About Beswick (Wugularr)
Getting to Beswick
Population
512 People reside in Beswick with a median age of 23 years old.
Outstation
Bishop Bore.
Languages
The people of Beswick speak Rembarranga, Kriol and English.
Contacts
Helen Hawkins – Beswick Council Service Manager (CSM)
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Phone: (08) 8975 4800
Joyce Torres – Government Engagement Coordinator (GEC)
Phone: (08) 8977 4021
Access
By road, the trip to Beswick takes approximately one and a half hours from Katherine on an all weather road. The single lane Central Arnhem Highway is sealed to the gateway of Beswick. Only during severe flooding which occurs only sporadically does the road become inaccessible. Please be advised that Beswick is a closed community; a Northern Land Council (NLC) permit is required to visit this community.
Beswick Services
Roper Gulf Regional Council provides a range of Local Government services in Beswick including road maintenance and repair, traffic management, rubbish collection, upkeep of parks, gardens and weed maintenance, community safety through Night Patrol, companion animal welfare and control, assets and fleet management, sport and recreation, governance support as well as providing access to Centrelink, community care programs for the elderly and the children on behalf of other government agencies. Roper Gulf Regional Council also operates the Remote Jobs and Communities Program(RJCP) in the community of Beswick.
Also located in Beswick are a Health Clinic, School, Store, Arts Centre, small motel and Police Station located at Maranboy.
There are currently two public telephones in Barunga and also Telstra 3G Telephone and Internet coverage. Digital television is connected to all homes and local radio is provided through Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Remote Indigenous Broadcast Services (RIBS). If you would like a message to be broadcasted on the radio in Beswick, please complete this form.
Local Government and Local Authority Meetings (Governance)
The Roper Gulf Regional Council provides local government in Beswick, which sits in the Nyirranggulung Ward. The Council’s Headquarters is located in Katherine, NT with a Service Delivery Centre located in Beswick.
An integral part of the community consultation process in the community of Beswick occurs through Beswick Local Authority Meetings. The Local Authority is made up of the Elected Member/s who sit on Council for the Nyirranggulung Ward and nominated representatives from the community. All other stakeholders in Beswick are also invited to attend the Local Authority Meetings. The resolutions made at these meetings form the basis of all planning made by Roper Gulf Regional Council.
Djilpin Art Centre
Opened in May 2007, Ghunmarn Culture Centre is situated in the Aboriginal community of Beswick (Wugularr) on the Central Arnhem Road, 107kms from Katherine by sealed road.
Ghunmarn Culture Centre features an excellent range of authentic, original art and artefacts: including didjeridus and carving, fibre art, paintings on canvas and bark, limited edition and fine prints.
Ghunmarn also houses the Blanasi Collection, a permanent exhibition of culturally significant art works. Originally developed as a touring exhibition called The Company of People by elder and didjeridu Master David Blanasi, the Collection features works on paper, canvas and bark by senior artists from the region.
You can visit the Collection (free of charge) and browse the large selection of artefacts for sale during the Centre’s opening hours:
- Visit the Djilpin Arts website
Location and Access
Ghunmarn Culture Centre at Beswick Community is located 118 km drive from Katherine on a bitumen road. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes by car. At limited times in the Wet Season, rising creeks can restrict access.
Djakanimba Pavilions.
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T: (08) 8977-4250
Beswick/Wugularr Community
Come and experience community life knowing that your room rate is going straight back into supporting remote Indigenous art, culture, training and employment.
