Tanami Downs

Tanami Downs (formerly Mongrel Downs) is an Indigenous Australian-owned cattle station in the Northern Territory.

Geography

Tanami Downs station covers approximately 4200 square kilometres of the Northern Territory, about 700 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

Tanami Downs lies within the Tanami bioregion of hot, dry country, in which the dominant vegetation is spinifex hummock grassland.^[1] Though drought-prone and semi-arid, Tanami Downs has some mountainous areas with permanent water, and its northern parts have plains suitable for cattle grazing.^[2]

History and administration

Indigenous ownership of Tanami Downs was recognised through the Tanami Downs Land Claim. The claim was lodged in June 1989,^[2] and the report under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 recognising the claim, was delivered in early 1992.^[3] Title to the land was officially handed to the traditional owners on 21 December 1992.^[2]

The land is owned by the Mungkurrupa Land Trust, which represents the traditional owners, while the station is operated by a board comprising a mix of traditional owners, an outside representative of another pastoral station, and an agricultural consultant.^[4]

Notable residents (and traditional owners) of Tanami Downs include Indigenous artists Biddy Rockman Napaljarri and Peggy Rockman Napaljarri.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Rangelands - Tanami". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 2000-2002. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/rangelands/overview/nt/ibra-tan.html. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} ""Mongrel" station has new future: Tanami Downs Land Claim". Land Rights News (Central Land Council). March 1993. http://www.clc.org.au/Ourland/LRN_stories/Mangkururrpa.html. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Justice Olney (1992). "Tanami Downs Land Claim: Findings, Recommendation and Report". Report No. 42. Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/pubs/annualreports/aboriginal_land_comm_reports/tanami_downs/Documents/42.PDF. Retrieved 29 October 2009. 
4. ^ "New management for Tanami Downs". Land Rights News (Central Land Council): p. 7. April 2009. http://www.clc.org.au/Media/publications/LRN/2009LRN/april2009/p7.pdf. Retrieved 29 October 2009.