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Lesson 1 - The Wave Hill Walk-off
Lesson 1 - The Wave Hill Walk-off
to know - the wave hill walk-off
to know - the wave hill walk-off
to be able to - Analyse sources to understand the impact of the gurindji strike for land rights
to be able to - Analyse sources to understand the impact of the gurindji strike for land rights
the wave hill walk-off
the wave hill walk-off
On the 23rd of August 1966, Vincent Lingiari led his people (the Gurindji) on a strike for better working and pay conditions at the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory.
On the 23rd of August 1966, Vincent Lingiari led his people (the Gurindji) on a strike for better working and pay conditions at the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory.
The Wave Hill Walk-Off was a strike that lasted from 1966 to 1975.
The Wave Hill Walk-Off was a strike that lasted from 1966 to 1975.
the wave hill station
the wave hill station
The Wave Hill station was cattle station owned by the British company, The Vesty Group located in the Northern Territory.
The Wave Hill station was cattle station owned by the British company, The Vesty Group located in the Northern Territory.
The Vesty Company employed Indigenous people to work on the cattle station because they knew the land and the Australian Government gave them money for it. The Vesty Group didn't spend this money on their First Nations workers, so their business was even more profitable.
The Vesty Company employed Indigenous people to work on the cattle station because they knew the land and the Australian Government gave them money for it. The Vesty Group didn't spend this money on their First Nations workers, so their business was even more profitable.
The Gurindji workers wrote to The Vesty Company to demand a wage of $25 per week. When they refused, the Gurindji people walked off the station and went on strike.
The Gurindji workers wrote to The Vesty Company to demand a wage of $25 per week. When they refused, the Gurindji people walked off the station and went on strike.
They moved to the Daguragu, formally known as Wattie Creek. The banks of Daguragu are now known as the birthplace of the Aboriginal land-rights movement.
They moved to the Daguragu, formally known as Wattie Creek. The banks of Daguragu are now known as the birthplace of the Aboriginal land-rights movement.
vincent lingiari and lord vesty
vincent lingiari and lord vesty
This video is an extract from Part 1 of the From Little Things documentary. In this clip, Lingiari perfectly summarises the Gurindji's claim of land rights and summarises the avoidance of the government and Lord Vesty on the matter.
This video is an extract from Part 1 of the From Little Things documentary. In this clip, Lingiari perfectly summarises the Gurindji's claim of land rights and summarises the avoidance of the government and Lord Vesty on the matter.
Photograph taken in 1975 Mervyn Bishop of Gough Whitlam pouring sand through the hands of Vincent Lingiari to symbolically represent the land being returned to the Gurindji people. Lingiari is also holding the deed to Wave Hill Cattle Station.
the outcome
the outcome
In 1975, Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people won won their claim of land rights.
In 1975, Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people won won their claim of land rights.
The Australian Government returned 3300 square kilometres of land to the Gurindji people, including the Wave Hill Cattle station and 400 cattle.
The Australian Government returned 3300 square kilometres of land to the Gurindji people, including the Wave Hill Cattle station and 400 cattle.
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam marked the occasion by pouring sand through Vincent Lingiari's hands, symbolically representing the returning of the land to the Gurindji people. This event is one of the most decisive moments in Indigenous Australian History. For the first time, a specific group of First Nations people had recognition of their connection to the land.
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam marked the occasion by pouring sand through Vincent Lingiari's hands, symbolically representing the returning of the land to the Gurindji people. This event is one of the most decisive moments in Indigenous Australian History. For the first time, a specific group of First Nations people had recognition of their connection to the land.
Vincent Lingiari, addressing the media after Prime Minister Gough Whitlam officially returns Aboriginal land at Wattie Creek
Source - National Museum of Australia
Our Future by David Frank, winner of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award in 2016
Source - David Frank
the impact of the wave hill walk-off
the impact of the wave hill walk-off
The legal recognition of Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory provided for the creation of Aboriginal land trusts to hold title to Aboriginal land.
The legal recognition of Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory provided for the creation of Aboriginal land trusts to hold title to Aboriginal land.
