Lewis O'Brien

Lewis William Arthur O'Brien, known as Yarlupurka (born 25 March 1930), usually known as Uncle Lewis O'Brien, is an Aboriginal Australian elder of the Kaurna people.

Early life and education

Lewis William Arthur O'Brien was born at Point Pearce Mission on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia on 25 March 1930. His father, who until late in life he had thought was an Irishman, and registered on his birth certificate as Ernest James Patrick Holmes O'Brien, was actually English. O'Brien's sister Merle found out that his birth name was actually Ernest Holmes Prince, and that his mother had changed his name after she became involved with an Irishman called Patrick O'Brien.

Named after three maternal uncles,

While O'Brien was in his later school years and beginning his apprenticeship, he lived at Kumanka Boys' Hostel in Childers Terrace, North Adelaide. O'Brien had fond memories of his stay there, and wrote in his memoir (pp. 130-) that the Lyndons (superintendent H. A. Lyndon and his wife, who was matron ), were "excellent people", who helped him attain his education.

Career In the 1960s, O'Brien became involved with several movements advocating advancement for Aboriginal Australians, including the first Aboriginal Community Centre and the Aborigines' Advancement League of South Australia. His influence was felt on bodies such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission; SA Jubilee committees; and various South Australian heritage, sport and recreation committees.

For over 30 years he worked in Aboriginal education, touching every sector.

Other activities O'Brien was one of several Kaurna elders involved in the co-design of the Yitpi Yartapuultiku (meaning "the Soul of Port Adelaide"), an Aboriginal cultural centre in Port Adelaide, which was officially opened on 1 June 2025. A naming ceremony for the centre was held on 16 August 2022, which included a Welcome to Country by Lewis O'Brien and a smoking ceremony by Michael O'Brien.

In 2025, O'Brien, in consultation with Aboriginal university staff and the University of South Australia's Purkarninthi Elders in Residence, chose the official Kaurna name for the new Adelaide University. On 18 July 2025, the university was assigned the Kaurna name Tirkangkaku, which means "place of learning". However, some controversy has arisen around the spelling of the name as well as lack of consultation with the wider Kaurna community.

Name In his 2007 memoir, O'Brien wrote that he sometimes used the name Warritya, meaning "second born male", but later took on Yerloburka, meaning "old man of the sea" (possibly related to his time in the merchant navy).

Memoir In 2007, O'Brien published his memoir And the clock struck thirteen: The life and thoughts of Kaurna Elder Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien as told to Mary-Anne Gale, published by Wakefield Press. 2009: Citizen of Humanity, awarded by the National Committee of Human Rights 2014: Officer of the Order of Australia, "For distinguished service to the Indigenous community of South Australia as an elder and educator, and to the promotion and protection of Indigenous culture and heritage", in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, 9 June 2014 2019: Winner of the Premier's NAIDOC Award, a South Australian award presented during NAIDOC Week 2021: The Law Building at the University of South Australia renamed the Lewis O'Brien/Yarlupurka Building, housing the Aboriginal Knowledges Centre

Personal life In 1957 O'Brien married Pauline Sansbury, and they had five sons and a daughter. Pauline grew up mostly in the city, but moved around the country a bit with her mother. Her father, Eddie Sansbury, had grown up in Point Pearce, and in later life lived with the O'Brien family.

O'Brien met his half-siblings, his father's second family, who had since migrated to Australia, in 2006.