(L:R) David, Sarah and Luke Booth at the Ancient Earth Indigenous Art Gallery. Image courtesy of Andrew West.

David, Luke and Sarah Booth have a tendency to finish off each other’s sentences. That’s hardly surprising, given that they have lived, worked, travelled and performed together all their lives.

Originally from the Wambaya people of North East Tennant Creek, the siblings spent the formative years of their youth touring Australia with their parents’ educational and performing arts group Waltjapiti.

With years of cultural education, training in traditional and contemporary dance, music tuition and storytelling already behind them, it was a logical choice for the younger Booths to establish their own performance company. David, Luke and Sarah formed Imbala Jarjum (external website, opens new window), with permission to represent the culture and history of the Peramangk people of the Adelaide Hills. Since 2004 they have been presenting cultural and educational performances and workshops to schools, tourists and corporate audiences across South Australia.

In 2009, the Booths sought to add a new arm to their business by purchasing the Ancient Earth Indigenous Art Gallery (external website, opens new window) in the South Australian tourist town of Hahndorf. However their initial loan application through IBA’s Business Development and Assistance Program was assessed as too high based on IBA’s own valuation of the business. But in working with IBA staff and Andrew West – a local businessman and one of IBA’s network of business consultants – the family were able to negotiate a revised valuation and secure a  business loan. Of that process Andrew West said: ‘The guys were really disappointed when they got knocked back, but they were determined not to give up. IBA acknowledged that, and together we found a workable solution that everyone felt comfortable with’.

By converting the backyard of the gallery into a performance space that replicates the Australian out