Roper River Ngukurr Paintings

Roper River is one of the largest rivers in the Northern Territory, extending east for over 500 km through south-east Arnhem Land to meet the sea in Limmen Bight on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The river is navigable for about 145 km until the tidal limit at Roper Bar, and forms the southern boundary of the region of Arnhem Land.

Ngukurr is an Aboriginal Community built on hilly ground alongside the Roper River, and is three hours by road from the nearest town of Katherine. During the Wet Season, from December to May, access is limited either by air or by boat. The community of about 800 people comes from nine different language groups, many of whom are displaced from their ancestral lands. The community grew out of the Roper River mission, established in 1908 by the Church Missionary Society as a refuge for dispossessed Aboriginal people. Ngukurr has been administered since 1968 by an Aboriginal council of elders and landowners.

The first paintings from Ngukurr date from 1987, and since then the community has emerged with its own vibrant and dynamic art style, reflective of the artists’ different histories and groundings in culture. Well known artists from the region include Gertie Huddleston, Angelina George, Amy Johnson, Ginger Riley, Willie Gudapi, Barney Ellaga and Djambu Barra Barra.

Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links

Djambu Barra Barra

Edward Blitner

Artists from Ngukurr