Angurugu, Northern Territory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Angurugu Northern Territory
Angurugu Location in Northern Territory
Postcode(s)	0822
LGA(s)	East Arnhem Region
Territory electorate(s)	Arnhem
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari

Angurugu is a community located on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory, Australia. People there mostly speak Anindilyakwa, which is an Australian Aboriginal language, and English.

This town was started as a Christian mission. Angurugu is one of three main Aboriginal communities on Groote Eylandt. The others are Milyakburra and Umbakumba. In 2016, about 855 people lived in Angurugu.

History of Angurugu

Early Mission on Groote Eylandt

A church group called the Church Mission Society (CMS) wanted to start a new settlement. Reverend Hubert Ernest de Mey Warren led trips to Groote Eylandt starting in 1916. He wanted to create a new place for Aboriginal children of mixed heritage. Their old mission was too crowded.

In 1921, the government agreed to the CMS request. They made all of Groote Eylandt an Aboriginal Reserve. The CMS was given a large area of land on the western side of the island. This land was for building their mission.

The first mission was set up in 1921. It was along the Emerald River, about 13 kilometers south of where Angurugu is now. This place was sometimes called the Emerald River Mission.

However, this spot was not very good. The mission buildings had to be rebuilt many times. This was because of floods and strong storms called cyclones.

In 1924, 35 children moved to Groote Eylandt from another mission. By 1933, fewer children were there. People living at the mission had concerns. They mentioned hard work and poor living conditions. There were also worries about health.

In 1940, a big cyclone hit the mission. It destroyed many buildings. Because of this, the CMS decided to move the mission to a new, safer place.

Angurugu Mission Established

The Church Mission Society started the Angurugu Mission in 1943. It was built on the southern side of the Angurugu River. By 1947, about 278 people lived at the mission. By 1956, this number had grown to 400 people.

Mining on Groote Eylandt

People knew there were minerals on Groote Eylandt a long time ago. In 1803, Matthew Flinders wrote about them. In 1960, maps showed that there was a lot of manganese on the island. Manganese is a type of metal.

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) got permission to look for minerals in 1963. They started mining operations. The land the CMS had leased had 14 main places where manganese was found. The CMS worked with BHP to allow mining. They agreed that the CMS would receive money from the mining.

In 1964, the Groote Eylandt Mining Company was created. This company was given permission to mine on the island. They paid money to the Church Missionary Society. The CMS then set up the Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust Fund in 1969. The mining company paid money into this fund.

By 1971, the number of people living in Angurugu had grown to 525.

Angurugu Today

In 1976, Groote Eylandt became Aboriginal Freehold Land. This means the Aboriginal people own the land. In 2008, Angurugu became part of the East Arnhem Shire. The local council then took over managing the community.

What's in a Name?

The local Anindilyakwa people had a name for the area where the mission was built. It was "Mungwardinamanja." However, this name was hard for the European missionaries to say. So, the local Anindilyakwa men helping them chose a simpler name. They picked "Angurrkwa," which was the name of the Angurugu River mouth. Later, this name was changed to "Angurugu" to make it easier for English speakers.

Who Lives in Angurugu?

According to the 2016 Australian Census, about 855 people lived in Angurugu and the areas around it in 2016. The average age of people in Angurugu is 25 years old.

Most people in Angurugu are Australian Aboriginal. Some also have Australian, English, Scottish, or Irish backgrounds.

Traditional Owners of the Land

The traditional owners of Groote Eylandt are the Warnindhilyagwa people. They have 14 different clan groups. These clans are part of two main groups, called moieties, on Groote Eylandt. The clans keep their traditions alive. They also have strong connections with people in the community of Numbulwar and on Bickerton Island.

How Angurugu is Governed

As of 2020, the East Arnhem Regional Council is the local government for Angurugu. Angurugu is in the council's Anindilyakwa Ward.

The Anindilyakwa Land Council is also important for the community. It is a land council that helps manage matters under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. This law helps protect the land rights of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.

Angurugu's Climate