Northern Land Council celebrates 50th year with free King Stingray show

Thousands party as King Stingray headlines Northern Land Council’s 50th anniversary. See all the photos.

Thousands of Territorians gathered at State Square for a thrilling concert recognising a half century of the Northern Land Council, with King Stingray headlining the celebrations.

And while the music of popular Territory acts also including the Wairuk Band from Humpty Doo captivated those attending the free concert, the night was all about having a chance to reflect.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said it was “important to acknowledge 50 years of the Northern Land Council, in particular the Aboriginal land rights Act 1976”.

“We reflect on the struggles of First Nations people of the day when the Stolen Generation was occurring and First Nations people were being removed from their families,” she said.

“The Northern Land Council came at a time where we needed it and today is also about celebrating the importance of land and country and reflect on where are today.

Malarndirri McCarthy at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Reflect on our desire to still have a voice enshrined in the constitution so First Nations people can be recognised, listened to and make solutions to the problems we see.

“It’s wonderful to see the amount of people who have come down here on Larrakia country just to be happy, and that’s what this is all about

“We have a celebration where we can feel the love and support for one another, and recognise First Nations people have been here for 65,000 years and it’s that a fantastic thing we can share.”

Revellers made their way to the event from 5pm with many sticking around right the way through to 9.30pm for the headline act.

Among them was William Parmbuk from Wadeye who had been following King Stingray for the past four years after discovering a love for their music.

“I just love their music, I’ve been following them for the four years, and I enjoy everything about it,” Mr Parmbuk said.

“To have had the NLC going for 50 years and to have come this far is awesome for us, it’s great for me and for my family.”

ALL THE PICS

Maslin Armitage at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Michael Smiler and Aurelia Bulpit at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Heidi Barker and Sam Barker at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Carmen McCarthy, Teresa De Santis, Mahli De Santis, Mehak De Santis, Florence Henaway-Bouwer and Mick Bouwer at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Marina Matinez and Adrian Gomez at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mystics Band at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Juilet Barsden, Felix, Alice Nagy and Juniper at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jack Ritchie, Lily Cruse, Liz Cruse and Milani Ritchie at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Daniel Cullen and Brogan Howson at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Aurelia Bulpit, Joe Laurence, Michael Smiler, Shauna King at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Yananymul Mununggurr Executive member of East Arnhem land at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ray Burns and Suey De-Silva at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Fabiola Henry, Sam Henry, Max Henry and Ben Henry at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jess Mithen, Jett Street and Stefan Hladenki at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Counci

Jack Green at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mari Grieve and Stewart Pittard at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kenbi Dances from Belyuen community at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sereina Strasser, Celia Strasser and Mirella Strasser at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Clare Jacobson and Gus Hine at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Atticus Quinn and Annabel Bartin at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Peter Ayre, Lewis Malay, Lorna Black, Andrew Edwards, Jo Srbinovski, Micko Srbinovski at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Bianca Chisholm and Jason Chisholm at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sarah Cutting, Clare Haynes, Lucina Nixon-Lloyd, Maddy Brodie, Dante Kurth and Jordan Taylor at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

William Parmbuk, Maureen Parmbuk, Michelle Parmbuk, Lala Parmbuk and Becky Parmbuk from Wadeye at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Rex Norman, Ash Norman, Amy Norman and Ripley Norman at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Fidele Mbilizi from DR Congo at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

King Stingray Band at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Wairuk Band from Humpty Doo at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Jacqueline Sutton and Marisa Cairns at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Akil Hoshu and Jinkalmu Marabu at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ethan Jorrock from Belyuen at the Northern Land Council 50 Year Anniversary Concert in State Square, Parliament House, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Where to catch a free King Stingray show

“The history of Aboriginal land rights would look very different without the NLC.”

Northern Land Council chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi said the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s first representatives was a chance to reflect on the first Council’s achievements.

Dr Bush-Blanasi said it was important to commemorate how the Territory’s strong Aboriginal leaders “stepped forward” and fought for their land and sea rights.

Samuel Bush-Blanasi at the Barunga Festival 2023 in Northern Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakrhin

“This history and leadership continues to guide us as we walk towards the future,” Dr Bush-Blanasi said.

“The NLC is as necessary today as it was 50 years ago in the ongoing fight to recognise the land ownership of Aboriginal people, and it will only become more so over the next 50 years as we support Aboriginal people to protect, maintain and benefit from their land holdings.”

The first meeting of 26 representatives took place in Darwin’s Christ Church Cathedral from September 25 and 26, 1973.

Northern Territory rock band King Stingray, whose self-titled debut album was released in August 2022. L-R: Lewis Stiles, Dimathaya Burarrwang, Campbell Messer, Roy Kellaway, Yirrnga Yunupingu and Yimila Gurruwiwi. Picture: Sam Brumby

The historic milestone doubles as a chance for Territorians to catch a free glimpse of one of the NT’s biggest bands.

Yolgnu surf-rock band King Stingray will headline the celebrations on Friday evening, accompanied by Mumbali, Wildfire Manwurrk, Wairuk Band and The Mystics.

The family-friendly and alcohol-free event will take over the Parliament House State Square from 5-9.30pm Friday.

Food trucks will also be on site during the evening.