Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the West Daly area were various Aboriginal peoples who continue to live throughout the area and have strong traditional ties with the land.

Settlement history

Traditionally, indigenous people lived in the area, and continue to do, mainly in small communities. European settlement dates from the 1870s, with land used mainly for cattle grazing. A mission was established at Wadeye (Port Keats) in 1935. The community of Peppimenarti was established in 1974. The community of Palumpa was established in the 1980s when a cattle station began operations, originally as an offshoot of the Port Keats Mission, later becoming a private company. The population of the Council area fluctuated slightly during the 1990s, and then increased from 2001, rising from about 2,200 to about 3,000 in 2011.

Land use

The West Daly Regional Council area is mainly rural, with three small indigenous communities at Palumpa (Nganmarriyanga), Peppimenarti (Peppi) and Wadeye (Port Keats), and numerous outstations. The majority of the population is Aboriginal. The Council area encompasses a total land area of about 14,000 square kilometres.

Transport

The Council area is served by Port Keats Road and airfields at Palumpa, Peppimenarti and Port Keats (Wadeye).

Major features

• Major features of the Council area include Durrmu Arts Aboriginal Corporation,
• Cape Scott and various beaches.

Included areas

Notes

This region is Aboriginal freehold land held by the Daly River/Port Keats Aboriginal Land Trust (represented by the Northern Land Council).