Daguragu, Northern Territory

Daguragu, previously also known as Wattie Creek by the Gurindji people as it is situated on a tributary of the Victoria River, is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located about 551 kilometres (342 mi) south of the territory capital of Darwin and located about 460 kilometres (290 mi) south-west of the municipal seat in Katherine. It is around 8 km (5.0 mi) north-west of Kalkarindji. Daguragu community is situated on Aboriginal land held under perpetual title; it was also formerly a local government area until its amalgamation into the Victoria Daly Shire on 1 July 2008.

Daguragu
Northern Territory
Daguragu is located in Northern Territory
Daguragu
Daguragu
Coordinates17°25′12″S 130°48′18″E[1]
Population242 (2016 census)[2][3]
 • Density5.488/km2 (14.21/sq mi)
Establishedprior to 1974 (community)
4 April 2007 (locality)[1]
Postcode(s)0852[4]
Elevation175 m (574 ft)
Area44.1 km2 (17.0 sq mi)[5]
Time zoneACST (UTC+9:30)
Location
LGA(s)Victoria Daly Region[1]
Territory electorate(s) Stuart[7]
Federal division(s)Lingiari[8]
Mean max temp[9] Mean min temp[9] Annual rainfall[9]
34.3 °C
94 °F		 19.0 °C
66 °F		 682.9 mm
26.9 in
Suburbs around Daguragu:
Gurindji Gurindji Gurindji
Gurindji Daguragu Gurindji
Kalkarindji
Gurindji Gurindji
Kalkarindji		 Kalkarindji
FootnotesAdjoining localities[10]

In 2020, a native title claim lodged in 2016 was successfully settled, giving native title rights to the Gurindji people to 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) of the Wave Hill Station.

Being located on a floodplain, the settlement can be severely affected by flooding at times. In February 2001, two cyclones caused major flooding in the vicinity and the road between Kalkarindji and Daguragu was flooded, leaving the residents of Daguragu completely isolated for weeks. In 2023 major flooding occurred again, with hundreds of residents evacuated to Darwin and unable to return to their homes for some time.

Governance

As of 2006, Daguragu Community Government Council provided "municipal and other services to the township and surrounds of Kalkarindji (formerly known as Wave Hill Welfare Settlement) and to Daguragu, a community settled on land under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. The total council area was about 3,237 square kilometres (1,250 sq mi).[11] Kalkaringi was within a gazetted township area, with the land being leasehold under the auspices of the Northern Territory Government.[12]

Daguragu's boundaries and name were gazetted on 4 April 2007. It is named after the Aboriginal community located within its boundaries where in 1975, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam presented the title to the land granted to the Gurindji people following the events of the Wave Hill walk-off in 1966. As of 2020, it has an area of 44.1 square kilometres (17.0 sq mi).[5][1][13]

Daguragu Community was amalgamated into the Victoria Daly Shire on 1 July 2008. As of 2020 Daguragu is located within the federal division of Lingiari, the territory electoral division of Stuart and the local government area of the Victoria Daly Region.[8][7][1]

2020 native title claim

A native title claim was lodged in 2016 by the Central Land Council on behalf of the traditional owners, as there were mining interests in area covered by Wave Hill Station's pastoral lease.[14] On 8 September 2020, the Federal Court of Australia recognised the native title rights of the Gurindji people to 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi) of the Wave Hill Station, allowing them to receive royalties as compensation from resource companies who explore the area. Justice Richard White said that the determination recognised Indigenous involvement (Jamangku, Japuwuny, Parlakuna-Parkinykarni and Yilyilyimawu peoples) with the land "at least since European settlement and probably for millennia".[14][15] The court sitting took place nearly 800 kilometres (500 mi) south of Darwin, and descendants of Vincent Lingiari and others involved in the Wave Hill walk-off celebrated the determination. The owners will participate in the mining negotiations and exploration work, from which royalties may flow in the future, which may allow people in the Kalkarindji and Daguragu communities to create their own businesses. They also have the right to hunt, gather, teach and perform cultural activities and ceremonies, and allow the young people to connect with their land.[14]

Demographics

The 2016 Australian census reported that Daguragu had a population of 242 people, of whom 233 (96%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.[2][16]

