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Place Wave Hill Station
Summary
Wave Hill Station or Wave Hill is a pastoral lease located about 600 km south of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. It occupies an area of 13,500 km and is well watered by the Victoria and Camfield Rivers. The traditional owners of the lands, the Gurindji peoples have occupied the area for approximately 60,000 years. Europeans first explored the area in 1854 and the station was established in 1883 by the Buchanan family. In 1913, Wave Hill was sold to an English pastoral conglomerate, Vestey who employed local Aboriginal people, mostly Gurindji. Their working and living conditions were much poorer than those of non-Aboriginal employees. In 1966, Gurindji spokesman, Vincent Lingiari led a protest and 200 Aboriginal stockmen, house servants and their families walked off the property. Similar protests were held at Brunette Downs Station and supported by non-Indigenous people. The protesters petitioned the Governor-General in 1967 and toured Australia to raise awareness of their cause, and in 1972, Prime Minister Whitlam made funds available for the purchase of properties such as Daguragu, that were not part of Aboriginal reserves. Lord Vestey offered to surrender 90 square km to the Gurindji people. The Gurindji campaign had an important influence on the events leading to the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
Reference:
www.naa.gov.au › The collection › Fact sheets
