Kalkarindji

Kalkarindji is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It lies on the Buntine Highway, about 554 kilometres (344 miles) south of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, and around 460 kilometres (290 miles) south of Katherine, an important nearby town.

Originally called the Wave Hill Welfare Settlement, Kalkarindji has a special history tied to the lives of Indigenous Australian families. Over time, the town has become a place where people can learn about the culture and heritage of these communities. Today, Kalkarindji remains an important location for preserving traditions and sharing stories with visitors.

History

Kalkarindji and the nearby settlement of Daguragu are located on land that was once part of the Wave Hill Cattle Station. In 1966, the people who worked there, led by Vincent Lingiari, stood up for their rights in something called the Gurindji strike. This was to protest unfair treatment and to ask for their land back. In 1975, some land was returned to the Gurindji people.

Kalkarindji started in 1972 as a place called "Wave Hill Aboriginal Township". In 1976, it was officially named "Kalkaringi". In 1985, the name was changed to "Kalkarindji" after checking with tribal elders. Today, the Daguragu Community Government Council helps take care of Kalkarindji and the nearby area. The town's name and borders were made official by the Northern Territory Government in 2007.

Heritage sites

The Wave Hill walk-off route was added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register on August 23, 2006, and to the Australian National Heritage List on August 9, 2007. There are seven more sites linked to this route on the National Heritage List, with five located in the Kalkaringi area and two in Daguragu.

Freedom Day

The Freedom Day Festival happens every year in Kalkarindji. It celebrates the Wave Hill walk-off and the culture of the Gurindji people.

Freedom Day Festival Wave Hill walk-off

Demographics

The 2016 Australian census, done in August 2016, found that Kalkarindji had 334 people living there. Out of these, 285 people, which is about 84.8%, identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Geography and flooding

Kalkarindji is found on the Buntine Highway, about 554 kilometres (344 mi) south of Darwin and about 480 kilometres (300 mi) southwest of Katherine.

The town sits on the left floodplain of the Victoria River, which means it can flood during big storms. In February 2001, old tropical storms named Winsome and Wylva caused big floods, covering many homes and roads.

In February and March 2023, heavy rains brought 134 mm (5.3 in) of rain in just one day. The Victoria River rose very high, and people were told to leave their homes in Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole, and Palumpa. Some people were taken to a safe place in Howard Springs. Many homes were damaged, and it took a long time for everyone to return. Luckyly, important artworks and old items were moved to safety before the floods came.

Governance

Kalkarindji is a town and locality in the Northern Territory. It is part of the federal area called the division of Lingiari, the territory area named Stuart, and the local government area known as the Victoria Daly Region. The council office for the area of Kalkarindji/Daguragu is in Kalkarindji and serves the nearby area of Daguragu as well.

The Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation is a group owned by the communities of Kalkaringi and Daguragu. It looks after many community-owned businesses, like the Kalkaringi Store and Caravan Park.

In 2020, a big decision was made about land rights. The court recognized that the Gurindji people have rights to a large area of land at Wave Hill Station. This means they can receive money from companies that use the land and also have the right to hunt, gather, and hold cultural activities and ceremonies there. This helps the communities of Kalkarindji and Daguragu plan for their future.

Meat dump dispute

There have been legal disagreements between the owners of Kalkarindji Meats and the Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation, as well as the Central Land Council. In February 2019, it was found that pits for dumping meat waste had been dug in the native title area of Kalkarindji, very close to the heritage-listed Wave Hill track. This issue continued until September 2020, when both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments began looking into the matter.