CANBERRA.- A powerful new exhibition commemorating the 1966 Wave Hill Walk-off opened today (15 August) at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD).

Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla – From the darkness into the light unites all ten hand-painted banners for the first time in years, telling the story of a pivotal moment in the Aboriginal land rights movement.

Developed by Midpul Art Gallery at Charles Darwin University in partnership with Karungkarni Art and Culture, this striking exhibition tells the story of the Gurindji and neighbouring peoples, who on 23 August 1966 – led by Vincent Lingiari AM – walked off Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory. Their demands for fair working conditions and the return of their traditional lands sparked a landmark shift, leading to the first handback of Aboriginal land on 16 August 1975 and paving the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

MoAD Senior Curator Anne-Marie Condé said the exhibition celebrates a legacy of resistance, justice and connection to Country.

“These hand-painted textile banners were created in 2000 to share the community’s own account of the historic struggle to reclaim their traditional lands. Many of the 35 Gurindji people involved in the banner-making project were participants in the walk-off,” Ms Condé said.

“At some stage, one banner – Ngumpittu nguwula junypa wanyjarnana (Two young men dancing) – went missing from the collection. In July 2025, artists and community members came together in Daguragu and Kalkarindji and worked to reproduce the missing banner.

“This recreation allowed the collection to be restored and created a new opportunity for younger generations to engage with the Wave Hill Walk-off story.”

The recreation of Ngumpittu nguwula junypa wanyjarnana (Two young men dancing) was made possible with the support of MoAD.

Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla – From the darkness into the light is free to visit and will be on display at MoAD until late 2026.