Bronze statue immortalises Aboriginal leader Lowitja O'Donoghue

A bronze statue of Lowitja O'Donoghue has been unveiled at Elder Park. (ABC News: Sarah Maunder)

A bronze statue of Lowitja O'Donoghue, one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal leaders, has been unveiled in Adelaide.

South Australian artist Robert Hannaford created the statue.

The statue is the first of an initial six of prominent Aboriginal South Australians that the state government has planned.

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue was one of the most respected and influential Aboriginal leaders in the country, known throughout the world for her fierce advocacy and dedication to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this story includes images of a person who has died.

On Tuesday, a statue of the Yankunytjatjara woman was unveiled on the banks of Adelaide's River Torrens at Elder Park, immortalising her extraordinary legacy and extensive achievements.

Her niece Deb Edwards said it was a special moment for Dr O'Donoghue's family.

"The contributions she made to the state over so many decades, in so many firsts of setting up organisations and all the work that she did, probably the thing she was most proud of was being the first Aboriginal nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Lowitja O'Donoghue was an influential Aboriginal leader who died in 2024, aged 91. (Photo: Lowitja Institute | Artwork: Daniel Mee)

The unveiling was attended by hundreds, including members of Dr O'Donoghue's family and several dignitaries, including Aboriginal advocate and lawyer Noel Pearson, South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher.

"There's probably three generations of O'Donoghues here today," Ms Edwards said.

"My niece Mahailia [Levinson] did the artwork at the base of the statue, which includes our [family] totem, which is the owl.

"We've even got one of our little great nieces here who's eight-years-old and if you think about how important that is for them to learn about the work that their nanna did, that's pretty special.

Deb Edwards says her aunty, Lowitja O'Donogue, would be proud of the statue. (ABC News: Sarah Maunder)

The bronze statue was created by South Australian artist Robert Hannaford, who also painted Dr O'Donoghue's 2006 portrait which hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

"I was honoured to be asked to do this statue," Mr Hannaford said.

South Australia's Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher said the statue was the first of an initial six of prominent Aboriginal South Australians that the state govern