Balgo (Wirrimanu) is a small Aboriginal Community in north eastern Western Australia linked with both the Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert off the Tanami Road (formerly known as the Tanami Track). To visitors, Balgo is remote because of its distance from other centres.Balgo is-
1780 km northeast of Perth
830kms northwest of Alice Springs
900km south-southwest of Darwin (nearest capital city)
210km east of Halls Creek
520kms southeast of the Indian Ocean
Neighbouring communities are Billiluna, Ringer Soak (Kundat Djaru) and Mulan.
Balgo is in the Shire of Halls Creek with a population of about 400 people. It has an all-weather airstrip, petrol station, supermarket, Catholic Parish, School (K-10), Clinic, Police Station, basketball courts as well as a vibrant cultural and artistic community.
From Balgo to Billard - Joseph Yukumbari (Balgo Community) and George Lee (Chairperson & People’s Representative) preparing to paint at the Blank Page Summit 2010
Most of the Balgo community speaks Kukatja, which is one of the Western Desert languages. Other languages spoken include Walmajarri, Jaru, Pintupi, Warlpiri and Kriol.
The Kukatja name for the locality of the Balgo township is Wirrimanu, a synonym for Luurnpa, the Warlpiri name for the Red-backed Kingfisher.
The present settlement at Balgo Hills began in 1964-65 as a Catholic Mission Station after the community moved from ‘Old Mission’, about 20km from the present site of the community.The Old Mission was abandoned due to a lack of reliable water.
George Lee, Chairperson & People’s Representative – Balgo Community painting at the Blank Page Summit 2010 (Billard Aboriginal Community)
Suicide-proofing a community
To find out more about how the Balgo community is approaching suicide prevention, click here at Stand up for Life.
Balgo (Wirrimanu) Community
Balgo (Wirrimanu) is a small Aboriginal Community in north eastern Western Australia linked with both the Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert off the Tanami Road (formerly known as the Tanami Track). To visitors, Balgo is remote because of its distance from other centres. Balgo is-
Neighbouring communities are Billiluna, Ringer Soak (Kundat Djaru) and Mulan.
Balgo is in the Shire of Halls Creek with a population of about 400 people. It has an all-weather airstrip, petrol station, supermarket, Catholic Parish, School (K-10), Clinic, Police Station, basketball courts as well as a vibrant cultural and artistic community.
From Balgo to Billard - Joseph Yukumbari (Balgo Community) and George Lee (Chairperson & People’s Representative) preparing to paint at the Blank Page Summit 2010
Most of the Balgo community speaks Kukatja, which is one of the Western Desert languages. Other languages spoken include Walmajarri, Jaru, Pintupi, Warlpiri and Kriol.
The Kukatja name for the locality of the Balgo township is Wirrimanu, a synonym for Luurnpa, the Warlpiri name for the Red-backed Kingfisher.
The present settlement at Balgo Hills began in 1964-65 as a Catholic Mission Station after the community moved from ‘Old Mission’, about 20km from the present site of the community. The Old Mission was abandoned due to a lack of reliable water.
George Lee, Chairperson & People’s Representative – Balgo Community painting at the Blank Page Summit 2010 (Billard Aboriginal Community)