At a remote community store in north-east Arnhem Land, Australia, manager Monique Pajer says that fruit and vegetable sales are soaring — and it's all thanks to a new farm in the region.

The Yolŋu Yirrkala Centre (YYC) farm is located on the Gove Peninsula and was set up with support from Palladium through the Yolŋu Master Plan (YMP). It’s the first farm in decades on the Peninsula, which is situated over 600km outside of Darwin.

With the closure of Gove Mine coming up in 2030, the East Arnhem region, where Pajer lives, is anticipating a significant shift in its economic and social landscape. Stretching over 30,000 square kilometres, East Arnhem is home to an incredibly vibrant traditional Aboriginal culture.

To prepare for the potential impacts of mine closure after more than 50 years in operation, the YMP was designed to achieve economic empowerment for the Rirratjingu, Gumatj and surrounding Yolŋu communities, while supporting and ensuring food security in the region.

At the heart of this Plan is a commitment to re-establishing the Yirrkala Banana Farm into the new Yolŋu Yirrkala Centre (YYC), an agribusiness hub growing fresh produce and bushfoods, providing educational opportunities in agriculture, and supporting community health and well-being.
YMP and the farm don’t just represent jobs and a thriving economy post-mine closure, it’s also bringing in fresh vegetables and fruit to a remote area often plagued with freight costs. Without the massive supply chain, fresh produce can be made far more affordable for local communities.

The Garma Festival

This year, Palladium’s Meg Kauthen attended the 2024 Garma Festival, Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, to share learnings from the YMP project with a larger audience. While Garma is celebrated for its music, art, and culture, it also serves as an incredible platform to engage with both representatives from Federal and Territory government and corporate Australia on empowering Indigenous communities across the nation.

Over four days, Kauthen met with organisations such as Westpac Bank and AGL Energy to discuss how their sustainability strategies align with the YMP.
“I took visitors to the Yolngu Yirrkala Centre, where we are conducting fresh produce trials,” she explains. “Here they could touch and taste the food grown in the region, witnessing firsthand why this program is so vital for East Arnhem.”

“I also managed a stand offering the community fresh watermelon picked from the Centre,” adds Kauthen. “While community members came and ate, I listened to their incredible stories about the history of the region. A lot of these people used to work at the YYC when it was either a mission farm or banana farm. It was powerful to see their pride in learning the old farm might be re-established.”

While there, she also engaged with the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, and the National Indigenous Australian Agency to explore strategies for sustainable development as the Gove Peninsula transitions from mining to other economic opportunities.

Importantly, the festival provided a platform to discuss with Woolworths and Sodexo—the key suppliers of fresh produce to the region—the importance of sourcing local produce from environmental, food security, and economic perspectives.

Hearing directly from members of the community was key for Kauthen and her team. “I had the honour of sitting with Djapirri Mununggirritj, a Gumatj Elder, at an event,” she describes. “I paused to listen to her wise words about the importance of supporting the community and its children during this transitional period for the Yolngu people.”

“Her insights reinforced my belief that through work like this, we can help to create lasting, positive impact now and for generations to come.”


Learn more about YCC and contact info@thepalladiumgroup.com for more information.