Balgo, previously known as Balgo Hills and Balgo Mission, is a community in Western Australia that is connected to both the Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert. It is located in the Shire of Halls Creek, off the Tanami Road, and was founded by German missionaries in 1939.
During the 1930s, Fr. Ernst Worms and Bishop Raible explored the Kimberley region, south of Halls Creek to Lake Gregory, which is now the Tanami Desert. They identified possible mission sites as Aboriginal communities travelled traditional routes, such as the Canning stock route. Despite facing challenges with existing stations and opposition from the Chief Protector, they sought a new location.
They secured 5 million acres for a 'native mission' at Billiluna station. They chose Bishopdale, located 60 km south of Lake Gregory, and prepared to move from Rockhole near Moola Bulla. The journey, known as an 'Abrahamic cattle drive,' saw Fr. Bleischwitz and others navigate desert hardships, including heat waves and water scarcity, and settle temporarily at Tjaluwan.
During their journey, they had to herd livestock, repair stations, and deal with extreme weather conditions. Because of water shortages, they were forced to split into camps, but they persisted in their search for a suitable site, eventually establishing a presence at Doomendora and Comet before finally settling at Tjaluwan for a few months.
The missionaries' experiences were challenging, including issues such as sheep being speared, wartime restrictions limiting their movements, and difficulty integrating into and understanding the Aboriginal communities' perspectives. After various relocations and struggles, they eventually settled in 1942 at Balgo (Old Balgo) for several years, where they faced cultural differences, enforced tribal laws, and established vital facilities like housing, schools, and medical assistance.
The mission's journey continued, marked by various shifts in management, challenges with land boundaries, and attempts at self-sufficiency through enterprises like Kingfisher Aviation. Changes in government policies in the 1970s and 1980s influenced missions' autonomy, and Balgo eventually transitioned to indigenous control in 1983. Subsequent efforts were made toward self-management across the communities in the region.
Distance from Perth: 2,906.1 km
Population: 472
Postcode: 6770
Founded: 1939