About

This business, known as Waltjapiti Arts began in 1994 by Brian and Jeanette Booth, who noticed a specific need in mainstream education for indigenous students to access more culturally appropriate curriculum. It started as a gallery with over 350 painting from Australia. The gallery allowed students to visit and explore the visual art and stories that they told.

The next phase was when Waltjapiti introduced a new concept in music and dance. Youth were invited to experience traditional dance and music through workshops and performances and an educational program. This proved to be quite successful.

As the education program grew so did the interest in cultural awareness in the tourism industry. So the Waltjapiti group went on a three year tour around Australia visiting venues and presenting traditional performances to international guests from all around the world.

It wasn’t until 2001 that Waltjapiti returned to Adelaide and began another strand to the growing organization. A pilot program at Warrawong Earth Sanctuary saw us develop a complimentary educational and tourism package to the already existing and well established ecotourism venue.

It allowed for the research into the Peramangk people, a language group that was almost extinct all except one surviving family. It was then that the realization of the music, art, stories and dance became more than just entertainment it became a real belonging to the land.

As culture and conservation were such a perfect match it seemed only sensible to combine the old with the new and educate this generation to formulate their own living cultural lifestyle. By using four traditional concepts and the knowledge of modern teachings we set out to assist in training and development of today’s Aboriginal people.

In 2005 due to illness Waltjapiti ceased to operate and a new partnership was formed called Imbala Jarjum, which is owned an operated by the David, Luke and Sarah Booth.

They have continued to grow the small business to new heights in education, tourism, cultural events and in the arts. They have designed new concepts that have enhanced their current product and will endeavor to improve this for the future of their family.