The event and exhibition will be held in the historic Kanowna Hall in the Loopline precinct. Entry through the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre in the Boulder Railway Station building.

A first contact period refers to a first meeting between two cultural groups. In the Goldfields region of WA, this refers to the period when the European settlers and the Goldfields First Nations peoples first met.

The Goldfields region remained untouched by European settlers until Roe’s expedition through the region in 1864. This is considered to be the first period of contact. It ended eons of stability of between 40,000 and 60,000 years where only First Nations peoples inhabited the Goldfields region.

Some Goldfields First Nations groups remained uncontacted and living on their homeland up until 1986.

In the Great Sandy desert region, a group of Manyjilyjarra people made first contact in 1964.

In Wiluna, Warri and Yatungka, who were also Manyjilyjarra, remained uncontacted till 1977 when they were removed from their homeland and taken into Wiluna.

In 1986, the Rictor family were living on their homeland in the Goldfields and were located by relatives to be taken to Yakadunya. Noli Rictor is considered to be the youngest ‘First Contact’ person in Western Australia as he was around 21 years of age when removed from the bush.

This exhibition highlights the fact that the ‘first contact period’ of history is drawing to a close, as the numbers of people who were born and raised in the bush without European contact, are now numbered in the few.

The end of the Western Australian First Contact period of history is of monumental, national significance. The Manyjilyjarra people and the Rictor family were the last people in Australia to live traditionally in the bush without European contact. As their numbers dwindle, the initial colonising period of Australian history will draw to a close, and people whose lives were untouched by westernisation will no longer exist. All First Nations peoples will have been born with European contact and influence, whether in the bush, missions, hospitals, towns, reserves or houses. Australia will never again have people who lived fully traditional lives on their land, without any European influence.

Come and read stories of Goldfields First contact peoples and contemplate the era that is drawing to a close.

Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre
Boulder Train Station : Loopline Park
Hamilton St,
BOULDER WA 6432