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23 August 1966: Wave Hill walk-off
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
On this day, 23 August 1966, 200 Gurindji Aboriginal workers at the Wave Hill pastoral station in Australia walked out on strike for equal pay with white workers. At the time, it was against the law for Aboriginal workers to be paid more than a specific amount.
After walking out, the workers set up a camp, and kept up their strike for nine years. They received support from other workers, who donated supplies and money to a strike fund.
Over time, the demands of the strikers escalated, to include demands for the return of their ancestral lands, from British aristocrat Lord Vestey.
They were eventually successful in being given back a proportion of the land.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9547/wave-hill-aboriginal-strike
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
After walking out, the workers set up a camp, and kept up their strike for nine years. They received support from other workers, who donated supplies and money to a strike fund.
Over time, the demands of the strikers escalated, to include demands for the return of their ancestral lands, from British aristocrat Lord Vestey.
They were eventually successful in being given back a proportion of the land.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9547/wave-hill-aboriginal-strike
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
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