Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts: Lake Evella, East Arnhem Land, NT
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Aboriginal Corporation
In 1935, Harold Shepherdson spotted a lake from his Miles Hawk aeroplane and named it Lake Evella, after his wife Ella and the wife of a fellow missionary. The Yolngu name for the same place is Gapuwiyak: gapu (water), wiyak (salty). The community on its shores sits 220 kilometres west of Nhulunbuy on the land of the Gupapuyngu people in north-east Arnhem Land. In the 1960s, Elder David Burrumarra advocated for the community's creation as part of the outstation movement. Gapuwiyak became Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Aboriginal Corporation was incorporated in 2007, with master fibre artist and Elder Lucy Malirrimurruwuy Wanapuyngu among those who helped establish it. She described the vision simply: "This centre was my idea for the future. It was my idea for the people, all the young people."
In August 2025 that future took a new form. A $10.5 million purpose-built centre opened on 16 August on the shores of Lake Evella, built by Aboriginal-owned business Kennelly Constructions under the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme. The new building — designed within the tree lines to blend with its natural setting — includes a museum, gallery, artist studios, workshops, a café, offices, and a large deck overlooking the lake. The opening ceremony included a Buŋgul. Around the same time, Sonia Gurrpulan Guyula won the Telstra Emerging Artist Award at the 42nd NATSIAA, and Rena Ngalinggama Guyula received the Traditional Adornment Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards. The centre supports over 100 artists from Gapuwiyak and surrounding homelands. The community is home to 13 or more Yolngu groups; the main language is Djambarrpuyngu, a dialect of Yolngu Matha. Artists work in pandanus baskets, mats and fibre sculpture dyed with plant materials gathered on country; bark paintings; paintings on canvas and paper; carvings; larrakitj (hollow log memorial poles); yidaki; and jewellery.
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts at a glance
- Location: Shore of Lake Evella, Gapuwiyak, north-east Arnhem Land NT. 220km west of Nhulunbuy, 500km east of Darwin.
- Incorporated: 2007. New purpose-built centre opened August 2025.
- People: Gupapuyngu Traditional Owners; 13+ Yolngu groups. Main language Djambarrpuyngu (Yolngu Matha).
- Artists: 100+ from Gapuwiyak and surrounding homelands.
- Art forms: Pandanus baskets, fibre sculpture, mats, bark painting, canvas and paper, larrakitj, yidaki, carvings, jewellery.
- Facilities: Museum, gallery, artist studios, workshops, café, deck on Lake Evella.
- Permit: A Northern Land Council permit is required to visit the community.