This was the first time land had been legally returned to First Nations people.
This was the first time land had been legally returned to First Nations people.
The Australian Government started purchasing privately owned land for the benefit of Indigenous communities and allow certain Crown land to be made available for claim.
The Australian Government started purchasing privately owned land for the benefit of Indigenous communities and allow certain Crown land to be made available for claim.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 has resulted in almost 50 per cent of the Northern Territory being returned to Aboriginal peoples.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 has resulted in almost 50 per cent of the Northern Territory being returned to Aboriginal peoples.
Some state governments followed the lead of the Australian Government and introduced their own land rights legislation.
Some state governments followed the lead of the Australian Government and introduced their own land rights legislation.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act of 1976 achieved by the Gurindji paved the way for the Mabo Decision and the Native Title Act.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act of 1976 achieved by the Gurindji paved the way for the Mabo Decision and the Native Title Act.
from little things, big things grow
from little things, big things grow
The Wave Hill Walk-Off and its significance is captured in the song written/performed by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.
The Wave Hill Walk-Off and its significance is captured in the song written/performed by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.
In this video, Kelly and Carmody "From Little Things, Big Things Grow" at a memorial service for Gough Whitlam after his death in 2014.
In this video, Kelly and Carmody "From Little Things, Big Things Grow" at a memorial service for Gough Whitlam after his death in 2014.
why is the Gurindji strike still relevant today?
why is the Gurindji strike still relevant today?
This video was made in 2016 to commemorate the 50 Year Anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off.
This video was made in 2016 to commemorate the 50 Year Anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off.
We are going to watch the video and answer this question together.
We are going to watch the video and answer this question together.
Task 1 - Sources on The Wave Hill Walk-Off
Task 1 - Sources on The Wave Hill Walk-Off
There is some reading in these sources. However, the purpose of these sources is for you to understand what happened during the Gurindji strike and their fight for land rights.
There is some reading in these sources. However, the purpose of these sources is for you to understand what happened during the Gurindji strike and their fight for land rights.
Source 1 - Newspaper article titled Aborigines walk off jobs published in The Canberra Times on July 27 1968
Source 1 - Newspaper article titled Aborigines walk off jobs published in The Canberra Times on July 27 1968
Click the image to access the newspaper article on Trove. Make sure you use the zoom tool. The other articles on the page are blurred out.
Click the image to access the newspaper article on Trove. Make sure you use the zoom tool. The other articles on the page are blurred out.
Read the source before answering these question.
Read the source before answering these question.
1 - Look at the date of this article and read the first sentence of the article. How does this source prove the Gurindji's strike was gaining momentum?
1 - Look at the date of this article and read the first sentence of the article. How does this source prove the Gurindji's strike was gaining momentum?
2 - Why did another 60 men walk off at Limbunya?
2 - Why did another 60 men walk off at Limbunya?
3 - What happened in the previous week before this article was published? What had the Gurindji petitioned for at this stage or their strike?
3 - What happened in the previous week before this article was published? What had the Gurindji petitioned for at this stage or their strike?
4 - What did Lingiari say after this rejection in 1968?
4 - What did Lingiari say after this rejection in 1968?
5 - How were the Gurindji people able to survive even though they weren't earning money during the strike? Who funded this?
5 - How were the Gurindji people able to survive even though they weren't earning money during the strike? Who funded this?
Source 2 - A video of revered Elder Jimmy Wavehill discussing his experiences during the Wave Hill Walk-Off
Source 2 - A video of revered Elder Jimmy Wavehill discussing his experiences during the Wave Hill Walk-Off
Watch the video before answering these questions. If you have headphones, you can use them to watch the source. If you don't have headphones, the video has subtitles.
Watch the video before answering these questions. If you have headphones, you can use them to watch the source. If you don't have headphones, the video has subtitles.
1 - Why is this source a primary source?
1 - Why is this source a primary source?
2 - What was one reason the Gurindji walked off the Wave Hill Cattle Station?
2 - What was one reason the Gurindji walked off the Wave Hill Cattle Station?
