Bidyadanga Community, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bidyadanga Western Australia
Bidyadanga Location in Western Australia
Population	555 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	6725
Location	190 km (118 mi) S of Broome, Western Australia
LGA(s)	Shire of Broome
State electorate(s)	Kimberley
Federal Division(s)	Durack

Bidyadanga, also called La Grange, is the biggest Aboriginal community in Western Australia. About 750 people live there.

It's about 180 km (112 mi) south of Broome and 1590 km (988 mi) from Perth, the capital city. Bidyadanga is in the Kimberley area. The Karajarri people are the traditional owners of this land. But people from many other Aboriginal language groups also call Bidyadanga home.

In 1903, La Grange began as a place where the government gave out rations (food and supplies). Later, in 1955, it became a mission station run by German Pallotine missionaries. The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange (BACLG) was formed in 1975. The community became independent from the mission in 1982.

About the Bidyadanga Community

Bidyadanga is the largest Aboriginal community in Western Australia. It is home to around 750 people. The community has worked on publishing local stories.

How the Community is Run

The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community La Grange (BACLG) was set up in 1975. It is a not-for-profit group. This means it uses its money to help the community, not to make a profit. It manages programs funded by the government. The BACLG was officially recognised under the Aboriginal Communities Act 1979 (WA).

Community Planning

The community has a plan called Bidyadanga Layout Plan No.3. This plan helps decide how the town will grow and be organised. It follows rules from the WA State Planning Policy 3.2 (Aboriginal Settlements). The community approved this plan on 15 November 2012. The Western Australian Planning Commission also approved it on 28 May 2013.

History of Bidyadanga

Early Days of La Grange

La Grange was located on Thangoo Station, south of Broome. It was a place where the government gave out food and supplies. This was for the Karajarri and Ngungamada people. The area was known for pearling. Because of this, Asian pearling crews often met local Aboriginal women.

In 1903, a constable (police officer) and an Aboriginal tracker (someone who could follow tracks) were stationed there. The government of Western Australia stopped the local Salesians from starting a mission. During World War II, German Pallottine missionaries wanted to come. But the Australian Army did not allow Germans on the coast. In late 1948, the government moved desert people from Udialla to La Grange. There were also talks about building a children's home.

The Mission Era

In the 1950s, two lay missionaries (non-clergy) started a school. Around this time, anthropologists Helmut Petri and Gisela Odermann from Frankfurt studied the area. In January 1956, the Pallottine missionaries took over the mission. They built dormitories (sleeping halls), a dining hall, a hospital, and other buildings. More missionaries joined them. They published prayers, Bible stories, and information about local languages. Many people thought it was a very "modern" mission.

In 1964, a big storm called Cyclone Bessie hit the mission. It destroyed the school, the hospital, and all the huts. Different Catholic groups and the Department of Native Affairs helped pay to rebuild the mission.

By 1981, about 400 people lived at La Grange. In 1982, the community asked to be independent from the mission. After the 1983 Seaman Aboriginal Land inquiry, the Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community asked for the mission land to be given to them.

Native Title Rights

In 2002 and 2004, the Karajarri people had their native title rights recognised. This means their traditional rights to their land were officially accepted. This land covered about 31,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi). This is about half the size of Tasmania. It is in the West Kimberley region.

On 12 December 2002, a court case called "John Dudu Nangkiriny & Others on behalf of the Karajarri People v The State of Western Australia & Others" (also known as "Karajarri People (Area A)") decided that native title existed over the entire area.

Another claim for Area B was finished on 8 September 2004. This case, "Nangkiriny v State of Western Australia [2004], FCA 1156", decided that native title existed in parts of Area B. This gave the Karajarri people non-exclusive native title rights over the land and waters there.

Climate in Bidyadanga

Bidyadanga has a hot semi-arid climate. This means it is usually hot and dry. It has a short and very changeable wet season from December to March. The dry season is long, hot, and usually has no rain. This lasts from April to November.

The wet season is very hot and humid. But it is generally dry. Sometimes there are very heavy rainfalls from tropical cyclones or other storms. These storms come from the monsoon trough in the north. The amount of rain in this season can change a lot. For example, only 55.1 mm (2.17 in) of rain fell in 1923–24. But between December 1999 and March 2000, 1229.8 mm (48.42 in) fell. The most rain in one day was 286.0 mm (11.26 in) on 17 February 2018. The next highest was 253.0 mm (9.96 in) on 19 March 1935.

During the dry season, afternoons are hot. Mornings are pleasant, and the low humidity makes the heat feel less strong. Bidyadanga recorded Australia's highest May temperature of 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) on 6 May 1990.