Walpo (wood and bark raft)
DateBefore 1983
Object number00004997
NameRaft
MediumWood, bark, rope (natural fibres)
DimensionsOverall: 225 x 2160 x 700 mm, 21.5 kg
Vessel Dimensions: 2.16 m × 0.7 m (7.09 ft × 2.3 ft)
Vessel Dimensions: 2.16 m × 0.7 m (7.09 ft × 2.3 ft)
ClassificationsVessels and fittings
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionWalpo made by Darwin Moodoonuthi on Mornington Island consisting of five large branches and five smaller branches tied together with natural fibre rope. A layer of bark is laid on top of the base.
HistoryThe Kaiadilt people's traditional lands comprised the South Wellesley Islands, Bentinck Island, Sweers Island, several smaller islands, and sometimes Allen Island in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria. After being removed from their country in 1948, most Kaiadilt people now live on Mornington Island, traditionally Lardil territory. In 1986, an outstation was established at Nyinyilki on the southeastern corner of Bentinck Island and part of the Kaiadilt population returned.
Walpo sizes varied and were used mainly to travel short distances between islands. They were paddled using a pilir (or bilirr) a paddle made from the stem and buttress of the root of a mangrove tree. Walpos were unstable and needed great skill to use them at sea. They also became regularly waterlogged and needed to be dried out on land which prevented them being used to cover vast distances of open water. While they were known to cover at least 12 kilometres between islands, the instability of a walpo meant the mainland or nearby Mornington Island, were not regularly or deliberately visited by Kaiadilt people using them.
SignificanceDarwin Moodoonuthi was a Kaiadilt leader and long-time advocator of the Land Rights movement to return Kaiadilt people to their traditional homeland on Bentink Island.
