AMATA

Amata (formerly Musgrave Park) is an Aboriginal community in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia, comprising one of the six main communities on “The Lands” (the others being Pukatja, Kaltjiti, Indulkana, Mimili and Pipalyatjara).

Amata is part of the Amata – Tjurma electorate. The people of the Tjurma Homelands regard themselves as a separate community. Against the trend for Aboriginal communities, the population of Amata grew for some years, from 180 residents in 1981, to more than 350 in the 1990s, to 536 in 1996.

Amata’s population was 455 as of the 2016 Australian census. 83.6% identified as Aboriginal, and 96% of the population were born in Australia. 364 (81%) spoke Pitjantjatjara language at home, and 3 the Warlpiri language. 53.6% of the workforce were unemployed.

The town of Amata services the Tjurma homelands and other nearby lands. The population of the “Amata – Tjurma Homelands” in the 2016 census was 429, all of whom were Aboriginal: 377 (89%) spoke Pitjantjatjara, and 3 Warlpiri. 62% of the work- force in the area were unemployed.

Amata was established under the name of “Musgrave Park” in 1961 by the South Australian State Government. The comm- unity was established to take the pressure off the increasing growth of Pukatja (formerly Ernabella). The aim was to use it to educate the Aboriginal people in how to work in the cattle industry. A school was opened seven years later, in 1968.

The settlement was funded by the federal government as an outstation (homeland) during the 1980s.