Wave Hill Cattle Station, Northern Territory, Australia - Immortalized in Lyrics on Waymarking.com

Wave Hill Station (Jimbarak) was taken up by the Buchanan family in 1883 and cattle were brought in. In 1888 a Police Station was established at Wave Hill, with Mounted constable W.H. Wilshire beginning reprisal killings against the Gurindji, which continue until at least the 1920s.

Vesteys buys Wave Hill in 1914 and builds up the Station with Aboriginal labour, paid for with meagre rations. The Gurindji and others from surrounding areas live near the European managers of the cattle stations that have taken over their land. Under an often brutal and conspiratorial regime they provide indentured labour and sexual services to the Europeans in exchange for food and shelter. The situation is typical of much of Northern Australia of the time.

In 1966 Vincent Lingiari and others lead the Indigenous workers of Wave Hill station on strike. With their families they walk off the station, refusing to work until their conditions are equal to European workers. With support from unionists and students (who at times advise them to the contrary), the Gurindji begin building their own community and cattle operation on illegally squatted land at Wattie Creek.

Facing covert and overt pressure from Government and pastoral interests, the Gurindji refuse to return to
work. They expand their demands to include unimpeded access to their own land and the self-management
of their own cattle operation. Some of the Gurindji move to Wattie Creek.

On 16 August 1975 1250 sq miles (3236 sq km) of Wave Hill Station acquired by Aboriginal land Fund Commission and the lease of this excised land is handed over by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to the Gurindji with the ceremonial gesture of pouring earth into Vincent Lingiari’s hand.

On 26 February 1979, a land claim is lodged by the Central Land Council on behalf of Traditional Owners.

On 10 April 1983, the Gurindji are handed title to their land (the bulk of the Daguragu pastoral lease plus some adjacent Crown Land) by then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Clyde Holding.

Musician: Paul Kelly Name of Song: From Little Things Big Things Grow Relevant Verse: Gather round people let me tell you're a story An eight year long story of power and pride British Lord Vestey and Vincent Lingiarri 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 pressure got tighter and tighter Gurindju 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 Lingairri 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 From little things big things grow From little things big things grow Location website: Not listed

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