Warburton is sometimes called Mirlirrtjarra (after a waterhole in the nearby Elder Creek), although this name is more often used for the local store, which is called ‘Milly Store.’ Warburton was referred to in the days of the missionaries as ‘Warburton Ranges’ after the nearby hills.
Then around 30 years ago a man named ‘Aubrey’ passed away and following the Aboriginal tradition of avoiding the use of a deceased person’s first name ‘Warburton Ranges’ was shortened to ‘Ranges’ – because Warburton sounded too much like Aubrey. The name ‘Ranges’ is still the name most commonly used for the community by local residents.
The Warburton Mission and the missionaries themselves, who lived very humbly and struggled for survival in this place which was so far from their familiar territory, are remembered with great fondness locally, something that differentiates the Ngaanyatjarra experience from that of many other groups.
▶ Watch video of 45 seconds of Warburton
The community was named after one of the early European explorers who travelled the region in search of good pastoral land. The traditional name for the community is Milyirrtjarra after a traditional site nearby. Warburton is the largest of the Ngaanyatjarra Communities.
Warburton was the first Community to be established on the Lands as a result of the activities of Will and Iris Wade from the United Aboriginal Missionaries (UAM), who established a base at Warburton in the 1930’s. Prior to the establishment of the Warburton Mission, Yarnangu led a nomadic subsistence life. The movement of people away from this life to a sedentary one at Warburton Mission was a gradual process that began with people’s visits to the mission prompted initially by curiosity and then the promise of food, blankets, medicines and other material items. Later, a prolonged drought drew people into the mission.
In the early days of the mission, rations were given to Yarnangu in exchange for dingo scalps that the missionaries traded for money on their regular trips into the goldfields town of Laverton. This money was then used to buy rations that were trucked back to the mission. This trade was lucrative enough to allow the missionaries to establish a school, a dormitory system, a church, a hospital and several cottage industries. Their mission was introducing Yarnangu to Christianity and providing them with education, employment and training programs. The ability of the mission to supply Yarnangu with food, blankets, tools and other material items meant that Yarnangu did not need to travel to the goldfields region for trading purposes. As a result the mission stemmed the outward migration that was occurring in this part of the Desert in the first few decades of the twentieth century and prior.
In the 1950’s the government began providing funding in the form of rations. A short time later they began supporting the education initiatives of the mission. Although an assimilation policy was being rigorously pursued in most of Australia at this time, the remoteness of the region and lack of funding (which translated as lack of personnel) meant that minimal interference and change occurred. However, the movement of people onto missions and government settlements (Docker River, Areyonga, Haasts Bluff, Papunya) was certainly in line with government assimilations policies of the 50s and 60s.
From the 1970s onwards there were changes in government policy away from assimilation and towards self-determination and self-management. In 1973, the UAM relinquished control of the Warburton Mission to the incorporated Warburton Aboriginal Community with an elected Aboriginal council. In 1981, the Ngaanyatjarra Council was officially incorporated and Warburton, Irrunytju, Warakurna, Jameson and Blackstone became the first members of the Council.
The Warburton Police Post was serviced by Laverton Police Patrols until March 2005. A Police Station was established within the community and was officially opened by Hon Michelle Roberts, Minister for Emergency Services in December 2005. The Warburton Police Station has four full-time Police Officers who reside in Warburton.
The Court of Petty Sessions, with two Justices of the Peace presiding, sits weekly, at Warburton, or as required. The Magistrate visits Warburton from Kalgoorlie every month.
An Essential Services Officer manages the community’s power, water and sewerage supply and services. A large diesel power house provides 24-hour electricity.
The community of Warburton offers a range of facilities and amenities to its members:
Mirlirrtjarra Arts is the community’s Aboriginal-owned and directed art centre, located on the Great Central Road in Western Australia. Supporting local artists to create paintings, artefacts and cultural works, the centre showcases contemporary Ngaanyatjarra art that reflects life, colour and deep connection to Country. Every artwork tells a story, and every purchase directly supports Ngaanyatjarra artists and their families. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery or browse and purchase artworks online at https://mirlirrtjarraarts.com.au/.
Wilurarra Creative provides a dynamic creative space for Ngaanyatjarra people aged 17 to 30. Part arts space, part library, part music studio, part workshop and part community hub, Wilurarra encourages self-directed learning, creative expression and collaboration through a diverse range of programs.
The Tjulyuru Cultural Centre is a cultural and visitor hub located just outside the Warburton community on the Great Central Road. Visitors can learn more about the rich culture and history of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands while browsing locally produced arts, crafts and publications available through the Warta Shop. The gallery and shop are open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm, with other times available by appointment.
*2021 Census Data (ABS)
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