Local Government
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Region
Kimberley
Forrest River, Cambridge Gulf Wyndham
Forrest River Mission
Wyndham-East Kimberley
Kimberley
Constructed from 1897, Constructed from 1913
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 29 Apr 2016 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Feb 1997 | ||
The significance of Oombulgurri is a multifacctcd one. The site of the current community was the main camping and tribal meeting ground for the hunter/gatherer Aborigines. The link to this area goes back many thousands of years. It later became the first mission to be established. The first attempt at the Forrest River mission began with a few Anglican missionaries setting up in 1897. It failed because of poor contact between the Aboriginal people and the missionaries. Another attempt was made in 1913 and this was more successful. Since the early 1970s the mission has changed its name and has gone through a few different organizational changes. Today the community is run by a group of Elders. Oombulgurri through the work of the missionaries, enabled Aboriginal people to begain to 'mix' with Wyndham and its non-Aboriginal people. The community had the first independent Aboriginal School in Australia.
The Oombulgurri Community is located north east of the Forrest River. The buildings are a mixture of local resources - timber, rock, mudbrick and grass thatch as well as modern timber, tin, corrugated iron and fibro. There is a blending of the historic with the new. The main street of the community (still yet to be payed) is lined with an avenue of Boab trees planted in the early days of the mission. The trees are a magnificent example of landscaping with native specimens. Oombulgurri country covers a large area, virtually from the Durack River to the boundaries of Carson River Station, to the coast.
Integrity: Very little of the original mud brick community buildings left. Modifications: Many over the years
Fair
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Stories; "The Oombulgurri Story", |
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9773 | Triumphs and tragedies: Oombulgurri an Australian Aboriginal community. | Book | 0 |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | RELIGIOUS | Other |
| Original Use | RELIGIOUS | Other |
| Style |
|---|
| Vernacular |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Other | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
| Other | ASBESTOS | Other Asbestos |
| Other | TIMBER | Other Timber |
| Other | METAL | Tin |
| Other | EARTH | Adobe {Mud Brick} |
| Other | STONE | Other Stone |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Education & science |
| PEOPLE | Aboriginal people |
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Religion |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.