BACKGROUND
The 1946 Pilbara Strike was a threeyear,
Indigenous-led industrial action in Western Australia that was driven by Aboriginal leaders—Dooley Bin Bin, Clancy McKenna, and Peter Coppin—
alongside non-Indigenous ally Don McLeod.
This strike, spanning three years, saw nearly 800 Aboriginal stockmen, domestic workers, and station hands throughout the Pilbara region walk off more than 20 stations, demanding fair pay and basic rights. This marked the longest strike in Australian history and was a pivotal moment in the fight for Aboriginal rights, economic independence and land rights.
This exhibition is a celebration and acknowledgement of the monumental movement and the involvement that our artists’ families had in the strike. The respect and appreciation for the families that were involved is immense, and we recognise the impact that this has had for future generations.
