Place Names Register Extract
Gunbalanya
If you know of any information about this place name which does not appear in this extract, please let the Place Names Committee know by completing a submission form.
Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Gunbalanya |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Major |
| Place Id | 329 |
| Place Type | Aboriginal Community |
| Status | Registered |
| Date Registered | 10 October 2001 |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -12° 19' S (Decimal degrees -12.324) | |
| Longitude: 133° 03' E (Decimal degrees 133.056) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | View in Bushtel | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| Gunbalanya | |
| Land Council | Northern Land Council |
| Resource Centre | Managed by Local Government |
| Local Government Area | |
| West Arnhem Shire Council | |
| Alternate Names | |
| Kunbarllanjnja | |
| Oenpelli | |
| History/Origin | Gunbalunya is a mostly Aboriginal community, east of Jabiru in western Arnhem Land and 320km east of Darwin. Originally established by Paddy Cahill as his homestead in 1906 when he took up a Pastoral Lease in the area and established a diary herd there. Cahill named his property Oenpelli, an anglisised pronounciation of the name Un-balange. In 1916 Gilruth's administration acquired Cahill herd and employed his as manager. In October 1925 the Church Mission Society took up a 2000 sq km lease in the area and managed the community until the 1970s when the Gunbalanya Council Inc. was registered and took over management of the community following the Government's policy of self-determination. The Kunbarllanjnja Community Government Council was established in 1995. In 2001, following a request from the Council the name Oenpelli was changed to Gunbalanya, a name the council considered easier to pronounce than the more traditional Kunbarllanjnja. |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 10/10/2001 | NTG40 |