace, Adelaide, the display highlights resilience and the enduring cultural ties of Aboriginal communities. The Museum’s role in hosting the event underscores its commitment to fostering public understanding of the deep significance of Native Title. It offers a platform for Aboriginal voices, ensuring their stories are shared and preserved for broader awareness.
Government representatives have also acknowledged the exhibition’s role in showcasing the ongoing cultural and spiritual bonds that Native Title represents. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs emphasised that Native Title determinations are not acts of generosity but formal recognition of a truth long known to Traditional Owners, that their connection to Country is unbroken and grounded in ancestral law and custom. This perspective reinforces that such determinations acknowledge, rather than grant, inherent rights and relationships with the land.
In addition, the Minister for the Arts has expressed anticipation for the exhibition, noting that the VR technology provides a unique medium through which audiences can explore South Australia’s Native Title history. The blend of cutting-edge technology with ancient cultural heritage offers a rare and moving way to witness and understand the First Nations’ enduring link to Country.
The VR component’s use of guided storytelling by Traditional Owners ensures that the experience is both informative and personal, allowing visitors to step into environments and narratives they may never otherwise encounter. By incorporating this technology, the exhibition moves beyond static displays, creating a living, interactive space that honours the past while embracing modern ways to communicate it.
Remaining open until the end of August, Country, Culture, People stands as both a cultural celebration and an educational resource. With its combination of historical context, personal narrative, and immersive visual experience, it invites reflection on the progress made in Native Title recognition and the ongoing journey of South Australia’s Aboriginal communities. Through this initiative, the public is offered not just an exhibition, but an invitation to deepen their understanding of a story that spans millennia and continues to evolve today.
