Warmun

History

The Gija people are the traditional owners of the area, having inhabited it for thousands of years. Its name in Gija language is Warrmarn. The area was settled by European pastoralists in the 19th century but the community was established in 1901 when the state government built a ration depot at Turkey Creek. In March 1915, Michael Rhatigan, a telegraph linesman based at Turkey Creek, together with his two Aboriginal employees, Joe Wynne and Nipper, shot dead twelve Gija people at Mistake Creek in the East Kimberley, in an incident which became known as the Mistake Creek massacre. They initially rushed an Aboriginal camp killing six men, burning their remains. Six women were later rounded up and shot dead. A police squad was sent to track down and capture Rhatigan and his accomplices. Rhatigan and Nipper were arrested, while Wynne was shot dead by police. A coroner's inquest held at Turkey Creek acquitted Rhatigan of any wrongdoing, while Nipper was ordered to face trial for the murder of eight people. Nipper was found not guilty and was released. He later worked at the police stables in Perth. According to local Aboriginal oral history, the massacre was in reprisal for the killing of Rhatigan's cow; the cow was later claimed to have been found alive after the massacre had taken place. Rhatigan remained a telegraph linesman at Turkey Creek until his death in 1920. His son, John Rhatigan, became a long serving Labor Party politician in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. Devastating flash flooding occurred in March 2011, affecting most of the houses, the school, the clinic, and the Warmun Art Centre, including its new gallery. At that time, Turkey Creek ran through the centre of the community. The whole community was evacuated, but there were no deaths, and…

Most-observed species

• Black Kite

  Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  22
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  18
• Great Bowerbird

  Chlamydera nuchalis (Jardine & Selby, 1830) · Aves
  16
• Little Corella

  Cacatua sanguinea Gould, 1843 · Aves
  15
• Whistling Kite

  Haliastur sphenurus (Vieillot, 1818) · Aves
  15
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  14
• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  14
• Little Friarbird

  Philemon citreogularis (Gould, 1837) · Aves
  13

Most recent

• M 4.4 — 2024-02-27
  118 km SSW of Kununurra, Australia
• M 4.1 — 2024-01-07
  83 km NNW of Halls Creek, Australia
• M 4.1 — 2021-08-25
  129 km WSW of Kununurra, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2007-08-24
  97 km S of Kununurra, Australia
• M 2.9 — 2006-05-26
  98 km S of Kununurra, Australia
• M 3 — 2005-11-15
  78 km S of Kununurra, Australia