Angurugu Community Health Clinic

Half way down the west coast of Groote Eylandt on the banks of the Angurugu River.

Approximately 717 and 150 on outstations.

The main clan is the Warnindilyakwa people and the main language is Anindilyakwa. Others include Nunggubuyu, Creole and English.

On the island there is an 18km bitumen road from Angurugu to Alyangula (takes 20 minutes). There is dirt road part of the way to Umbakumba (45 minutes).

The first mission on the island was established at Emerald River in 1921 by the Anglican Church Missionary Society. It was moved to Angurugu in 1943 after the RAAF took over the Emerald River airstrip as part of Australia's northern defence. The mission continued until 1979 when the community became a self-governing Aboriginal Town Council. Near the Aboriginal community of Angurugu is the large manganese mine that pays royalties to the traditional owners of this land. Groote Eylandt Mining Company, GEMCo mines manganese from a number of leases on the western coastal plain of Groote Eylandt.

To Nhulunbuy: 30-50 minutes To Darwin: 1.5-2 hours The airstrip is 1km from Angurugu

Roads to homelands are unsealed and not always accessible during the wet.

Bartalumba Bay, Little Paradise, Leske, Amagula, Yanbagwa, Malgala and Emerald River.

Fantastic beaches on Groote Eylandt
Photo by Simon Marrable - Flinders University

Refer to Groote Eylandt page for info >>