Lajamanu Health Centre

Location:
555km south west of Katherine on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert and eastern side of Hooker Creek.

Category:
Student and PGPPP

Population:
Approximately 1100

Major Language Groups:
Walpir

Description:
Lajamanu is located south west of Katherine on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. Lajamanu was established as a welfare settlement in the 1950s and local government began 1970. It was initially open to receive 400 Walpiri people transferred from Yuendumu (450km southwest) displaced due to drought. Even though Lajamanu is in Gurindji country, the Walpiri and Gurindji have ceremonial and trading links. Lajamanu is an important ceremonial site for desert people and centre for art, especially the dot style of painting. A resident GP and health team services it.

Road:
To Katherine: 6 hours drive
To Darwin (via Katherine): 880km sealed and dirt

Air

To Katherine: 1-2 hours
To Darwin: 2.5 hours
Air North Charters available.

Seasonal Access:
There is 100km of unsealed road can be impassable from January to April because of wet season rains

Outstations Serviced:
Mirririnyungu, Jiwaranpa, Lul-tju Mungurrupa, Parnta, Parrulyu, Tjabalajabala, Pinja Jangalpangalpa, Ngarnka, Yartalu Yartalu and Green Swamp Hills.

Facilities:
School, store, adult education, police station, Women's Centre (provides meals, laundry and transport service for the elderly), recreational hall, postal and Commonwealth banking agency, takeaway food, service station, arts centre and video shop.

Links:
Katherine West Health Board - Lajamanu profile

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