Burringurrah Aboriginal Community facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burringurrah Western Australia
Burringurrah Aboriginal Community welcome sign
Burringurrah Location in Western Australia
Postcode(s)	6705
Location	300 km (186 mi) south west of Newman
LGA(s)	Shire of Upper Gascoyne
State electorate(s)	North West
Federal Division(s)	Durack

Burringurrah is an Aboriginal community located in Western Australia. It is also known as Mt Augustus. This community is found in the Gascoyne region.

Burringurrah is part of the Shire of Upper Gascoyne. In 2011, about 117 people lived there. Most of these residents were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A large rock formation called Mount Augustus is very close to the community.

History of Burringurrah

Burringurrah community is built on a special piece of land. This land is a reserve that covers about 45,000 hectares. It was set aside from a large farming area called Mount James. The community officially became a recognized group in 1999.

Challenges and Changes

The community once had a local store. This store had to close in 2011. One reason was that many people moved in and out of the community. This made it hard for the business to make enough money.

A group called Remote CMS took over the store in 2009. They tried to keep it open until 2011. The store even closed for a short time because of seasonal floods.

In 2011, big floods cut off the community for several weeks. It took almost a year for all basic services to return. This shows how tough it can be living in remote areas.

Native Title and Land Rights

The Burringurrah community is located on land that has a special legal status. This is called a native title claim. The claim belongs to the Wajarri Yamatji people.

Native title means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have rights to their traditional lands and waters. These rights come from their traditional laws and customs.

How Burringurrah is Governed

The Burringurrah community is run by its own group. This group is called the Burringurrah Community (Aboriginal Corporation). It was officially set up in 1987.

This corporation helps manage the community's daily life. It makes decisions for the people living there. This helps the community to look after itself.

Planning for the Future

Burringurrah has a special plan for how the town will grow. It's called Burringurrah Layout Plan No.2. This plan helps decide where houses and other buildings can be placed.

The community agreed to this plan in 1999. The Western Australian Planning Commission also approved it in 2003. This plan helps make sure the community develops in a good way.