Address & Contact
Central Reserve
Western Australia
Phone: +618 8956 7353
Email: N/A
Web: https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au/index.php/our-region/community-information/wanarn
Originally Wanarn was an outstation of
Warburton and then it became a community and
home to most of the older people of the local families and a handful of children. It is located 15km west of the Great Central Highway. Wanarn is located in the "tali" (sandhill) country 100km north of
Warburton. The community is on the dreaming track of the "Kungkarungkalpa" or Seven Sisters. All of its residents are Ngaanyatjarra speaking people. Like other small communities in this region most of its residents lived on the
Warburton Mission or later at the Docker River settlement. Some travelled as far afield as the Goldfields region to obtain work but ultimately returned to their traditional country. The close proximity of
Warburton Mission allowed many to make frequent journeys back and
forth. The original road from
Warburton to
Alice Springs was via Linton
Bore, east of
Warburton Community. Concerns regarding unauthorised access by tourists in the vicinity of Linton
Bore resulted in traditional owners closing this section of the road to the public. In the mid 1970's a cutline was made between
Warburton and Giles that could be used by the public as an alternative to the old
Alice Springs (via Linton
Bore) road. This in turn allowed much easier access to the country between Warakurna and
Warburton. The community of Wanarn which is located halfway between Warakurna and
Warburton was then established in the late eighties. Residents came from Docker River,
Warburton and Warakurna. The community was incorporated and became a member of the Ngaanyatjarra Council in 1989.