Mowanjum Community
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Mowanjum Western Australia |
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 Mowanjum
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| Coordinates | 17°21′22″S 123°42′04″E / 17.356°S 123.701°ECoordinates: 17°21′22″S 123°42′04″E / 17.356°S 123.701°E | ||||||||
| Population | 295 (2011) | ||||||||
| Location | 10 km (6 mi) south east of Derby, Western Australia | ||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Derby-West Kimberley | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Kimberley | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Durack | ||||||||
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Mowanjum is a medium-sized Aboriginal community, located 10 km south east of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley. At the 2011 census, Mowanjum had a population of 295.
The Mowanjum Community began as a mission of the Presbyterian Church 1912. It was originally known as the Port George IV mission and a few years later as Kunmunya. The mission was located in the very isolated and rugged North West Kimberley coast of Western Australia. In 1951 this mission was moved south to Wotjulum near Yampi Sound and finally to the outskirts of Derby near the airport in 1956. The name Mowanjum was inscribed in the Derby marsh in 1956 by David Mowaljarlai. It means "settled" or "on firm ground. The 3 men attributed to founding the Mowanjum Community are Albert Barunga, Alan Mungulu and David Mowaljarlai. The community was again shifted in 1975 to its present site 10 km east of Derby following government requirements for additional land for the Derby Airport.
Strong links to traditional country have been preserved and the numerous outstations, including Pantijan, Kunmunya, Dodnun and Yallon etc. are directly linked to both European and traditional history. Mowanjum's outstations are under Mowanjum community management. Mowanjum includes people from three main language groups:
Between 300 and 500 people reside at Mowanjum Community depending on seasonal conditions in surrounding language group areas.
Mowanjum Community has its own art and cultural organisation MASWAC (Mowanjum Artists Spirit of the Wandjina Aboriginal Corporation). It was founded in 1998 by Mowanjum Community Administrator Maxine Clarke, Mowanjum Kimberley Tafe Arts lecturer Mark Norval and its first chairperson Donny Woolagoodja. In 2002 community administrator John Oster and MASWAC compiled a business plan to build a Gallery-Museum at Mowanjum at a cost of 2.8 million dollars. Mark Norval of Kimberley TAFE, community chairperson Edward Mungulu and Mark Davies community administrator developed further business plans and funding options for the project. During 2004 and 2006 this new Art Centre was constructed by Leamy Constructions of Derby at a final cost of 5 million dollars. The principal funds for the project came from the Australian Federal Government 2.2 million, the Western Australian State Government 2.2 million and Aztec Mining Co of South Perth 0.4 million.
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