Short Stories

Edward Gibbon Wakefield. I pass his commemorative bronze bust almost every day - a metal cast of Dark Heritage. This term stems from  dark tourism studies associated with specific sites of  death ,  tragedy , and  disaster . More recently, the concept of Dark Heritage has expanded to include broader aspects of cultural heritage sites and artefacts associated with complex, contested, and  negative histories . So it is here where I suggest that we take the opportunity to contest the problematic plaque of Edward Gibbon Wakefield on Parliament House on North Terrace. Let me tell you why. The plaque reads: IN HONOUR OF EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD  1796 - 1862 THE AUTHOR OF THE SYSTEM OF  LAND - SALES COLONIZATION UPON WHICH  THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA  WAS FOUNDED FOR FREE SETTLERS  WITH FREEHOLD LANDS AND RESULTANT  SELF-GOVERNMENT.  1952 The plaque highlights the idea that free settlers (South Australia was established as a colony for free British settlers, not convicts) with freehold

Linking arms, Mum and I left the thrift store in search of the toilets. We traversed through a busy car park devoid of pedestrian paths or crossings and had no choice but to cut directly across a drive-through to Hungry Jacks. It felt dangerous. Since our anxious steps moved along the oily road during our shopping excursion (now weeks ago), I have been mulling over the inadequacies of Adelaide's city and urban planning. A lack of designated safe areas for pedestrians in a mixed-use shopping zone exposes us to risks and increases the likelihood of accidents caused by negligent design. Protecting pedestrians from traffic and giving priority to the disabled, young, and elderly should be of paramount importance. Our city's layout, with its sprawling suburbs (often defended by our policymakers ) and reliance on cars, starkly contrasts other places I have lived in, such as Amsterdam, which has more inclusive and walkable urban environments .  Historically, the evolution of suburban d

I recently moved back to my hometown of Adelaide after twenty years. What has struck me is the number of abandoned petrol stations I’ve seen spread out across the landscape, along with the fenced-off  vacant land  that has been there ever since I was a kid. Travelling by car with various family members over the past few months, and being part of the ongoing conversation about the rising price of petrol these days, all the while passing deserted servos, motivated me to look into them. Out of curiosity, I decided to map the  abandoned petrol stations  that currently litter South Australia because I’m a visual learner. And no one has done it yet. I approached this task with the intention to try and make connections. Between neglected places and ownership. Between environmental impact and accountability. Between fossil fuels and renewable energy. Between integrated land management and social well-being. Between my new-found home in Adelaide and me. I started this project by contacting