Investigation probes ‘significant damage’ to historic Vincent Lingiari Gurindji Wave Hill Walk Off site

The Territory Government will this week file charges relating to “significant damage” to the heritage listed Wave Hill Walk Off Route following a months’ long investigation. Latest.

Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pours sand into the hand of Vincent Lingiari during a 1975 ceremony marking handover of traditional Gurindji land at Wave Hill.

The Territory Government will this week file charges relating to “significant damage” to the heritage listed Wave Hill Walk Off Route following a months’ long investigation.

On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities said the charges under the Heritage Act would likely be filed by the end of the day.

The charges are understood to be pursuant to section 111 of the act for allegedly causing damage to the site and section 121, relating to an executive officer allegedly failing to prevent contravention of a declared provision.

“Territory Families, Housing and Communities has investigated the matter and are bringing charges against relevant parties allegedly responsible for the damage through the Acting Director Heritage Branch,” she said.

Investigation probes ‘significant damage’ to historic Wave Hill site

January 30, 2024: The Territory Government has launched an investigation into “significant damage” to the heritage listed Wave Hill Walk Off Route, including demolition and other works.

The site commemorates the day in 1966 when Vincent Lingiari and other Gurindji employees of the Wave Hill cattle station walked off the job in protest over wages and conditions.

The Walk Off — later immortalised in Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s 1993 hit song From Little Things Big Things Grow — symbolised a key turning point in Australia’s nascent Aboriginal land rights movement.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities said the department had first become aware of the damage in September.

“The investigation highlighted significant damage to the site, including the demolition of a historic windmill and fence that marked the walk off route,” she said.

“Other damage includes installation of a large solar panel system, fences blocking access and removal of interpretation markers.”

The spokeswoman said the Wave Hill Walk Off Route was “of national significance and important to the history and heritage of the Northern Territory and our traditional owners”.

“We are committed to ensuring the preservation and integrity of all heritage listed sites across the Northern Territory,” she said.

The route stretches approximately 20 kilometres between the former Wave Hill Pastoral Station, Kalkarindji and the current Aboriginal community of Daguragu.

It begins at the former Wave Hill homestead and is now part of the Wave Hill Pastoral Station.

The site was nominated for heritage listing under the then Heritage Conservation Act in 1993 and declared a heritage place in 2006.