History of West Daly
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Our History
Strengthening Local Voices
The West Daly Regional Council was formed following a landmark gathering of clan groups from Wadeye, Palumpa, and Peppimenarti. At this meeting, community leaders expressed to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and the Member for Daly their shared goal, to have a stronger voice and greater authority over how essential services were delivered in their region.
Local Empowerment
This commitment to community self-determination led to the creation of
Local Authorities, giving residents a formal role in shaping the future of their communities. These authorities help develop Council plans and budgets, identify priorities for local services and infrastructure, and monitor Council spending to ensure it delivers genuine benefits for their people.
A Milestone for the Region
The West Daly Regional Council officially began operations on
1 July 2014,
with members sworn in during a ceremony held in
Peppimenarti on 4 July 2014,
a proud milestone marking a new era of regional empowerment. Since then, the Council has remained focused on advocating for community needs, supporting local initiatives, and fostering development that reflects the values and aspirations of the West Daly region.
Our Brand
Inspired by Culture and Connection
The West Daly Regional Council logo was inspired by a design created by
Annunciata Wilson from Peppimenarti. Each community within the region is represented by the colours of its traditional dance group:
Peppimenarti
Red (Wangga)
Nganmarriyanga
(Palumpa)
Yellow (Lirrga)
Wadeye
Black (Thanta)
In the past, message sticks were used to share important news - such as ceremonies or the passing of a loved one - between communities. Marks on the sticks represented the days it would take to travel by foot, symbolising both communication and connection across Country.
Our Wards
Thamurrurr / Pindi Pindi Ward
Wadeye, also known as Port Keats, is one of Australia’s largest remote Aboriginal communities, located approximately
420 kilometres south-west of Darwin.
Nganmarriyanga Ward
Palumpa sits roughly
353 kilometres south-west of Darwin, along Port Keats Road between the communities of Peppimenarti and Wadeye.
