Kalkarindji facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kalkarindji Northern Territory
Map showing location of Kalkarindji in red on white.
Kalkarindji Location in Northern Territory
Population	334 (2016 census)
• Density	56/km2 (150/sq mi)
Established	1972 (community) 5 October 1976 (town) 4 April 2007 (locality)
Postcode(s)	0852
Elevation	196 m (643 ft)weather station
Area	6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Time zone	ACST (UTC+9:30)
Location	554 km (344 mi) S of Darwin 460 km (286 mi) SW of Katherine
LGA(s)	Victoria Daly Region
Territory electorate(s)	Gwoja
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 34.3 °C 94 °F 19.0 °C 66 °F 694.8 mm 27.4 in
Suburbs around Kalkarindji: Daguragu Daguragu Gurindji Gurindji Daguragu Gurindji Kalkarindji Gurindji Gurindji Gurindji Gurindji
Footnotes	Locations Adjoining localities

Kalkarindji is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It used to be called the Wave Hill Welfare Settlement. You can find it on the Buntine Highway. It's about 554 kilometres (344 miles) south of Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory. It's also about 460 kilometres (286 miles) south of Katherine.

History of Kalkarindji

Kalkarindji and the nearby town of Daguragu are important places. They are on land that used to be part of the Wave Hill Cattle Station.

The Wave Hill Walk Off

In 1966, something very important happened here. Aboriginal workers on the cattle station, led by Vincent Lingiari, started a protest. This protest is known as the Gurindji strike or the Wave Hill Walk Off. They were protesting against unfair working conditions and because their traditional land had been taken away.

After many years of talks, a part of the land was given back to the Gurindji people in 1975. This happened with help from the Australian government at the time, led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

How Kalkarindji Became a Town

Kalkarindji started as a community in 1972. It was first called the "Wave Hill Aboriginal Township". On October 5, 1976, the area around the settlement was officially named a town called "Kalkaringi". In 1985, the spelling of the town's name was changed to "Kalkarindji". This change was made after tribal elders reviewed the original spelling.

The current boundaries and name for Kalkarindji were made official by the Northern Territory Government on April 4, 2007.

Important Heritage Sites

The path of the Wave Hill Walk Off is a very important historical site. It was added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register in 2006. It was also added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2007. This means it's recognised as a place of great national importance.

There are also seven other related sites on the National Heritage List. Five of these are in the Kalkarindji area, and two are in Daguragu.

Freedom Day Festival

Every year, Kalkarindji hosts the Freedom Day Festival. This festival celebrates the historic Wave Hill walk-off and the rich Gurindji culture. It's a time for the community to remember their history and share their traditions.

Population of Kalkarindji

According to the 2016 Australian census (a count of all people), Kalkarindji had 334 people living there in August 2016. Out of these, 285 people (about 85%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Geography and Flooding

Kalkarindji is located on the Buntine Highway. It sits on the left side of the Victoria River's floodplain. This means the town can be affected by floods when there is very heavy rain.

Flooding in 2023

In late February and early March 2023, the area received a lot of rain. Kalkarindji recorded 134 millimetres (5.3 inches) of rain in just 24 hours on March 1. The Victoria River rose very high, going above its major flood level.

Because of the severe flooding, people living in Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole, and Palumpa had to leave their homes. This is called an evacuation. An emergency was declared for the area.

First, people from Daguragu and Pigeon Hole were moved to Kalkarindji. From there, two planes from the Australian Defence Force flew people to Katherine. Then, buses took them to Darwin, where they stayed in a special centre.

By March 7, it was reported that many homes and buildings were badly damaged. Some people might not be able to return home for a month or more. However, only about half of the homes in Kalkarindji were affected. Around 700 people were evacuated, but about 80 to 100 dogs had to be left behind. Later, food was delivered for the dogs.

Important artworks and historical items from the art centre were saved from the flood. They were moved to a safe place.

How Kalkarindji is Governed

Kalkarindji is a town and locality in the Northern Territory. It is part of the Victoria Daly Region for local government. The local council office for Kalkarindji and Daguragu is in Kalkarindji.

The Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation is a group owned by the communities of Kalkarindji and Daguragu. This group helps manage different businesses for the community, like the Kalkarindji Store and Caravan Park. Most of the 700 people in these communities are of Gurindji, Mudburra, and Warlpiri heritage.

Native Title Rights in 2020

In 2016, the Central Land Council made a claim for native title rights on behalf of the traditional owners. This was because there was interest in mining on the land.

On September 8, 2020, the Federal Court of Australia officially recognised the native title rights of the Gurindji people. This means they have special rights over about 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of the Wave Hill Station land.

This decision allows the Gurindji people to receive money (royalties) from mining companies that explore the area. It also means they can be involved in talks about mining. This could help people in Kalkarindji and Daguragu start their own businesses.

Even more importantly, this right allows the Gurindji people to hunt, gather food, teach their culture, and perform ceremonies on their land. It helps young people connect with their traditional country.

Environmental Concerns

There have been some concerns about how waste was handled near Kalkarindji. In 2019, pits were found where meat waste was being dumped. These pits were very close to the important heritage-listed Wave Hill track. This continued for some time. In September 2020, both the Northern Territory and Australian governments started looking into the matter.