Derby

Art in Derby

The Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Cultural Centre is a creative hub for the Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbal tribes, who make up the Mowanjum community outside Derby, Western Australia. These three language groups are united by their belief in the Wandjina as a sacred spiritual force and the creators of the land. They are the custodians of Wandjina law and iconography.

Western Australia's largest traditional Aboriginal performance event

The Mowanjum Festival is an amazing afternoon of workshops, followed by an evening of Junba under the stars.

Where: Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre, Gibb River Road, Derby.

Festival-goers will continue to learn about and appreciate the culture of the Ngarinyin, Woddordda and Wunambal peoples. The performance and revival of Junba, traditional song and dance, is significant for our community, ensuring the passing on of knowledge and culture to the next generation.

Derby is the place to go when you wish to travel the Gibb River Road.

Drive for a few hours to discover wilderness retreats, gorges and national parks, station stays and camping on the Gibb River Road. The first gorge turnoff leads you to Windjana Gorge some 145kms from Derby. Keep driving to Tunnel Creek, Lennard gorge, Bell Gorge, Galvans Gorge, Manning Gorge, Manning Falls and Mt Barnett.

Windjana Gorge

Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) National Park is located on the Leopold Downs Road that connects the Great Northern Highway with the Gibb River Road. The turn off is very close to Derby or you can come via Fitzroy Crossing. The walls on both sides of Windjana Gorge are 30 to 100 metres high and the gorge is over 100 metres wide.