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Numbulwar's Profile & Information

Numbulwar has a population of around 1200 people and is located in East Arnhem Land in the Gulf of Carpenteria. The population is made up of mainly traditional indigenous land owners with a small community of non-indigenous staff mainly employed in the areas of health, council or school.

Numbulwar has a school (up to grade 10), a great health clinic with a resident doctor, a supermarket and takeaway outlet, a mechanics workshop (fuel), an airstrip, postal agency, centrelink office, respite centre, bank and council chambers. Numbulwar has road access during the dry season only. The closest main centre is Katherine, which is a car journey of 5 to 6 hours.

The usual means of transport in and out of the community is both by road to Ngukurr/ Mataranka/ Katherine and by plane to Darwin (via Groote Eylandt or Gove/Nhulunbuy). We have resident pilots who run the local airline ‘Numburindi Air’. A regular air transport service is provided by MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) and services the community every weekday.

The supermarket supplies the community with food, clothing and manchester. A barge from Darwin services the community once per fortnight. The barge is the main source of transporting of goods to the community.

There's a number of dangers visiting this remote part of Australia including becoming stranded (both on land and water), crocodiles, stingers, buffalo (yes they do enter the town area and have gored people to death in other communities), venemous snakes (uncommon) and other venemous creatures such as Blue-ringed Octopus. Ensure that you have a reliable and appropriate vehicle or boat such as a 4wd with adequate communications such as a satellite phone and/or EPIRB. Carry plenty of spares and fuel and water to last several days as well.

Fishing is the major form of recreation within the community with access to the beach and the Rose river. Some more commonly caught species include Barramundi, Queenfish, Threadfin Salmon, Pickey Bream, Golden Snapper, Grunter, Estuary Cod, Mangrove Jack, Coral Trout, GT's, Sweetlip and Barracuda. Off shore fishing and around reefs opens doors to Mackerel, Sailfish and Marlin.

The community was established in the 1950's as a mission and run by the Anglican church up until 1976 when the Council was formed. In 1989, the Council became a Community Government Council under the Local Government Act (NT).

Numbulwar's people are from a range of clans and traditional owners including groups from Ngukurr up to Blue Mud Bay (South of Nhulunbuy) and over to Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island. Clans include the Numamurdirdi, Nunggumadjbarr, Nunggargalu, Nundhirribala, Nglami, Murrungun, Wurramurra, Lalara, Wunungmurra, Mangurra and Wilfreds.

These traditional people have a strong relationship with the sea and coastal areas which feature strongly in their culture (dances, stories etc). The major language spoken in Numbulwar is Noongabuyu (Noon-ga-boy-you) along with creole. English is generally regarded as a third language in the community.

The amount of wilderness area is also great for birdwatchers and people who love plants. From islands, small pockets of monsoon vine forest, mangroves, grassy plains, melaleuca wetlands, healthlands, open woodlands to medium open forests and escaprment country provide an abundance of birdlife and plant life that has largely been unexplored.

For entering and living within Numbulwar, a permit is required. These can be sourced through the Northern Land Council. Visit their website at www.nlc.org.au Permission for entry is granted through the traditional land owners of this region.

Alcohol is strictly forbidden and it is an offence to store or consume alcohol within Numbulwar and surrounding areas. Diesel, Opal (Unleaded) & Avgas are the only form of fuel and we have introduced Opal, a non-sniffable form of unleaded petrol. Normal unleaded is also forbidden in the community which inhibits petrol sniffing.