About Wanarn

Wanarn is located in the “tali” (sandhill) country 100km north of Warburton. The community is on the dreaming track of the “Kungkarungkalpa” or Seven Sisters. All of its residents are Ngaanyatjarra speaking people.

Like other small communities in this region most of its residents lived on the Warburton Mission or later at the Docker River settlement. Some travelled as far afield as the Goldfields region to obtain work but ultimately returned to their traditional country. The close proximity of Warburton Mission allowed many to make frequent journeys back and forth.

The original road from Warburton to Alice Springs was via Linton Bore, east of Warburton Community. Concerns regarding unauthorised access by tourists in the vicinity of Linton Bore resulted in traditional owners closing this section of the road to the public. In the mid 1970’s a cutline was made between Warburton and Giles that could be used by the public as an alternative to the old Alice Springs (via Linton Bore) road. This in turn allowed much easier access to the country between Warakurna and Warburton.

The community of Wanarn which is located halfway between Warakurna and Warburton was then established in the late eighties. Residents came from Docker River, Warburton and Warakurna. The community was incorporated in 1989 and boasts Kungkarrangkalpa (seven sisters) a 15-bed Aged Care facility is managed by Ngaanyatjarra Health Service. It currently provides a home for a number of residents aged between 61 and 93 years of age requiring both high and lower levels of care.