Communities
Our Communities
Barunga
Barunga is a small community located 80 kilometers southeast of Katherine. It was formerly known as Beswick Creek and is sometimes still called Bamyili, another previous name. It is within Duwa Country, on the lands of the Bagala clans.
Barunga is famous for the Barunga Festival, a 3-day celebration of Aboriginal culture, with traditional dance and music performances, art exhibitions, workshops, sports competitions and cultural talks.
At the 1988 Barunga Festival, the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke was presented with, and signed, The Barunga Statement. The statement called for the recognition of Indigenous land rights, the establishment of a Treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and the implementation of a national policy of self-determination for Indigenous Australians.
Wugularr
Wugularr, formerly known as Beswick, sits on the bank of Waterhouse River and is located 30 kilometers southeast of Barunga.
It is on the traditional lands of the Jawoyn people.
Between 1913 – 1945, the Maranboy Tin Mine was the centre of employment and a growing population. In 1947, the Government bought the area as Beswick Station and used it as a WWII Native Training Centre.
In 1991, the Jawoyn Association were given their lands back and hold the Native Title.
The Beswick Falls is a scared and beautiful waterfall where local mob fish alongside freshwater crocodiles.
In 2024, Beswick’s name was restored back to its traditional Aboriginal name of Wugularr.
Manyallaluk
Manyallaluk or Frog Dreaming, is a small community of 150 people, located 100 kilometres east of Katherine. It is also known as the Eva Valley.
It is the traditional country of the Jawoyn Aboriginal people, and they share the region with other clan groups, the Mayali, Ngalkbon and Rembarrnga.
As with Beswick, Manyallaluk was linked to the Maranboy Tin Mine. Alongside this in the 1940s, a cattle station was established, and local people were employed to catch wild buffalo.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Manyallaluk was well-known for its cultural tours and Arts Centre.
Bulman
Bulman, also called Gulin Gulin, Mardrulk or Yulngu, is located 300 kilometers northeast of Katherine and is home to around 300 people.
It is home to the Dalabon and Rembarrnga people and managed by the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust. Mimal Land Management care for country and culture for the Traditional Landowners.
The town sits alongside the small community of Weemol and includes a school, health clinic, police station and an all-weather airstrip.
Bulman has an interesting claim to fame. The Hemsworth brothers spent some of their childhood there while their parents ran the community store!
Binjari
Binjari is a short drive southwest from Katherine and home to around 300 people.
It is home to the Binjari people and managed by the Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation.
The Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation (BCAC) manages the interests of the local people and runs a health clinic, postal service, housing, transport and social services.
