Postcode(s) 6642 Mean min temp Annual rainfall 15.9 °C 287.8 mm Population 179 (2011 census) | Mean max temp Mean min temp 29.4 °C 15.9 °C Postal code 6642 State electorate(s) Kalgoorlie | |
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Location 260 km (162 mi) north east of Warburton; 830 km (516 mi) southwest of Alice Springs | ||
Warakurna is a large Aboriginal community, located in the Goldfields-Esperance Region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku and is situated on the Great Central Road (part of the Outback Way ultimately connecting Perth to Cairns diagonally across Australia). It is at the western end of the Rawlinson Ranges. At the 2011 census, Warakurna had a population of 179, including 155 who identified as Aboriginal Australians, most of whom speak Ngaanyatjarra at home.
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History
In the early 1970s several factors, including the availability of government funding for outstations, easier road access, and over-crowding at Docker River settlement and Warburton Mission, all combined to make the location of Giles Weather Station ideal for a new community. The Warakurna community became incorporated in 1976 and a member of the Ngaanyatjarra Council in 1981.
Native title
The community is located within the Determined Ngaanyatjarra Lands (Part A) (WAD6004/04) Native Title claim area.
Town planning
Warakurna Layout Plan No.1 was prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements and was endorsed by the community in 2003 and the Western Australian Planning Commission in 2004.
Facilities
Children of school age at Warakurna attend the Warakurna campus of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School which was formed in 2007 by administratively combining nine remote campuses in the Ngaanyatjarra lands. Warakurna campus caters to year nine, then students must transfer to the larger campus at Warburton.
The community is serviced by the Giles Airstrip which provides a 24-hour all-weather 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) gravel runway with two services weekly to Alice Springs, and Royal Flying Doctor Service transport as required. It also has a community hall, women's centre, health clinic, football oval, basketball court and 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
In popular culture
Warakurna is also mentioned in the Midnight Oil song "Warakurna" in their No #1 hit album "Diesel and Dust".