Mungallah Aboriginal Village

Statement of Significance

Social Value – The village is of importance as the first substantial residential development for Aboriginal people in the East Carnarvon area. The settlement is of particular interest for its association with the work of the early missionaries in the district.

Physical Description

The village contains residential dwellings, a community health shop and recreation facilities. ‘Mungallah Village’ was developed after the Carnarvon Aboriginal Reserve and its infrastructure was washed away in the 1980 flood leaving many of its inhabitants without a home.

History

Mungullah Community is located 7 Km from Carnarvon in the remote Gascoyne region of WA and is a self-managed Aboriginal Corporation under the auspices of ORIC (Federal Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Communities). The community houses some 150 people many of whom are children. The community is deeply cultural and has very strong language and cultural ties with the Gascoyne region as well as the greater WA. Within the community there are traditional elders and custodians of the land around Mt Augustus (the biggest rock in the world) and the Kennedy ranges a significant land mass in WA. Mungullah is working its way towards being a much stronger, more self-sufficient organisation providing for the needs of local aboriginal people and providing security and greater life choices for its members. The community were originally located on the Gascoyne river nearer to Carnarvon but were shifted in the eighties to new housing and a purpose built community at Greys Plains to overcome the regular seasonal flooding of the river. Mungullah has a basketball court, new football oval, music shed, employment training shed, a leading edge community hall, professional kitchen, children’s playground and offices. A new leading edge gas and wind power station has been built on Mungullah Hill with the permission of the traditional owners and it is named “Mungullah Power Station” in recognition of the deep connection between the traditional people.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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