3 - How much time off a year were the workers given?
3 - How much time off a year were the workers given?
4 - What were the workers given to sustain themselves?
4 - What were the workers given to sustain themselves?
5 - What did Wavehill say working for the Vesty Group was like?
5 - What did Wavehill say working for the Vesty Group was like?
6 - What did Vincent Lingiari say to the manager of the Wave Hill Cattle Station?
6 - What did Vincent Lingiari say to the manager of the Wave Hill Cattle Station?
7 - Wavehill discusses the fears the Gurindji had after they walked off. What were they scared of?
7 - Wavehill discusses the fears the Gurindji had after they walked off. What were they scared of?
7 - Only answer this question once you have finished the video. Why did Wavehill say he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Lingiari?
7 - Only answer this question once you have finished the video. Why did Wavehill say he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Lingiari?
Jimmy Wavehill was one of the men who walked off Wave Hill in 1966. He passed away in 2022 and was laid to rest in the land he fought for.
Source - Mervyn Bishop
Source 3 - A photograph taken by Mervyn Bishop in 1975 of Gough Whitlam pouring sand through the hands of Vincent Lingiari
Source 3 - A photograph taken by Mervyn Bishop in 1975 of Gough Whitlam pouring sand through the hands of Vincent Lingiari
Observe the photograph carefully before answering these questions.
Observe the photograph carefully before answering these questions.
1 - Why did Gough Whitlam our sand through Vincent Lingiari's hands?
1 - Why did Gough Whitlam our sand through Vincent Lingiari's hands?
2 - Why was this event a decisive moment in the Indigenous Australians land rights movement?
2 - Why was this event a decisive moment in the Indigenous Australians land rights movement?
Source 4 - Newspaper article titled Gurindji win a 9-year fight published in The Tribune on August 26 1975
Source 4 - Newspaper article titled Gurindji win a 9-year fight published in The Tribune on August 26 1975
Click the image to access the newspaper article on Trove. Make sure you use the zoom tool. The other articles on the page are blurred out.
Click the image to access the newspaper article on Trove. Make sure you use the zoom tool. The other articles on the page are blurred out.
Read the source before answering these question.
Read the source before answering these question.
1 - What did Vincent Lingiari say to Prime Minister Whitlam on the 17th of August 1975?
1 - What did Vincent Lingiari say to Prime Minister Whitlam on the 17th of August 1975?
2 - What did Roger Golding do?
2 - What did Roger Golding do?
3 - What was the Vesty Company's "gesture of goodwill?"
3 - What was the Vesty Company's "gesture of goodwill?"
4 - Why wasn't this actually a gesture of goodwill?
4 - Why wasn't this actually a gesture of goodwill?
5 - Why was the $650,000 of compensation given to the Gurindji only a small amount of money?
5 - Why was the $650,000 of compensation given to the Gurindji only a small amount of money?
6 - According to Neilly (the person who wrote the article and was at the ceremony), why was the LJ Hooker company worried about the Ngarinman people?
6 - According to Neilly (the person who wrote the article and was at the ceremony), why was the LJ Hooker company worried about the Ngarinman people?
7 - What did the LJ Hooker group promise the Ngarinman people and then do?
7 - What did the LJ Hooker group promise the Ngarinman people and then do?
8 - What were pastoral companies doing to force Indigenous people off the cattle stations after the Gurindji victory?
8 - What were pastoral companies doing to force Indigenous people off the cattle stations after the Gurindji victory?
9 - Why is this source useful for understanding the history of First Nations land rights?
9 - Why is this source useful for understanding the history of First Nations land rights?
when you finish
when you finish
This is a video from Jimmy Wavehill's memorial service. It contains some powerful scenes and statements on his legacy.
This is a video from Jimmy Wavehill's memorial service. It contains some powerful scenes and statements on his legacy.
You can watch it if you like.
You can watch it if you like.
homework
homework
History has more meaning beyond the classroom
History has more meaning beyond the classroom
Educate someone you know about Vincent Lingiari and his legacy
Educate someone you know about Vincent Lingiari and his legacy
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