PILBARA ELDER REFLECTS ON STATION LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF THE 1946 STRIKE
BY KALMIA SAMBO
Pilbara elder Marshall Smith says the stories of the past are still shaping the present.
Born on Banjima Country around Mount Bruce, Mr Smith grew up working on stations, learning the land and building lifelong connections.
“We were 12, 13-year-old young stockmen… wearing the hat, the boots, the lot,” he said.
It was during those early years he met Mr Mowarin — a friend and relative he would go on to work alongside for decades.
“We became not only good friends… we were family too.”
Together, they mustered cattle across the Pilbara, even building their own reinforced “bull float” to handle wild scrub bulls.
“It was his idea… we needed something stronger for those scrubbers,” Mr Smith said.
But beyond station life, Mr Smith points to a defining moment in Pilbara history — the 1946 pastoral workers’ strike.
He says Aboriginal workers walked off stations in protest against poor conditions and unequal treatment.
“They were being paid in tea, flour, sugar… while others were getting wages,” he said.
Rather than turning to violence, Mr Smith says the protest was grounded in strength and strategy.
“They went into Marble Bar and said, ‘We’ve come to be arrested’… that was their way of fighting it.”
Support from unions and non-Indigenous workers helped push the movement forward, eventually leading to broader changes.
Today, that legacy lives on at the 5 Mile community, where Mr Smith and his family have continued to build a place grounded in history and connection.
An upcoming event will bring those stories together, with old machinery, vehicles and community members sharing memories.
“It’s about remembering what our people did for all of us,” he said.
As a pastor with the Pilbara Aboriginal Church, Mr Smith says his focus is on supporting people and keeping culture strong.
“We want people to come out… sit down, hear the history and take something from it.”
For him, those stories are not just about looking back — but making sure the next generation understands where they come from.
MINGULLATHARNDO HISTORY TRIBUTE PARK OPENING
Join us at Mingullatharndo (5 Mile) for a special community event marking the opening of the Mingullatharndo History Tribute Park.
🗓 Tuesday 5th May 2026
🕥 10:30am
📍 Mingullatharndo (5 Mile), Ieramugadu / Roebourne
5 Mile holds deep history for the region. It is Ngarluma Country and has played many roles over time — from the days of Mount Welcome Station, to a police paddock, to a place connected to the 1946 Pilbara Strike.
This year marks 80 years since the 1946 Strike, and the site includes stories of the 46 strikers, with some having lived and mined in this area.
On the day, you can:
Learn about the 1946 Pilbara Strike
Visit the old vehicles used by the strikers
See the historic grader and tractor from the Shire of Roebourne
Hear more about the Mingullatharndo Community and its history
A light lunch will be provided after the opening.
Shade, chairs and cold water will be available — but it’s a good idea to bring your own water and fly nets.
Everyone is welcome. Come down, have a look, and spend some time on Country.