Wave Hill Walk-Off Route

NORTHERN TERRITO RY

The Wave Hill walk-off route encompasses the sites that led to the becoming the first Aboriginal community to have land returned to them by the Commonwealth Government.

In 1966, conditions for Indigenous workers and their families on cattle stations around Australia were generally very poor. Special low rates of pay applied to Indigenous workers and Indigenous populations lived on remote cattle stations, under poor conditions and subject to

welfare policies. Nicholas Hall had been owned since 1914 by a conglomerate of cattle companies owned by British peer, be returned to the Gurindji. Eye surgeon Fred Hollows Lord Vestey. Indigenous employees had complained for was also a strong supporter of the protest. many years about conditions, which included living in tin humpies, no running water and poor quality food. On 15 August 1975, Prime Minister 2 An inquiry during the 1930s was critical of Vestey’s transferred leasehold title of 3236km of land purchased employment practices, but little was done over the from Wave Hill to the Gurindji. In the ceremony at decades leading up to the events of 1966. Daguragu, the transfer was symbolised by Whitlam placing a handful of soil in hands. I n March 1966, the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission decided to delay until 1968 the payment In 1976, Vincent Lingiari was awarded a Medal of the of award wages to male Indigenous workers in the cattle Order of Australia for his services to his people. He died industry. in 1988. Indigenous pastoral workers on Newcastle Waters Station The Gurindji struggled to achieve a way of life that went on strike in May 1966 in response to this decision respected their Indigenous identity, their traditions and but eventually returned to work. their rights to their traditional lands. Their example influenced the direction of government policy and I n August 1966, Vincent Lingiari led a group of mostly legislation following the 1967 referendum, which granted Gurindji pastoral workers and their families off Wave Hill new powers to the Commonwealth Government to make Station. The group walked along a fence line to Gordy laws for Indigenous people. Creek before setting up camp on the Victoria River near the Wave Hill Welfare Station. They camped on higher The events of the protest have been immortalised in ground during the wet season and in early 1967 moved Australia’s popular culture, including the song performed to Wattie Creek, where they established the community by Paul Kelly From little things big things grow. of Daguragu. “ …That was the story of Vincent Lingiari Striking initially for wages and living conditions equal But this is the story of something much more to their non-Indigenous colleagues, the struggle of the How power and privilege can not move a people Gurindji developed into a rejection of their former Who know where they stand and stand in the law dependency and inspired development of a community From little things big things grow…” enterprise on their own land. National Heritage List: 9 August 2007 The Gurindji received assistance from government officers and material and political support from unions and, in particular, from the author . Hardy played a key role in the 19 April 1967 petition sent to the Governor-General, requesting the traditional lands

AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL HERITAGE 6 9