2026 50c 60 Years of Wave Hill Walk Off & 50 Years of Aboriginal Land Rights PNC

On 23 August 1966, about 200 Gurindji, Mudburra and Warlpiri stockmen, domestic workers and their families began strike action at Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory. Led by Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari, the Wave Hill walk-off, also called the Gurindji strike, lasted for nine years. While initially a strike against working and living conditions, the main demand was for the return of traditional Gurindji lands, which before European appropriation had covered around 3,250 square kilometres. During the walk-off, the strikers moved back to their traditional Country at Daguragu (Wattie Creek), closer to their sacred sites.

The lengthy campaign was a significant milestone in the Aboriginal land rights movement. The walk-off persisted until 16 August 1975, when after brokering an agreement with titular landowners the Vestey Group, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was able to give the rights to a piece of land back to the Gurindji people in a highly symbolic handover ceremony. Their courage helped pave the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, Commonwealth legislation enabling First Nations people in the Northern Territory to claim land rights for Country where traditional ownership could be proven.