Swan Valley Nyungah Community facts for kids
The Swan Valley Nyungah Community was a special place for Noongar people, an Aboriginal community in Western Australia. It was located on Lord Street, near the Perth suburbs of Lockridge and Eden Hill. The community was a home and a gathering place for many Noongar families for a long time. However, the Government of Western Australia closed the settlement in 2003.
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History of the Swan Valley Community
Early Life and Land Ownership
Evidence from archaeologists shows that people have lived in this area for at least 38,000 years. This means it's a very old and important place. From the 1830s until the 1940s, a family called the Hamersleys owned the land. They allowed Nyungah people to continue living on their traditional campsite.
In 1941, a group of strong Nyungah women from the Kickett, Nettles, Warrell, and Parfitt families bought 20 acres (about 8 hectares) of bushland. This land was in Eden Hill. They wanted to build homes there, but the local council said no to their requests for water and housing. So, they lived in traditional shelters called mia-mias, bush breaks, and tin camps. They got their water from wells they dug themselves. In the 1950s, the government took over this land to create the suburb of Eden Hill.
Standing Up for Rights
In 1977, several groups decided to make a stand at the Lockridge Campsite. They wanted to show that this land was important to them. In 1981, the people officially formed a group called "Fringedwellers of the Swan Valley Inc." This group started protesting and asking the government for help with housing. During the 1980s, the simple huts and tents they lived in were replaced with mining cabins provided by the government.
A Recognized Community
On 19 July 1994, the Lockridge Campsite officially became the Swan Valley Nyungah Community. The governor-general, Michael Jeffery, made this happen. He used a special law to give Reserve 43131 (Swan Location 11942) to the Swan Valley Nyungah Community Aboriginal Corporation. This land was meant for the "use and benefit of Aboriginal Inhabitants."
With money from the federal government, community members were able to design their own homes. These homes were made to fit their culture and be good for the environment. The community also started its own school. This school taught about Indigenous culture and had many students attending regularly. The community also had a good relationship with the local police.
