It is located within Arnhem Land, some 50 kilometres north of Jabiru. Going back centuries, the Macassan (Indonesian) fishermen used to visit the northern coast of Australia in boats called praus. They were particularly interested in trepang which was the main incentive for their travels in this area.

Over the years they established a relationship with the Aborigines who helped them in the processing of the trepang. It was then sent by the Macassan to China, where it was believed to have aphrodisiac qualities and was also used in numerous soups. These visits in the Arnhem area led to a system of barter developing between the Aborigines and Macassan.

Indeed, the Macassan had quite an influence on the Aborigines in Arnhem Land and this can be seen in languages and even in the Aboriginal paintings, some of which depict praus, the boats in which the Macassan travelled.

In 1931 Arnhem Land was proclaimed an Aboriginal Reserve. This decision was arrived at based on a report by J.W. Bleakley, who argued that the Aborigines in the area should be protected from contact with 'civilised' society as he felt that this would have detrimental effects on them.

Oenpelli itself is located by a freshwater billabong in an area known as Gunbalanya - this was the Gunwinggu version of Unbalanj, a word from the Mengerr language. Europeans in the area pronounced Oenpelli and the name has stuck since then.

P.P. King explored and named the Alligator Rivers in 1818. The explorer Leichhardt would also have passed through the area, quite close to where Oenpelli is on his journey from Moreton to Victoria in the Territory. Back in the 1880s, Paddy Cahill set up a cattle station, building his homestead at Oenpelli. It was bought out by the government in 1916, who did not hold on to it for terribly long. They in turn offered it to the Anglican Church Missionary Society. The Reverend A.J.Dyer and his wife were the first missionaries to arrive there in 1925.


Natural Attractions

Near Oenpelli is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Northern Territory. There are five rock shelters and some of the stone tools that have been dug up here date back some 22,000 years. These findings have helped to reveal much about the lives of these early Aborigines. (Permits are required to travel in Arnhem Land).

Not terribly far from Oenpelli, to the north, is the Gurig National Park and Coburg Marine Park. This expanse of land is right at the very top of the Territory. Don't forget that you require a permit to travel in Arnhem Land.

0 of a possible 0 points from 0 votes