Ngumpin, kartiya karru-la jintaku-la - blackfella, whitefella unite as one. - Vincent Lingiari
The Royal Australian Mint commemorates two defining milestones in Australia's journey towards reconciliation, with the release of a new circulating 50 cent coin titled Unity - Gurindji Wave Hill Walk Off 1966 and Birthplace of Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
Marking the 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk Off and the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the coin celebrates the courage, resilience and determination of the Gurindji people, whose actions helped change the nation forever.
Australians are encouraged to check your change for the new commemorative coin, which will enter circulation nationally from today. The design will also be available as a collectible coin-in-card and a silver proof coin.
The Wave Hill Walk Off, led by Vincent Lingiari in 1966, began as a protest against unfair wages and living conditions on Wave Hill Station. What followed became one of the most significant chapters in Australia's land rights movement. The Gurindji people stood against injustice despite enormous personal risk. They believed that their land, culture and dignity were worth fighting for.
Their courage over nine long years changed Australia forever.
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, the Hon Dr. Andrew Leigh MP, said although the story of the Gurindji Strike and the 1975 hand-back had been shared in various ways over the following decades, this coin release told that story in its entirety.
"This coin honours a defining moment in Australia's history and recognises the extraordinary courage of the Gurindji people. The dual anniversaries in 2026 provide an important opportunity to continue that storytelling.
"What resonates most strongly is the human story - the families who walked away from certainty into uncertainty because they believed their land was worth fighting for."
"When holding this coin in their hands, we hope Australians will reflect on the power of unity, resilience and determination, and on the enduring legacy of those who stood up for justice and changed the path our nation was taking."
At the heart of this release is a powerful coin design that captures the journey from protest to recognition.
The design depicts the 1966 Wave Hill Walk Off and the path it forged towards the 1975 handover of land, and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act passed a year later. In the foreground, a gathering of Gurindji people stand together beneath the hot sun, their shadows stretching across the landscape as they set forth on the walk-off. Looking towards distant hills, the horizon transforms into the hand of Vincent Lingiari as he receives the hand-back of land on behalf of the Gurindji people.
The merging of hand and landscape symbolises the enduring connection between Traditional Owners and Country. Across the sky, the words of Vincent Lingiari shine as an everlasting reminder of the power of his leadership and vision.
The word UNITY is embedded within the overlapping shadows of the Gurindji community, reflecting the collective strength that comes from standing together in pursuit of justice.
Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation Director and Traditional Owner Roslyn Frith said the coin was reflective of the historic events she had been part of as a child.
"Unity is Gurindji's strength. This coin design represents the proud Gurindji people's story, history and legacy. We are commemorating the past while celebrating the present as one. The Gurindji people have come a long way and as Vincent Lingiari said, 'let us be mates'," Ms Frith said.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, and Senator for the Northern Territory, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy said the Wave Hill Walk Off was a turning point in the Aboriginal land rights movement. "The Wave Hill Walk Off in 1966 laid the foundation for Aboriginal land rights across the Northern Territory and the country. It was a defining moment in history that led to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ten years later."
"This coin recognises the bravery of the Gurindji people, led by Vincent Lingiari, and tells a story of collective strength, solidarity and unity."
Check your change from today to find this special commemorative coin. Collectors can also secure the coin as a coin-in-card and a silver proof edition through the Royal Australian Mint and its authorised distributors.
About the Royal Australian Mint
Australia is a nation of collectors, and coins are among its most collected items. The Royal Australian Mint sits at the centre of this national passion as an award-winning, world-class organisation and a global leader in the minting industry. The Mint produces circulating coins for Australia and other countries, collectible and investment coins for domestic and international customers, and custom-made medals, medallions and tokens for individual or corporate clients. It is also a national cultural attraction that educates millions of Australians and international visitors about the history of Australia's decimal currency, and the significance and value of coins.
