Nyirripi is a community in the Southern Tanami Ward of the

Central Desert Region The Central Desert Region is a local government area of the Northern Territory, Australia, administered by the Central Desert Regional Council (formerly Central Desert Shire). The council's main towns are Ti-Tree, Yuendumu, and Lajamanu. ...

in the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. The town is approximately 440 kilometres from

Alice Springs Alice Springs () is a town in the Northern Territory, Australia; it is the third-largest settlement after Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin and Palmerston, Northern Territory, Palmerston. The name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William ...

, with the drive taking 5 to 6 hours. As of 2021, the town's population was 251 people.

History

Nyirripi was first established in the late 1970s, when several families including Tiger Japaljari Morris, Charlie Jampinjinpas, Molly Napurula Martins, Phylis Napurula, Leo Japurula and others decided to leave the pressures of the growing population of

Yuendumu Yuendumu is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia, northwest of Alice Springs on the Tanami Road, within the Central Desert Region local government area. It ranks as one of the larger remote communities in central Australia, and has a ...

. Two men (Edwin and George) were sent into town to secure a

pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...

for the outstation and Pastor John Henwood returned with them to take up ministry. The community was officially recognised as an outstation after the former Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs was pressed in a public forum by community members to define the population numbers that would constitute an outstation. This enabled the securing of much needed funds for infrastructure. Later the community was recognised as a major community and campaigned for resources, which led to the construction of a school. In 1985, the community became incorporated under the ''Aboriginal Council Association Act''.

Description

Nyirripi is located close to the southern and south western extent of traditionally owned Warlpiri land on the Yunkanjini

Aboriginal Land Trust In Australia, an Aboriginal land trust (ALT) is a type of Non-profit organization, non-profit organisation that holds the Freehold (law), freehold title to an area of Real property, land on behalf of a community of Aboriginal Australians. The land ...

between

Newhaven Newhaven is a port town in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England, lying at the mouth of the River Ouse. The town developed during the Middle Ages as the nearby port of Seaford began drying up, forcing a new port to be established. A ...

and Mount Doreen Pastoral Properties. Although still predominantly a Warlpiri-speaking community, there are a number of Luritja/Kukatja speakers.

Governance

The Nyirripi Community Government Council is the local governing body and has 13 members who are elected annually. The Local Government Shire is the Central Desert Shire, Southern Tanami Ward.

Infrastructure and Community Life

The community has: * Community Hall * Pensioner Units * BRACS (radio) * Community Owned Store – Pre-packed and fresh food is available as well as clothing, pharmaceuticals, hardware, white goods, blankets, furnishing and sporting goods. * Council office * United Pentecostal Church * Workshop * Health Centre * School * Meals-on-wheels * Airstrip * Morgue * Power station * 2 ablution blocks * Flat for visitors * Public phones * Sports oval

References

Notes

Citations

{{authority control Towns in the Northern Territory Central Desert Region Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory