Pipalyatjara, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Pipalyatjara is an Aboriginal
community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
in South Australia
, comprising one of the six main communities on "The Lands" (the others being Amata, Ernabella/Pukatja, Fregon/ Kaltjiti
, Indulkana
and Mimili). At the 2006 census
, Pipalyatjara had a population of 123.
on the Gunbarrel Highway
(a rough, unsealed road). Pipalyatjara is approximately 30 kilometres from the junction of the South Australian
, Western Australian and Northern Territory
borders (known as the Surveyor-General's Corner). The community of Kalka
is situated some 15 kilometres away (by road, on the north side of the mountain ridge to which Pipalyatjara lies to the south). Both communities are situated within the Tomkinson Ranges.
, Kalka experiences summer maximum temperatures of an average of 37.2 degrees celsius in January and a winter maximum average temperature of 19.9 degrees celsius in July. Overnight lows range from a mean minimum temperature of 23.5 degrees in January to 6.8 degrees in June.
Annual rainfall averages 284.2 millimetres.
The residents are mainly Anangu people who speak mainly Pitjantjatjara as their first language.
Pipalyatjara was formerly known as Mount Davies, named after the tallest local peak.
Chrysoprase
was mined at Pipalyatjara until recently.
Diesel power generation facilities supply power to the community.
Water is provided from 2 bores and placed in storage tanks for pumping to the community.
The Pipalyatjara Anangu school is a CPC - Year 12 school. Some of the school population come from the Kalka Community, which is situated approximately 15 km from Pipalyatjara. As with the successful programs implemented first at Mimili in October 2006 and Amata in 2007, a swimming pool
is proposed for construction at Pipalyatjara with construction to begin in March 2007. The rationale for construction of swimming pools is both to improve public health through the chemicals in the water and regular bathing, but also the incentive to enjoy the facility serving as encouragement to improve school attendance.
Technical and Further Education
("TAFE" for short) opportunities are provided to the community.
There is also a general store supplied weekly via road train.
The Pipalyatjara Women's Complex also functions as a community recreation hall.
The community runs the Ninuku Arts project.
Pipalyatjara has a mechanic workshop to service local vehicles and educate young residents.
Pipalyatjara does not have a permanent police presence. South Australia Police
are based at [Murpitja, South Australia] and run patrols in the area. There is a rudimentary shed structure that serves as a police station when police are present.
As with most APY settlements, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
and Special Broadcasting Service
television are available.
The Uniting Church in Australia
has a congregation in Pipalyatjara.
A mobile polling booth visits Pipalyatjara every 4 years for elections of the Parliament of South Australia
.
A permit is required for a member of the public to visit any community on the APY Lands, as they are freehold
lands owned by the Aboriginal people
.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara is a large Aboriginal local government area located in the remote north west of South Australia...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, comprising one of the six main communities on "The Lands" (the others being Amata, Ernabella/Pukatja, Fregon/ Kaltjiti
Kaltjiti, South Australia
Kaltjiti is an Aboriginal community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia, comprising one of the six main communities on "The Lands" ....
, Indulkana
Indulkana, South Australia
Indulkana is an Aboriginal community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia, comprising one of the six main communities on "The Lands"...
and Mimili). At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Pipalyatjara had a population of 123.
Geography
Pipalyatjara is situated approximately 550 kilometres south-west of Alice SpringsAlice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
on the Gunbarrel Highway
Gunbarrel Highway
The Gunbarrel Highway is an isolated desert track in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. It consists of about of washaways, heavy corrugations, stone, sand and flood plains...
(a rough, unsealed road). Pipalyatjara is approximately 30 kilometres from the junction of the South Australian
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Western Australian and Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
borders (known as the Surveyor-General's Corner). The community of Kalka
Kalka, South Australia
Kalka is an Aboriginal community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia administered under the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act. At the 2006 census, Kalka had a population of 114.-Geography:...
is situated some 15 kilometres away (by road, on the north side of the mountain ridge to which Pipalyatjara lies to the south). Both communities are situated within the Tomkinson Ranges.
Climate
Based upon the climate records of the nearest weather station at Giles across the border and slightly to the northwest in Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Kalka experiences summer maximum temperatures of an average of 37.2 degrees celsius in January and a winter maximum average temperature of 19.9 degrees celsius in July. Overnight lows range from a mean minimum temperature of 23.5 degrees in January to 6.8 degrees in June.
Annual rainfall averages 284.2 millimetres.
Population
Pipalyatjara's population is approximately 140-150 people, , .The residents are mainly Anangu people who speak mainly Pitjantjatjara as their first language.
History
Little is known about how the traditional owners and other peoples came to have a settlement at what is now known as Pipalyatjara.Pipalyatjara was formerly known as Mount Davies, named after the tallest local peak.
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase, chrysophrase or chrysoprasus is a gemstone variety of chalcedony that contains small quantities of nickel. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are also referred to as prase...
was mined at Pipalyatjara until recently.
Facilities
Pipalyatjara has an airstrip (to which mail is delivered once a week) and a health facility staffed by 2 nurses, with a doctor from Fregon making regular visits. There are council facilities.Diesel power generation facilities supply power to the community.
Water is provided from 2 bores and placed in storage tanks for pumping to the community.
The Pipalyatjara Anangu school is a CPC - Year 12 school. Some of the school population come from the Kalka Community, which is situated approximately 15 km from Pipalyatjara. As with the successful programs implemented first at Mimili in October 2006 and Amata in 2007, a swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
is proposed for construction at Pipalyatjara with construction to begin in March 2007. The rationale for construction of swimming pools is both to improve public health through the chemicals in the water and regular bathing, but also the incentive to enjoy the facility serving as encouragement to improve school attendance.
Technical and Further Education
TAFE South Australia
TAFE South Australia provides vocational education and training in South Australia. The acronym TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education and is used and recognised nationally throughout Australia....
("TAFE" for short) opportunities are provided to the community.
There is also a general store supplied weekly via road train.
The Pipalyatjara Women's Complex also functions as a community recreation hall.
The community runs the Ninuku Arts project.
Pipalyatjara has a mechanic workshop to service local vehicles and educate young residents.
Pipalyatjara does not have a permanent police presence. South Australia Police
South Australia Police
The South Australia Police is the police force of the Australian state of South Australia. It is an agency of the Government of South Australia within the South Australian Department of Justice.-History:...
are based at [Murpitja, South Australia] and run patrols in the area. There is a rudimentary shed structure that serves as a police station when police are present.
As with most APY settlements, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and Special Broadcasting Service
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
television are available.
The Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
has a congregation in Pipalyatjara.
A mobile polling booth visits Pipalyatjara every 4 years for elections of the Parliament of South Australia
Parliament of South Australia
The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government....
.
A permit is required for a member of the public to visit any community on the APY Lands, as they are freehold
Fee simple
In English law, a fee simple is an estate in land, a form of freehold ownership. It is the most common way that real estate is owned in common law countries, and is ordinarily the most complete ownership interest that can be had in real property short of allodial title, which is often reserved...
lands owned by the Aboriginal people
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
.