Wadeye

About Wadeye

Wadeye (pronounced WOD-ay-ə) is one of the Northern Territory's largest Indigenous communities, located approximately 394 kilometres south-west of Darwin in the West Daly Region. Formerly known as Port Keats, the community was originally established as a Roman Catholic mission in 1935 and was renamed Wadeye in 1978 when control passed to the local Kardu Numida Council. At the 2021 Census, Wadeye had a population of 1,924 people, making it one of the biggest Aboriginal communities in the NT. The township sits at a low elevation near the Daly River basin in tropical savanna country.

The community is predominantly Aboriginal, with the majority of residents identifying as Murrinh-Patha, the dominant language group of the region. Life in Wadeye reflects a deep cultural connection to Country, with traditional law, ceremony, and language remaining central to community identity. Essential services including a health centre, community schools, and a small retail hub operate within the township. Access to Wadeye is by a single unsealed road that can become impassable during the wet season, making the community partly dependent on air transport for supplies and medical services.

Wadeye falls under postcode 822 and is governed by West Daly Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Daly electorate.

Nearby Suburbs

• Acacia Hills, NT 822
• Angurugu, NT 822
• Anindilyakwa, NT 822
• Bees Creek, NT 822
• Belyuen, NT 822
• Black Jungle, NT 822