Milingimbi

Milingimbi is an island community just off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, approximately 400 km east of Darwin. A number of different clan groups exist among the population of around 1,000 that call Milingimbi home, including surrounding outstations (or homelands).

There is a long tradition of creative and cultural works – bark paintings, carvings and weavings to name the most traditional. Many of Milingimbi’s artists both past and present are represented in collections locally and internationally. Bark painting alone is said to have a tradition stretching back thousands of years, long before the arrival of Europeans. They have been officially recorded by Balanda (non-Yolngu) as having been commissioned as early as 1912, and were collected during the 1920’s from the time the first Methodist missionaries arrived.

Some missionaries encouraged the artists to use their creative skills in the art and craft field as a commercial activity, but it was not until the 1960’s that it would become a major source of rupia (income) for them. Of course many items made by the locals are still used for practical and, most importantly, ceremonial purposes. Milingimbi has a vibrart artistic community which displays its work at the Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre.

Visiting the Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre

To enter the Aboriginal Community of Milingimbi you will need a permit which allows you to visit. The permits can be obtained through the Northern Land Council. If it is your sole purpose to visit the Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre, the Centre can arrange a permit for you.

There are a couple of ways you can travel to visit the Milingimbi Art & Craft Centre.

CAIRNS ROUTE

Step 1: Qantas Link will get you from Cairns to Gove.

Step 2: Gove to Milingimb. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) will get you from Gove to Milingimbi traveling via a few small Communities along the way.

DARWIN ROUTE

Darwin to Milingimbi. Air North will get you from Darwin to Milingimbi. You will have a short stop in the Community of Maningrida, and will then board a MAF flight which will take you directly to Milingimbi.


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About Milingimbi Island

Milingimbi Island, also known as Yurruwi, is the largest island of the Crocodile Islands group off the coast of Arnhem Land. Aboriginal people have occupied this area for more than 40,000 years. A settlement was established on the island in 1923 by the Methodist Overseas Mission. The Mission attracted aboriginal people from eastern clan groups to the island. These included Gupapuy'u and Djambarrpuy'u, as well as Wangurri and Warramirri speaking people.

The traditional owners of Milingimbi and the surrounding seas and islands are Yan-nhangu speaking Yolngu Matha people. The island was bombed by the Japanese during World War II and most of its population moved to nearby Elcho Island. After the war, the Island was used as Royal Australian Air Force base, before the missionaries returned in 1951.[1] The Mission continued to administer the island until 1974 when administration was transferred to Milingimbi Community Incorporated. In 2008 Milingimbi became part of the East Arnhem Shire Council and the shire took over local government.

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