Friends of the Library event with Garry Hiskey

Maralinga: the struggle for return of the lands

South Australia’s Maralinga lands were the site of a series of atomic Bomb tests by the British government in the 1950s and 1960s. The Anangu people, the traditional owners of the lands, were moved to Yalata, close to the highway from Adelaide to Perth. Estranged from their lands they were unable to visit their sacred sites or attend to their ritual obligations.  In 1980, a legal battle began to enable the Anangu to return. Garry Hiskey, senior solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, was assigned to the case. This is the story of the fight to return the Maralinga lands to their original owners and the achievement of the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984.

Garry Hiskey (pictured right) tells a story of intrigue, divided loyalties, political controversy, and a battle of wills as to who should be permitted to explore and mine the lands on which the customs and beliefs of Anangu were based and whose voices will be heard in Garry’s presentation.

Maralinga: the struggle for return of the lands  is recently published by Wakefield Press. 

Garry will sign copies for sale at the event

WHEN: Thursday 25 March, 6:00 pm for a 6:30pm start

WHERE: Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide

ENTRY: $10 at the door. Eftpos only. Students free.

Proceeds support the University Library.

Bookings are essential by 23 March to friends_library@adelaide.edu.au

Numbers are limited to observe COVID-19 restrictions