Location: Pantharrpilenhe is located approximately 123km east north east of Alice Springs on the Abalindum pastoral lease. The Cavanagh family was granted title to a 10km square excision in 1994 under the Community Living Areas Act NT 1976.

The northern boundary is bordered by the Hale River. There is a permanent soakage named Pantharrpilenhe ‘Kwatye nganentye’. The soakage was shared with miners during the gold rush time who named it Panels Well. Jack Cavanagh is the senior traditional owner for the regional estate Ulpmere. The name Cavanagh was given to Jack by the first Ambalindum station owner Fred Cavenagh.

Residents of Pantharrpilenhe: Alec Cavanagh, Gordon Cavanagh, Jack Cavanagh, Elizabeth Cavanagh, Anna Cavanagh, Louise Cavanagh, Bernice Cavanagh, Josephine Cavanagh, Benita Cavanagh, Lena Cavanagh, Jack Cavanagh, Marilyn Cavanagh, Canice Gorey, Mickey Jackson, Jasmin Cavanagh, John Wallace, Rosalie Hayes, Yami Forrester, Seraphina Cavanagh

Pantharrpillenhe History: Jack Cavanagh’s grandparents were living at Paddy’s waterhole close to where the Station homestead is today.

1887 - Alluvial gold was discovered in a dry creek bed downstream from Paddy’s rockhole

1906 - Abalindum station was granted pastoral lease to Fred Cavenagh

1942-1953 - Little Flower Mission was set up, to coordinate Arrente family’s movement. Jack Cavanagh says “ The Little Flower Mission at Arltunga dominated the lives of the Arrernte people. Although, this did not prevent Tyerretye Ulpmere arenye from maintaining their spiritual beliefs and cultural responsibilities and obligations.

1953 - After approximately 11 years, the Arrente families at Little Flower Mission were moved to Santa Teresa

1953-1996 Family members lived at Santa Teresa or Alice Springs

1990-1997 - Canvagh family began discussion with CLC and Ambalindum station owners to obtain their country back.

Claraville Station gave aboriginal rights to some Aboriginal people (i.e. those working with the station) to live on a part of station's land.

1997 - The Cavanagh family was granted is an excision of land on the Ambalindum Station. In 1997, Jack Cavanagh and family returned to their homeland “Pantharrpilenhe” with a dream. This dream involved establishing a place for his family to live and creating a successful enterprise to economically support returning to their country. In the beginning, there was very little infrastructure on at the Pantharrpilenhe homeland. A small soak provided the only water which had to be carted; there was a bore but no pump and no houses, no school and no electricity. Many achievements have been made since John and his family returned to country; establishing housing, infrastructure and cultivating bush foods.

1997- 1999 – a photographic history of the developments of Pantharrpillenhe

Current Situation: There are now 2 houses for the residents of Pantharrpilenhe. These are supplied with power from a diesel generator. However, one house is signed up to Bushlight program and will be receiving solar power system over the next couple of months (link to Bushlight page).When the Cavanagh family first moved back on to country, they had to cart water to the caravan and shelters. Water is now pumped through a solar bore pump to houses.

Yalke Products: John and Marilyn Cavanagh run a successful bush food enterprise which utilises CDEP workers.

Future: John Cavanagh’s primary concern is his family. He says “I want to plant more, to create more jobs for my family and get them out of town”. He is also interested in setting up tourism operations and creating his own store in Alice Springs to market the bush foods products independently. He would like to live on the outstation full time and not have to worry too much about coming into town.

Living at Pantharrpilenhe

Many of the family who work at Pantharrpilenhe are paid through CDEP arrangements. By growing more products, tapping into larger markets, and setting up a tourism operation, the vision is to help family members to “get them off CDEP and on to real wages”. This explains John is where the future lies.