Ngaanyatjarra Lands School - Kiwirrkurra Campus

Kiwirrkurra is one of the most remote communities in the world. Located in the Gibson

Desert in Western Australia, it lies 1200kms to the east of Port Hedland, and 700kms to the west of Alice Springs. Though located beyond the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, the Kiwirrkurra community is affiliated with the Ngaanyatjarra Council.

Kiwirrkurra was formed as a homeland for the Pintupi people after the first bore was drilled and equipped in 1983. These people had been moved to Papunya in the late 1950’s and 60’s but returned to Kiwirrkurra to live permanently on their traditional land.

Many of the elder Kiwirrkurra residents experienced their first contact with non-Indigenous persons during the Homeland Movement of the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Kiwirrkurra is now home to some 150 residents, about two-thirds of whom are under 30 years of age. Cultural activities are of great importance in the lives of resident