Wugularr, (pronounced: woo-gah-larr),[2] known previously by its non-Aboriginal name Beswick, is a small community in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located 116 kilometres (72 mi) south-east of Katherine and 31 kilometres (19 mi) from the Barunga Community.[3] It was formally renamed in August 2024 by the request of the Bagala (Jawoyn) people who are its Traditional Owners.[2][4]
The name comes is a Jawoyn language word which refers to the Country where the land sits. The earlier name, Beswick, was adopted from the former pastoral lease of the area which was 'Beswick Station'.[4]
A DC-3 (Dakota) belonging to the Dutch Air Force crash-landed near Beswick (or Beswick Creek, now Barunga?) in 1947.[5] All passengers survived, with four crew travelling about 100 miles (160 km) down the Katherine River to get help. After running out of food they killed one of two dogs they had with them.[6] The wings were eventually removed and the remains of the plane were towed to Katherine.[7]
The community has had books published about local stories,[8] while the NITV children's television show Barrumbi Kids was filmed there in 2021.[9]
Notes
edit- ^ "2016 Census QuickStats". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ a b "'Great importance': Why Beswick, Pigeon Hole has been officially renamed". Northern Territory News. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Wugularr (Beswick)". Indigenous.gov.au. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Wugularr (Aboriginal Community)". NT Place Names Register. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "Dutch Dakota Crashed East of Katherine Gorge: Search Party on Way". Northern Standard. Vol. 2, no. 14. Northern Territory, Australia. 3 April 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Crew Of Crashed Dakota Eat". Northern Standard. Vol. 2, no. 14. Northern Territory, Australia. 3 April 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 10 August 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Evans, Ted (1949). "Aeroplane". Territory Stories (Photograph). hdl:10070/6369.
- ^ Thompson, Liz (2010). The mermaid and serpent. Pearson Australia. ISBN 978-1-4425-2603-7.
- ^ Knox, David. "NITV greenlights new kids' series | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au/.