Tanami Downs
| Company type | Indigenous-owned cattle station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Northern Territory , Australia |
Area served | Tanami bioregion, Northern Territory |
| Owner | Mungkurrupa Land Trust |
Tanami Downs, previously known as Mongrel Downs, is a cattle station owned by Indigenous Australians located in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Geography
Situated roughly north-west of Alice Springs, Tanami Downs spans an area of about in the Northern Territory. It is positioned within the Tanami bioregion, which is known for its arid spinifex grasslands and hot climate. Although the environment is semi-arid and susceptible to drought, the property features mountainous zones with permanent water sources as well as northern plains that are well-suited for cattle grazing.
History and administration
The Indigenous claim to this land was formalized through the Tanami Downs Land Claim submitted in June 1989, with legal recognition under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 granted by early 1992. The traditional owners officially received title to the land on 21 December 1992.
Ownership resides with the Mungkurrupa Land Trust, which acts on behalf of the traditional custodians. Governance of the station is conducted by a board comprising traditional owners, an independent pastoral representative, and an agricultural expert.
Among the prominent traditional owners are Indigenous artists Biddy Rockman Napaljarri and Peggy Rockman Napaljarri. Additionally, artist and writer Kim Mahood spent her childhood at Tanami Downs; the station plays a significant role in her works Craft for a Dry Lake (2000) and Position Doubtful: mapping landscapes and memories (2016).