50th Anniversary of Gurindji Freedom Day
On 16 August 1975, a defining moment in Australian history unfolded when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam returned a portion of their traditional lands to the Gurindji people.
There is a photo that every Australian knows.
Two giants of their time, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and Gurindji Leader Vincent Lingiari stand together.
The Prime Minister pours red dirt into Mr Lingiari’s hand. Beneath them the red ground shines.
That moment captured by Mervyn Bishop, is etched into our national memory. United in purpose and in recognition of something far greater than themselves.
For many, it is a symbol of a fundamental shift in our country’s thinking and actions, a recognition that First Nations Australians were the traditional custodians of country, and that country should be returned.
For the Gurindji people, it is a powerful reminder of the struggle of their elders and community to gain recognition and fair payment.
The Gurindji people had been fighting for justice since 1966, when Vincent Lingiari led the historic Wave Hill Walk-Off. The protest began as a demand for better working conditions and wages on the Vestey-owned cattle station but evolved into a broader call for land rights. For 9 years, the Gurindji maintained their stand, asserting their connection to the land and their right to self-determination.
Whitlam’s gesture—pouring sand into Lingiari’s hand—was more than symbolic. It represented the Australian Government’s recognition of Aboriginal land ownership and the beginning of legislative change.
The handback was the first time the Commonwealth returned land to Indigenous Australians, paving the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the establishment of the Northern and Central Land Councils and the return of land across the Northern Territory.
The legacy of the Wave Hill Walk-Off is a powerful testament to the fight for land rights and self-determination.
Those Gurindji peoples’ courage was a beacon of hope for Indigenous communities everywhere—a bold declaration that the fight for justice could no longer be ignored.
Every August, people from across Australia gather on Gurindji country for the Gurindji Freedom Day Festival, a celebration of Land Rights, self-determination and community success.