Communities
There are seven indigenous communities in the Groote Archipelago. The Anindilyakwa people primarily reside in Angurugu and Umbakumba which are located on Groote Eylandt, and Milyakburra which is located on Bickerton Island. The four additional satellite communities are located close to mainstream services and exist for culturally significant reasons. These include: 4 Mile, Malkala, Little Paradise, and Bartalumba Bay. There are also a number of homeland centres or outstations associated with these communities as listed below.
The communities are serviced by the Groote Archipelago Regional Council (GARC).
Cultural Centres have been established in Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. Read more about them on our Preserving Culture page.
Angurugu
The Angurugu township has a population of approximately 835 and is located on the banks of the Angurugu River on the mid-west coast of Groote Eylandt. Angurugu forms the base for many island-wide services and businesses and has a school, clinic, police station, supermarket, football oval, basketball court, women’s Safe House, library, arts centre, music studio, men’s shed, cultural centre, radio station and a linguistics centre.
There are four homeland centres, or outstations, associated with Angurugu. These are Ananja, Emerald River, Leske Pools, and Yenbakwa.
Umbakumba
The Umbakumba population is approximately 581 and is located some 65km from Alyangula by road. Umbakumba has a school, a clinic, a football oval, basketball court, supermarket, mini-mart, police post, art centre, radio station and cultural centre.
There are three homeland centres, or outstations, associated with Umbakumba, these are Thompsons Bay, Salt Lake and Six Mile.
Milyakburra
Milyakburra has a population of about 176 residents and is situated on the central eastern part of Bickerton Island, east of the mainland, between Groote Eylandt and Blue Mud Bay.
Milyakburra is approximately one hours travel by boat from Alyangula and is normally serviced by a barge into South Bay on a fortnightly basis. Milyakburra is more usually accessed by air, and has had a sealed all-weather airstrip since 2009, which is able to accommodate twin-engine aircraft.
Milyakburra has a school, clinic, women’s centre, supermarket, cyclone shelter and basketball court.
Construction commenced in 2021 on a Primary Boarding College which will be attended by children from across the Archipelago. The Boarding School will support culture, language and leadership through formal education delivery utilising a bilingual curriculum.