The first native title holders recognised under the Native Title Act today achieved another milestone when a compensation agreement was finalised for 12.4ha of land at Crescent Head, on the north coast of New South Wales.

The Dunghutti People’s native title was determined by Justice John Lockhart on 7 April 1997 after an agreement in October 1996 was made between the NSW State Government and the Dunghutti people.

The native title agreement was signed at the Sydney office of the National Native Title Tribunal in 1996: pictured after the signing are the Tribunal President Robert French (left), Dunghutti applicant Mary-Lou Buck and the NSW Minister for Lands Kim Yeadon. Parties to the native title agreement after the agreement was signed in October 1996. The native title determination followed in April 1997.  Dunghutti applicant Mary-Lou Buck and the NSW Minister for Lands Kim Yeadon sign the historic native title agreement in October 1996.                                              NSW Lands Minister                                    Tony Kelly.

The determination of the native title application, lodged with the Tribunal in 1994, was the first time a state government had agreed to recognise native title on mainland Australia.

The native title determination by the Federal Court applied for just six hours—on the same day the NSW Government moved to compulsorily acquire the native title rights, as previously agreed by the claimants.

The NSW Government had agreed to buy the 12.4ha of Crescent Head land, covered by the Dunghutti People’s native title claim, and to pay the Dunghutti People compensation, part of which was settled and paid in 1997.

The details of the final compensation instalment have now been agreed, with the NSW Government paying the Dunghutti People $6.1 million compensation for their surrender of native title over land to be used for a residential development.

NSW Lands Minister Tony Kelly presented Dunghutti Elders Aboriginal Corporation representatives with the payment at a ceremony at Kempsey.

“The NSW government looks forward to working cooperatively with the Dunghutti People on the proposed development,” Mr Kelly said.

“This agreement demonstrates the cooperative manner of all parties to resolve native title claims without extensive litigation.”

The Tribunal’s acting NSW/ACT state manager Amy Barrett said it was pleasing to see this part of the original native title process reach its conclusion.

“The Dunghutti People will always be remembered as the first people to achieve a native title consent determination in Australia,” Ms Barrett said.

“The resolution of this final aspect of the original agreement is an important event and I congratulate them on achieving this conclusion to their historic native title determination.”

• See the links on this page for more about the Dunghutti people and native title.
•  Crescent Head street and regional maps courtesy of the NSW Land and Property Management Authority.