Amoonguna residents and the Central Land Council will mark half a century of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1976) with a community celebration.
The event on Friday, 18 September, honours the significant place the community’s hall holds in land rights history.
The celebration will kick off at the hall at 11:30, with ceremonial performances by local men, women and children, a short video of a 1977 CLC meeting in the hall and the unveiling of an interpretive sign.
It will conclude with a community BBQ and a birthday cake for the historic hall.
“The Amoonguna hall holds a very special place in the hearts of our people,” CLC chair Warren Williams said.
“Our old people held some of the earliest CLC meetings there between 1975 and 1977 and made land rights history. It’s where they elected Arrernte leader Wenten Rubuntja as their chair.
“The event will honour these past leaders and all they have achieved: to claim back more than half of the Territory for its rightful owners, to help families return to their country and protect their sacred sites, to speak up strongly for the people who elect the land council members and to shield them from government policies that would harm them.”
“We want all Amoonguna residents, especially their young people, to share this proud history.”
The community celebration complements and follows another event marking this year’s 50th land rights anniversary – the fourth Vincent Lingiari Art Award at the Araluen Art Centre in Mparntwe (Alice Springs).
The award exhibition runs until 18 October.
16 September 2026