Mount Margaret Aboriginal Community

Mount Margaret Community (formerly Mount Margaret Mission) is a medium-sized Aboriginal community 20 km south west of Laverton in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Laverton.

Mount Margaret
Western Australia
Mount Margaret
Coordinates28.794°0′S 122.186°0′E
Postcode(s)6440
Location20 km (12 mi) south west of Laverton
LGA(s)Shire of Laverton
State electorate(s)Kalgoorlie
Federal Division(s)O'Connor

The community is managed through its incorporated body, Aboriginal Movement for Outback Survival Aboriginal Corporation, incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 on 12 September 1997.

History

The site of the community that is now Mount Margaret was founded as a mission by the United Aborigines Mission in 1921, and soon drew Aboriginal people from surrounding areas.[1][2] By 1928, after the mission became the central rationing station for the whole district, the WA Government moved the Mount Margaret mission further east.[3]

The process of establishing formal independence from the United Aborigines Mission was concluded in 1976, with the Aboriginal Movement for Outback Survival Aboriginal Corporation, an association formed by past and present Mount Margaret residents taking over responsibility for the community.[4]

The Hospital building has been assessed for heritage value.[5]

Native title

The community is located within the Registered Nyalpa Pirniku (WAD91/2019) Native Title claim area.

Education

Children of school age at Mount Margaret attend The Mount Margaret Remote Community School. The school caters for K to Year 7. Aboriginal English is the first language of most of the students, but there are some small cohorts for whom Ngaanyatjarra or Wangkatha is their first language. The traditional language, Wangkatha, is taught as a subject. The large school playground is enhanced by mature trees and neat garden and lawn areas. The students share the responsibility for maintaining the attractive environment.

Town planning

Mt Margaret Layout Plan No.1 has been prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements. Layout Plan No.1 was endorsed by the community on 14 August 2001 and the WAPC on 9 October 2001.[6]

Notes
  1. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/103601/20090803-1610/www.det.wa.edu.au/education/abled/apac/districts/goldfields/north.html
  2. Morgan, M. R. (Margaret R.) (1986), A drop in a bucket : the Mount Margaret story, United Aborigines Mission , 1986, ISBN 978-0-949181-01-5
  3. Bennett, M. M. (Mary Montgomerie) (1935), Teaching the Aborigines : data from Mount Margaret Mission, W.A, s.n, retrieved 31 December 2013
  4. John E Stanton The Mt Margaret Community pp 119-125 ofBerndt, Catherine H. (Catherine Helen), 1918-1994; Berndt, Ronald Murray, 1916- (1980), Aborigines of the west : their past and their present (2nd rev ed.), University Of Western Australia Press, ISBN 978-0-85564-189-4CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Jean, Amanda; Goulder, Sandra; Bonney, Majorie; Heritage Council of Western Australia; Mt Margaret (AMOS) Aboriginal Corporation (1999), Mt Margaret Mission Hospital : Mt Margaret (AMOS) Aboriginal Corporation via Laverton, Western Australia : a conservation plan, The Council, retrieved 31 December 2013
  6. The Layout Plan map-set can be viewed at http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/communitylayoutplans/2715.asp
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