Warmun

Warmun is an Aboriginal community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The town mostly consists of a roadhouse used as a stop off point for travellers heading to Purnululu National Park. The Aboriginal managed community has a population of around 400 people and is renowned for producing a number of internationally recognised artists.

Warmun used to be called Turkey Creek after a nearby waterway, but is now named in the local Gija peoples language.

History
Warmun's beginnings were far from auspicious. Turkey Creek was established in 1901 as a government depot to distribute rations to Aboriginal people forced off their land by pastoralists in the late 1880s. Many were forced onto government cattle stations through government coercion where conditions were little better. In the 1970s, some Gija people, fed up with dispossession and poverty, asked for government assistance to establish a community at Turkey Creek. Slowly, Gija people related by language gravitated in from the stations and settled into small camps till a permanent settlement was established in 1977. It is now one of the largest Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley.

The Warmun community has strived to maintain a strong culture and tradition. The community owned roadhouse and Art Center are an important part of enabling their social and economic independence. The original Art Centre was established in 1998 inside the former post office until it moved to a modern custom built space in 2007.

Warmun Aboriginal Art
Art in Warmun arose in the late 1970s from the traditional Girrirr Girirr dance ceremony that was derived from stories told by preeminent Warmun artist Rover Thomas. As a forerunner of present-day art, he began painting plywood boards, that were held behind the heads of dancers, with designs imparted to him by the spirit of a relative who described her journeys in the afterlife. His masterful paintings depicting his particular vision of the Kimberley landscape were noticed by collectors and his reputation as an artist in his own right grew. The state gallery in Perth holds many of his finest works. Other artists, including Shirley Purdie, Queenie McKenzie and Patrick Mung Mung have since followed Rover Thomas to gain international recognition as leading Indigenous artists.

Climate
During the dry season average maximum temperatures reach 35°C and hit a humid 40°C during the wet.

By car
Warmun is on the Great Northern Highway, 200 km south of Kununurra, 860 km east of Broome and 160 km north of Halls Creek.

By bus

 * From Broome – Greyhound make a daily run to Warmun (Their schedule insist on calling it Turkey Creek), taking about 12 hours to arrive at 6AM.
 * From Kununurra – A daily Greyhound bus takes a little over 2 hours, arriving inconveniently at 8PM.

By plane
Warmun has an airstrip enabling the possibility of getting a charter flight from Kununurra or Broome. Although, unless you have a lot of money and very little time you might as well stick to the road.

Get around
The town doesn't extend much further a few steps from than the roadhouse. The community itself is across the road from the roadhouse but travellers are prohibited from entering without an invitation.

Buy
The roadhouse has a general store with basic supplies.

Eat
Typical takeaway food is available at the roadhouse.

Drink
Warmun is a dry community therefore alcohol is not available for sale and it would be respectful to keep your beer drinking for elsewhere.

Connect
As of March 2024, Warmun and its approach highway have no mobile signal.

Go next

 * Kununurra – A comfortable base from which to explore the many natural attractions and eat a decent meal
 * Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle Range) – A striking jumble of striped sandstone domes is one place that truly deserves to be described as a must see.