Population 427 (2011 census) Founded 1907 | Established 1907 Elevation 524 m | |
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Location 1,070 km (665 mi) NNE of Perth | ||
Jigalong is a remote Australian Indigenous community of approximately 427 people located in Western Australia.
Contents
Location
Jigalong is in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, approximately 165 kilometres (103 mi) east of the town of Newman in the Shire of East Pilbara local government area. The community is located in an Aboriginal Lands Trust reserve on the western edge of the Little Sandy Desert.
Demographics and facilities
The 2011 Australian Census recorded the population of Jigalong as 427 people, of which 76.1% were Aboriginal.
The Jigalong Remote Community School provides education from kindergarten to Year 12 level, with six teachers for a student enrolment of around 120 children.
The community has a medical centre, but patients with serious illnesses and injury are usually flown to Port Hedland—400 kilometres (250 mi) north west of Jigalong—by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
History
Jigalong was established in 1907, as the location for a maintenance and rations store for workmen constructing the Rabbit-proof fence. In the 1930s, it was used as a camel-breeding site, but this use was abandoned once the motor car superseded the camel as a mode of transport. In 1947, the land was granted to the Apostolic Church, who used it as a Christian mission, and set up the Aboriginal community. The land was returned to the Australian government in 1969, and was granted to the Martu people in 1974.
Native Title
The community is covered by the Registered Nyiyaparli Title claim (WC05/6).
Town planning
Jigalong Layout Plan No.2 was prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements, and was endorsed by the community in 2005 and the WAPC in 2006. The layout plan map-set and background report can be viewed at Planning Western Australia official site.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Jigalong was the home of Molly Craig, the young Aboriginal girl whose 1,600 kilometre trek from the Moore River Native Settlement back to Jigalong was immortalised in the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Molly's daughter Doris Pilkington Garimara. In 2002, the book was made into a film, Rabbit-Proof Fence, directed by Phillip Noyce, and the film's world premiere was held in the town.