The Kimberley Land Council has opened a new office in Kununurra in Western Australia's East Kimberley, almost four decades after the organisation established its first base in the town in 1986.
Around 100 Traditional Owners, community members and partners gathered for the opening of the Birch-Gordon Building, which will serve as a base for the organisation's work across the East Kimberley.
The Kimberley Land Council (KLC), one of Australia's longest-running Aboriginal land rights organisations, works with Traditional Owners across the Kimberley on matters including Native Title, land management and cultural heritage.
The building was officially opened by Member for the Kimberley Divina D'Anna, who cut the ribbon alongside KLC chairman Anthony Watson.
Mr Watson said the moment reflected the long journey taken by Kimberley communities.
"This moment is not just about a building," he said.
"It represents the long journey that our members, Elders and communities across the region have taken together."
The new building is named in honour of two respected Kimberley leaders whose work helped shape the organisation and the broader movement for Aboriginal rights in the region.
One of those leaders, Mr Birch — widely known by many as "Chairman" — served the KLC as a director, chairperson and deputy chairperson over many years.
A former stockman who experienced firsthand the harsh conditions faced by Aboriginal workers in the pastoral industry, he later became a strong advocate for Native Title recognition and Aboriginal self-determination.
The building also honours Ms Gordon, who spent decades campaigning for the rights of Kimberley Aboriginal people.
She was involved in national movements including the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, protests against deaths in custody and the 1988 Bicentenary march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
She later served as a KLC director and held leadership roles across several Kimberley organisations.
Family members attended the opening ceremony, with Mr Birch's daughter speaking about the pride of seeing his legacy recognised through the building.
KLC chief executive Tyronne Garstone said the opening recognised both the organisation's history and its future.
"For nearly half a century, the KLC has worked alongside Traditional Owners across the east Kimberley," Mr Garstone said.
"Opening this new office is about more than a building. It represents an investment in the future — in the communities and Traditional Owners of this region, and in the role that KLC will play over the next 50 years."
The new office building was constructed by MGC Building & Maintenance Pty Ltd, a company established through the MG Developments Trust to create training and employment opportunities for MG community members in the East Kimberley.
