Historical land tenure to boost employment on Wilinggin Country

A proud moment in history was realised this year for the Ngarinyin People – a moment years in the making.

This year, over 1.4 million hectares of Wanjina-Wunggurr Wilinggin Native Title Country, was officially transferred to the Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC).

This tenure includes significant Indigenous sites, Karunjie Station and Durack River Station, along Gibb River Road in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Both Karunjie Station and Durack River Station have a long history with the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC), who acquired each property almost 27 years ago in 1999.

Open eucalypt woodlands with tall grass understories dominate both Karunjie Station and Durack River’s plains, as well as rugged rocky ranges and the rare species of flora and fauna.

Both properties also contain several culturally and historically significant sites, including conception and birth places, Wanjina dreaming and painting sites.

And now, these sites are being transferred back into the hands of their rightful owners.

The transfer is part of the newly registered Wilinggin Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) and is the first of its kind in terms of land tenure size.

The transfer is also incredibly unique, as following divestment from the ILSC, it will allow WAC to self-determine the future for Ngarinyin People on their Country.

This is a transformative step, supporting Traditional Owners across Wanjina-Wunggurr Wilinggin Native Title Country to work directly with WAC to obtain licences to use their land.

By focusing on economic empowerment for First Nations peoples, WAC is confident this land transfer will create vast employment opportunities for the Indigenous community now, and for future generations.

This includes unlocking pastoral leases, tourism ventures, such as camping grounds at the Karunjie Homestead site, and conservation opportunities.

There is also scope to strengthen the Nyaliga Ranger program run by WAC, whose rangers monitor threatened species and are actively involved in fire management work every year.

WAC Chair, Arnold Sahanna, welcomed the completion of the ILUA between Wilinggin and the State Government.

“We thank the Government for the constructive and innovative way that the ILUA negotiations were carried out.

“We look forward to future opportunities where the State and Wilinggin can build on the achievements of divestment outcomes,” said Mr Sahanna.

ILSC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joe Morrison, said this tenure is a true representation of self-determination, which the ILSC strives to achieve with its project partners.

“This is a significant moment in Indigenous history – it is the first time that a land tenure (of this size) is being changed from the WA Government back to mob.

“The ILSC is proud to have worked in partnership with WAC so far, to manage their Country on behalf of the Traditional Owners.

“I look forward to these properties being divested and seeing WAC’s economic aspirations come to life,” said Mr Morrison.

An official divestment ceremony will take place in mid-2026, where Traditional Owners, WAC and the Indigenous community can formally celebrate this milestone.