"Wave Hill Aboriginal people bin called Gurindji. This is our country. All this bin Gurindji country. We bin here long time before them Vestey mob", Vincent Lingiari, 1968

• British pastoralists exploit Gurindji people (1880 – 1966)

  In the 1880’s British pastoralists invaded Gurindji lands and established the massive Wave Hill Cattle Station 800kms south of Darwin.^[4]

  Cattle and farming destroyed Indigenous water, food sources and livelihoods. Indigenous people were forced to work on the Station in order to receive rations and avoid starvation.

  In 1914, the Station was leased by the government to a large British food production company, the Vestey Brothers, who used Indigenous labour to increase the Station’s size and capacity.

  The working conditions for the Indigenous labourers were extremely poor; they rarely received wages, were beaten or even killed for defying the landowners, and the women were often terribly abused.

• The strike (1966 – 1975)

  On the 23rd of August 1966, Vincent Lingiari led 200 courageous Wave Hill workers and their families, to walk off the Station and begin their strike. The group formed a new settlement at nearby Wattie Creek (Daguragu).

  Initially, the pastoralists believed the workers would return with improved wages and conditions. But the focus of the strike moved from workers' rights to land rights.

  In 1967 the Gurindji submitted a petition to the Governor General asking for their land back. The petition included a map of sacred places on the land claimed and detailed the evolution of Gurindji myths and dreaming associated with these sites.^[5] This petition was unsuccessful.

  But, this is a great story of courage and resilience.

  Despite extremely difficult conditions, the workers and their families continued to strike. They did not waiver for nine years.

  While his people camped, and waited, Lingiari toured Australia to lobby politicians and galvanise support. The strike made headlines all over Australia.

  The campaign broke through racial barriers, with Gurindji people receiving support from workers’ unions and non-Indigenous Australians – financial, material and political. There was a readiness amongst non-Indigenous communities to stand alongside Indigenous people and demand justice.

• Paul Kelly's song 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'

  Today, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s song is known across the nation, although fewer people know the story of the Gurindji strikers it tells of.

  Lyrics

  Gather round people I'll tell you a story

  An eight-year-long story of power and pride

  'Bout British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri

  They were opposite men on opposite sides

   

  Vestey was fat with money and muscle

  Beef was his business, broad was his door

  Vincent was lean and spoke very little

  He had no bank balance, hard dirt was his floor

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  Gurindji were working for nothing but rations

  Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land

  Daily the oppression got tighter and tighter

  Gurindji decided they must make a stand

   

  They picked up their swags and started off walking

  At Wattie Creek they sat themselves down

  Now it don't sound like much but it sure got tongues talking

  Back at the homestead and then in the town

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  Vestey man said I'll double your wages

  Seven quid a week you'll have in your hand

  Vincent said uhuh we're not talking about wages

  We're sitting right here till we get our land

   

  Vestey man roared and Vestey man thundered

  You don't stand the chance of a cinder in snow

  Vince said if we fall others are rising

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  Then Vincent Lingiarri boarded an aeroplane

  Landed in Sydney, big city of lights

  And daily he went round softly speaking his story

  To all kinds of men from all walks of life

   

  And Vincent sat down with big politicians

  This affair they told him is a matter of state

  Let us sort it out, your people are hungry

  Vincent said no thanks, we know how to wait

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  Then Vincent Lingiarri returned in an aeroplane

  Back to his country once more to sit down

  And he told his people let the stars keep on turning

  We have friends in the south, in the cities and towns

   

  Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting

  Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land

  And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony

  And through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  That was the story of Vincent Lingiarri

  But this is the story of something much more

  How power and privilege can not move a people

  Who know where they stand and stand in the law

   

  From little things big things grow

  From little things big things grow

   

  Copyright: Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody 

• The battle was won

  In 1975, the Whitlam government finally negotiated a deal with the Vesteys to return part of the traditional lands to the Gurindji people.

  On the 16th of August 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam handed over title to the land to the Gurindji people, by pouring soil into Vincent Lingiari’s hands. This has become a defining moment in Australia’s history and this period of time was the start of the land rights movement.

• Since then

  In 1976, Vincent Lingiari was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. He passed away in 1988 and is remembered as one of the strongest and most inspirational Indigenous leaders ever.^[6]

  2006, the Northern Territory government heritage listed the route of the walk-off. And in 2016, on the 50th anniversary of the walk-off, a track was opened to share the historic journey with visitors.^[7]