Gurindji freedom banners
Retelling the story of the Wave Hill walk-off.
Location
Main floor
Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla – from the darkness into the light.
The Gurindji freedom banners are a collection of 10 hand-painted banners created in 2000 by the Gurindji to share the community's version of the historic 1966 Wave Hill walk-off. The walk-off, or Gurindji strike, led by Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari was an important event in Australia's land rights movement. Many of the 35 Gurindji people involved in the banner-making project were participants in the walk-off.
At some stage, banner eight, Ngumpittu nguwula junypa wanyjarnana (Two young men dancing), went missing. In July 2025, a banner-making workshop was held in Daguragu and Kalkarindji to reconstruct the missing banner and restore the collection.
Plan your visit
This exhibition is wheelchair accessible.
A video plays in the exhibition and there is also an interactive map.
You may also be interested in...
Parliamentary Broadcasting and ABC Studio
Discover where the debates, drama and business of parliament was broadcast.
Happy and Glorious
Souvenirs and stories from Queen Elizabeth’s 1954 visit to Old Parliament House.
Democracy: Are You In?
People have power! Get involved and help shape Australian democracy.
Midday Mystery Tour
A different tour every day at midday.
Dismissed Tour
The story of an extraordinary political moment and how it unfolded.
Government Party Room
The room where party members worked quietly and debated loudly.