Heritage sites

The Wave Hill walk-off route was listed on the Northern Territory Heritage Register on 23 August 2006 and on the Australian National Heritage List on 9 August 2007.[17][18] There are also seven other associated sites on the National Heritage List, of which five are in the Kalkaringi area and two within Daguragu.[19]

Geography and flooding

Daguragu is a locality located about 551 kilometres (342 mi) south of the Northern Territory capital of Darwin, and about 460 kilometres (290 mi) south-west of the municipal seat in Katherine.[1][4] It lies around 8 km (5.0 mi) north-west of Kalkarindji.[6] The settlement was formerly also known as Wattie Creek by the local Gurindji people.[20]

Wattie Creek is a major tributary of the Victoria River, and Daguragu lies on its floodplain. It can be prone to flooding when extreme weather events occur. In February 2001, ex-tropical cyclones Winsome and Wylva caused major flooding in the vicinity, and although properties in Daguragu were not indundated (as they were in Kalkarindji), the road between the two communities was flooded and the residents of Daguragu were completely isolated for weeks.[21]

2023 flooding

In late February to early March 2023, heavy rains fell over the area, with Kalkarindji recording 134 mm (5.3 in) of rain in the 24 hours to 1 March. The upper Victoria River exceeded major flood levels, standing at 16.99 m (55.7 ft); the major flood stage is 14 m (46 ft). Evacuations were ordered for residents of Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pigeon Hole, and Palumpa.[22] An emergency was declared for district.[23] First, Daguaragu and Pigeon Hole were fully evacuated to Kalkarindji, whence two aeroplanes of the Australian Defence Force carried evacuees out of Kalkarindji to Katherine. They then travelled by bus to Darwin, to be accommodated at the Centre of National Resilience in Howard Springs.[24] On 7 March it was reported that it could be a month or longer before residents of some communities would be able to return home, as many houses and infrastructure had been so severely damaged by the floodwaters.[25] Around 700 people had been evacuated, while 80 to 100 dogs had been left behind. Contractors later delivered food to the dogs.[26]

References
  1. "Place Names Register Extract for Daguragu (Administrative Area)". NT Place Names Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Daguragu (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  3. "Daguragu Community Government Council". lgworks. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  4. "Daguragu postcode". Postcode Finders. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  5. "Daguragu". Australia’s Guide Pty Ltd. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  6. "OUR COMMUNITIES: Kalkarindji / Daguragu". Victoria Daly Region. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  7. "Division of Stuart". Northern Territory Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. "Federal electoral division of Lingiari". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  9. "Monthly climate statistics: Summary Wave Hill (nearest weather station)". Commonwealth of Australia, Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  10. "Localities within Victoria River sub-region (CP-5459)" (PDF). NT Place Names Register. Northern Territory Government. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  11. "Home". Daguragu Community Government Council. Archived from the original on 31 August 2006.
  12. "About us". Daguragu Community Government Council. Archived from the original on 31 August 2006.
  13. "Place Names Register Extract for Daguragu (Community)". NT Place Names Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  14. Wellington, Shahni (9 September 2020). "Native Title rights recognised over famous Wave Hill Station". NITV. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  15. Bardon, Jane (9 September 2020). "Wave Hill walk-off veterans recognised in 'particularly special' native title determination". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  16. "Daguragu Indigenous Location (ILOC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  17. "Gurindji Wave Hill Walk Off Route". Heritage Register. Northern Territory Government. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  18. "Wave Hill Walk Off Route, Buchanan Hwy (sic), Kalkarindji, NT, Australia - listing on the National Heritage List (Place ID 105897)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  19. "Search Results [Wave Hill]". Australian Government. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  20. Petersen, Paul (2016). "Wave Hill Walk Off: 50 Year Anniversary" (PDF). Maritime Union of Australia. Queensland Branch. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  21. "Kalkarindji and Daguragu floodplain mapping study". WRM Water & Environment. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  22. Davies, Richard (9 March 2023). "Australia – hundreds evacuate floods in Northern Territory". FloodList. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  23. "Top End deluge continues as hundreds are forced out of homes". 9News. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  24. "UPDATE: Evacuations – Daguragu, Pigeon Hole and Kalkarindji". NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  25. "Month-long wait expected for some residents evacuated from flood-affected NT remote communities". ABC News. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  26. Tolhurst, Isabella (9 March 2023). "Dog food flown in for animals left behind in flood-hit NT communities". ABC News. Retrieved 9 March 2023.

Further reading
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