Pukatja, South Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pukatja (Ernabella) South Australia
Pukatja (Ernabella) Location in South Australia
Population	412 (2016 census)
Established	c. 1938
Postcode(s)	0872
Elevation	676 m (2,218 ft)
LGA(s)	Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara
Region	Far North
State electorate(s)	Giles
Federal Division(s)	Grey
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 26.8 °C 80 °F 11.8 °C 53 °F 274.3 mm 10.8 in

Pukatja is an Aboriginal community in South Australia. It was once known as Ernabella. Pukatja is one of six main communities in the APY Lands.

The community started as a Presbyterian mission around 1937. This mission was special because it respected the local Pitjantjatjara language. It used the language in both the school and church services. In 1974, the mission was given back to the community. It was then renamed Pukatja. Ernabella Arts, a famous art center, is the oldest Indigenous art center in Australia that has been running without a break.

What Time Is It in Pukatja?

The APY Lands have a different time zone from the rest of South Australia. This is because they are close to the Northern Territory border. They also have strong connections with the Northern Territory.

The APY Lands do not use daylight saving time. They stay on Australian Central Standard Time (UTC+9:30) all year. This is the same time zone as Darwin, not Adelaide.

Where is Pukatja Located?

Pukatja is found in the eastern part of the Musgrave Ranges. It is west of the Stuart Highway. The community is about 30 kilometers south of the Northern Territory border. Pukatja sits high up, at 676 meters above sea level.

It is about 1400 kilometers by road from Adelaide. About 200 kilometers of this road is unsealed, meaning it's not paved.

How Many People Live in Pukatja?

In the 2016 Australian census, 412 people lived in Pukatja. This number was a bit lower than in 2011, when 503 people lived there.

In 2001, Pukatja had 226 residents. Most people living in Pukatja (97.5%) were born in Australia.

A Look Back: Pukatja's History

Pukatja has been an Aboriginal community for a very long time. A Presbyterian mission was set up here in 1938.

Over time, Anangu people began to move from their traditional desert life to live at the Mission. The mission was known for respecting Anangu culture and traditions. It offered medical help and education without any strict rules.

On January 1, 1974, the Ernabella Mission was officially handed over to the community. It became the Ernabella Community Council, and later the Pukatja Community Council.

Important Old Buildings

Some old buildings in Pukatja are very important. The former Ernabella Mission Hospital, Church and Manse are listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their history.

Ernabella Arts: A Creative Hub

Ernabella Arts started in 1948. It is Australia's oldest Indigenous Art Centre that has been running continuously.

In the 1950s and 1960s, artists at Ernabella mostly made art and crafts from local wool. Later, in the 1970s, Batik art became popular. Several Ernabella artists even traveled to Indonesia to learn more about it. The artists are now famous for their batik work and printmaking. You can see many of their artworks at the National Museum of Australia. They also make beautiful ceramics.

Recently, older women artists have started showing their Tjukurpa in their art. Tjukurpa refers to sacred stories about their land and laws. Artists of all ages, including very respected elders, work at the center. Dickie Minyintiri, a famous award-winning artist, worked here. Other artists include Yilpi Adamson and Tjunkaya Tapaya.

Ernabella Arts is part of the APY Art Centre Collective. This group was formed in 2013 and includes ten art centers owned and run by Indigenous people.

What You'll Find in Pukatja

If you want to visit any community in the APY Lands, you need a special permit. This is because these lands are owned by the Aboriginal people.

Since 2016, there has been a big project to improve the roads. This project is funded by the government. The goal is to make roads safer and help with things like food delivery and emergency services. The road to the airstrip is also being upgraded.

The Ernabella Anangu School teaches students from the first year of school up to high school. There are also facilities for Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in Pukatja and other centers. TAFE helps people learn job skills.

Pukatja has phones, internet access, and many TV channels. These include SBS Television, NITV, Imparja, and ABC. Mail is delivered twice a week by plane from Alice Springs.

The local supermarket is run by the Pukatja Supermarket & Associated Stores Aboriginal Corporation. The Uniting Church in Australia also has a church in Pukatja.

Animals of Pukatja: The Warru

Saving the Black-Flanked Rock-Wallaby

The black-flanked Rock-wallaby is known as warru by the local people. In 2007, there were worries that the warru might disappear forever. Only about 50 of these wallabies were thought to be left in the wild. Some wallabies were moved from the APY Lands and Pukatja to Monarto Zoo (now Monarto Safari Park).

Local Aboriginal trackers and schoolchildren from Pukatja helped track the wallabies. This helped scientists learn about their movements. The warru is South Australia's most endangered mammal. This is mainly because of foxes and feral cats hunting them.

Monarto Safari Park has been successful in helping the wallabies have babies. They have created a safe, fenced area called Pintji in the APY lands. In 2017, 25 wallabies born at Pintji were released into the wild. They are being watched, and efforts are made to control foxes and feral cats.

Pukatja's Weather

Weather records for Ernabella/Pukatja have been kept since 1971. Pukatja is one of the coldest places in central Australia. This is because it is high up in the Musgrave Ranges.

In winter, temperatures can drop below -5 degrees Celsius. There can be heavy frost. Daytime temperatures might stay below 10 degrees Celsius. Summers are still hot, but not as extreme as other parts of inland South Australia. Average maximum temperatures in January are 34.5 degrees Celsius. In June, they drop to 17.8 degrees Celsius.

Overnight, temperatures range from 19.7 degrees Celsius in January to 3.3 degrees Celsius in June. On average, Pukatja gets about 275.2 millimeters of rain each year. This is typical for a dry climate. Most of the rain comes from short summer thunderstorms.