Safeguarding the Deceased Workers Memorial Forest

Many union members have been rightly concerned about the potential impact of the North Adelaide golf course redevelopment on the nearby Deceased Workers Memorial Forest.

The Deceased Workers Memorial Forest is a meeting place and living memorial to workers who have lost their lives as a result of workplace incidents. Started in 2003, the site forms an important part of the Union Movement’s annual commemorations on International Workers Memorial Day.

Over the years more than 280 trees have been planted at the site by family and work colleagues in memory of lost loved ones. This makes our memorial nationally significant, being the only memorial where plantings are used as the standing, formal recognition of workplace deaths.

It was indicated to SA Unions in consultation with the SA Government in 2025 that the planned redevelopment of John E Brown Park would not impact the Deceased Workers Memorial Forest. However, recent media reporting and commentary from some Parliamentary members have suggested that the site may indeed be in impacted.

SA Unions Dale Secretary has represented the concerns of union members recently to Premier Peter Malinauskas to again seek assurances that the Memorial Forest will not be impacted. 

The Premier has confirmed that the Forest will not be affected, and that the Forest will be appropriately safeguarded from construction activities occurring elsewhere in Park 27A. 

Please click here to read the Premier’s full response. 

Thanks to all union and community members for their advocacy in defence of this important site for our workers movement and the people of South Australia.