The 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk-Off was held on Sunday, commemorating when activist Vincent Lingiari and more than 200 Gurindji, Mudburra and Warlpiri people took a stand which marked a turning point in the Aboriginal land rights movement.

On 23 August 1966, stockmen, domestic workers and their families initiated strike action at Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory.

What began on that day as a protest about pay and conditions became a powerful movement for Aboriginal land rights, justice and self-determination.

After almost a decade of perseverance, the Gurindji people finally secured the return of a portion of their traditional lands.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, said the the Wave Hill Walk-Off was a defining moment in Australia's history and "a powerful demonstration of courage, leadership and determination".

"I was so proud to attend this year's Freedom Day Festival and take part in the Freedom Day march, walking in the footsteps of those brave men and women," Ms McCarthy said.

"The Gurindji people's fight for justice helped pave the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and changed the course of Australia's land rights movement."

The Wave Hill Walk-Off and the Gurindji land handback helped lay the foundations for the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA), landmark legislation which has transformed the recognition of land ownership in the Northern Territory.

The Government said as the 50th anniversary of the ALRA approaches, the legacy of the Wave Hill Walk-Off continues to be felt across the Northern Territory and beyond.

"I was only a little girl when my Yanyuwa family participated in the first land claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, but I remember the importance of those conversations about belonging, identity and Country," Ms McCarthy said.

"The Gurindji people's fight for justice helped make those opportunities possible for generations of Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory.

"As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, we honour the leadership and strength of the Gurindji people who made that achievement possible."

Since its introduction, the ALRA has resulted in significant areas of the Northern Territory being returned to Aboriginal ownership, established four Land Councils to represent Traditional Owners and provided a framework for First Nations people to protect culture, care for Country and shape their own futures.

"Sixty years ago, Gurindji workers walked off Wave Hill Station and began a movement that changed Australia," Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, said.

"The Wave Hill Walk-Off was a powerful stand for land, justice and dignity.

"We honour the courage of Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people, whose struggle helped pave the way for land rights across Australia."

The Government said 60 years on, the Wave Hill Walk-Off stands as a significant moment in Australia's history and a lasting testament to the strength, resilience and leadership of the Gurindji people.