Gapuwiyak Community Health Centre

Adjacent to Lake Evella and the upper reaches of the Buckingham River. 100km by air and 220km by road west of Nhulunbuy. Located approximately 200 klm West of the mining town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory. The community has a population of around 500, Yolngu people. The Gapuwiyak community is accessible by road and has a daily air service from Gove

Approximately 735 (including 257 on homelands) but this fluctuates with people moving around to the Homelands. There are 61 non-indigenous people. (2001 Census).

Djambarrapuyngu and English.

To Nhulunbuy: 3 hours drive

Gapuwiyak, adjacent to Lake Evella, was originally an outstation of Galiwin’ku established in the late 60’s. Gapuwiyak had a functioning saw mill in the early days with timber being felled milled and sent to Darwin Elcho Island and Gove. A large market garden was set up by the lake to service the community and outstations where bananas sweet potato and casava where grown. Gapuwiyak is now a well-established community servicing numerous outstations in the region. Gapuwiyak is a dry community (no alcohol allowed) serviced by a resident GP and health team.

To Nhulunbuy: 25 minutes (Mon - Sat). To Darwin (via Elcho Island): - 2 hours.

The air strip is not sealed and may be closed at times in the wet. however by road it may be cut off for short periods in the wet season as rivers need to be crossed. All outstation roads are closed in the wet season.

There is a chemist, supermarket, recreation centre, post office, ANZ and CBA banking facilities, church, school and Women's Centre. This is a dry community

“Emu & the Jabiru” Dream time story
www.dreamtime.net.au/emu/
Gapuwiyak website.
www.gapuwiyak.com
Gapuwiyak Mens Clinic
www.nt.gov.au/health