Indigenous town in South Australia hopes giant fish statue will lure tourists

The remote Indigenous community of Yalata, located on the far-west coast of South Australia, is embarking on a new venture to boost tourism and create economic opportunities. Established in 1952, Yalata is an Indigenous Protected Area owned and managed by the Yalata Anangu Aboriginal Corporation. Historically, visitation has been limited, but the community now aims to welcome visitors by promoting its pristine camping and fishing locations. Uncle Fabian Peel, a long-time resident, explained the shift in approach. "We hid our fishing spot away from the public for years. But people keep coming here," he said. "We turned around and said, 'Why don't we open it to the public? We need money.'" This decision reflects a desire to leverage the area's natural attractions, particularly its renowned fishing spots known for monster mulloway, gummy shark, Australian salmon, and snapper. To kickstart this tourism initiative, Yalata has unveiled two new public artworks: a roadhouse sign and a striking bronze sculpture of a mulloway, affectionately known as the "silver ghost" fish. The two-meter, 200-kilogram sculpture was purchased by the Yalata Anangu Community and installed at the Yalata Roadhouse. Uncle Peel hopes the "Mighty Mulloway" will entice people to apply for permits to visit Yalata, learn about the local Anangu culture, and experience the diverse lands. David White, Yalata Anangu Community chief executive, noted that while the community remains "closed, but not 100 per cent closed," they are making camping and fishing accessible to visitors with permits. This plunge into tourism, a plan in the pipeline for nearly a decade, marks Yalata's "first real step" towards becoming a more integrated part of the Eyre Peninsula. The community envisions long-term, stable employment in retail and ranger roles to protect the campgrounds, while also sharing their rich culture and traditions with visitors.

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We hid our fishing spot away from the public for years. But people keep coming here. We turned around and said, 'Why don't we open it to the public? We need money.'