Warakurna is located near a gap in the picturesque Rawlinson Ranges alongside a reliable soakage that supplied water to the desert people over the millennia. In the present day a bore from the same locality provides the community with its drinking water.
In the 1950s the renowned outback character Len Beadell with his 鈥楪unbarrel Highway Company鈥� made a road from the Stuart Highway all the way to a site just outside where Warakurna Community now stands. The purpose of the road was to facilitate the building by the Commonwealth government of the Giles Weather Station.
This was the first major external violation of the Aboriginal Reserve that had been proclaimed in the 1920s to protect the desert people, and it occurred as part of the Woomera Rocket Range project. The families of the area were excluded from the development and most found their way to Warburton Mission.
In the early 1970s they began to return and in 1975, with the assistance of homelands movement funding, they were able to establish the community that stands here today.
Many members of the Warakurna community experienced their first contact with non-Aboriginals in the late 1930’s with the establishment of the Warburton Mission. For others, their first contact was in the late 1950’s with the Native Patrol Officers working for the Weapons Research Establishment in Woomera, South Australia.
Native Patrol Officers were employed by the Government to relocate the remaining nomadic Yarnangu from their traditional lands to Warburton Mission or other government settlements in the region, with the aim of protecting them from rocket debris produced by the “Blue Streak” research project. Consequently, some Yarnangu were moved to Warburton Mission, while others were taken to missions at Jigalong and Balgo in Western Australia, and a few to the government settlement at Papunya in the Northern Territory.
The work of the Native Patrol Officers was significantly aided by road construction, including the Gunbarrell Highway, carried out by Len Beadell, who worked for the Weapons Research Establishment. This opened up the previously inaccessible Rawlinson Ranges to mechanised transport, enabling easier access from the south, west, and east. It also paved the way for the establishment of the Giles Weather Station on land excised from the Reserve in 1956 for this purpose. In 1991, this land was handed over to the 两性色午夜 Council, who now sub-lease it back to the Commonwealth.
By the 1960’s a new government settlement was established at Docker River, just across the WA/NT border and only 100km north-east of the Giles Weather Station. Many Yarnangu, traditionally from the Warakurna area, moved to Docker River from Papunya to be closer to their homelands. Docker River provided an ideal base from which people could make visits during holiday periods to the many rockholes at the base of the Rawlinson Ranges.
In the early 1970’s several factors, including the availability of government funding for homelands, easier road access, over-crowding at Docker River settlement and Warburton Mission, all combined to make the location of Giles Weather Station ideal for a new community. The Warakurna community became incorporated in 1976 and a member of the 两性色午夜 Council in 1981.
Health
A community clinic is operated by 两性色午夜 Health Service. Two nursing sisters and two Aboriginal Health Workers are provided by 两性色午夜 Health Service. A resident dentist is located at Warakurna with a mobile dental surgery to service communities throughout 两性色午夜 Lands. A Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Doctor from Kalgoorlie makes fortnightly visits to Warakurna. Emergency evacuations are done by RFDS Kalgoorlie. An Environmental Health Officer from Alice Springs also makes regular monthly inspections of the Community.
Community School Facilities
The Warakurna Campus of the 两性色午夜 Lands School has four classes as well as a library, a manual arts room, and a home economics room. There are currently approximately 60 students enrolled and there are generous school grounds with a basketball court and playground equipment. There are currently 3 teachers 鈥擡CE, primary and secondary鈥攁nd Yarnangu educators (AIEOs) across the classes.
Community Training Programs
A diversity of training programs are available to members including: computer training courses, stores training programme, first aid, music tuition, and a mechanical workshop course. Two trainee Essential Services Officers (ESOs) are currently completing a two-year training programme which will combine hands-on community ESO experience, with formal training at Warburton TAFE College.
Law/Order and Justice Services
There is a large, newly completed community Police Post located five kilometres from the community, opposite the Roadhouse. Police presence is currently a weekly police patrol from Laverton (750 kilometres) and there is an Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO).
Community Recreation Facilities
The community boasts a large, well-maintained football oval equipped with lighting for training and match play during the cooler evening hours. The oval is grassed with reticulated spraying, and includes two grandstands and a commentator’s box. This facility is actively used throughout the year, providing a central hub for sports and recreation.
In addition to the football oval, the community features a 25m x 10m heated indoor swimming pool, a basketball court with lights for evening games, and various other recreational amenities. These include pool tables, pinball machines, and a children’s playground, ensuring a wide range of activities for all ages.
Community Hall
Warakurna has a community hall equipped with musical instruments and sound equipment.
Community Kitchen/Laundries
A community kitchen is provided in Women’s Centre and is used to provide Meals on Wheels and improved child nutrition meals and school lunches. There are also two community laundries, one located in the Women’s Centre, on the western side of the community, and one on the eastern side community.
Community Store
A large community store is managed by a store manager assisted by four CDEP-funded community staff. The store is supplied by NATS from Perth on a fortnightly basis (frozen foods delivery and bulk goods delivery on alternate weeks). The store has a policy of selling healthy foods and useful household electrical and white goods.
Community, Family and Women’s Facilities
There is a large Women’s Centre with kitchen, sewing, art facilities, and two vehicles. The Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara 两性色午夜 Women’s Council provides funds for a part-time Women’s Co-ordinator at Warakurna. Community women also operate a child nutrition programme, funded in part by a Women’s Council grant and part funded by the Education Department for provision of nutritional school lunches.
Community Mechanical Workshop/Depot
The community has a workshop employing two community members for the maintenance of community work vehicles and machinery. Further, the Warakurna Roadhouse (community-owned) has a workshop facility and operates a fuel retail agency.
*2021 Census Data (ABS)聽
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