The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) sits among the most successful Aboriginal corporations in Australia. 

Made famous through their leadership in securing recognition of Aboriginal land rights and the famous Bark Petitions, along with their numerous acclaimed musicians and public identities, the Rirratjingu today are forging additional pathways through commercial success. 

Today, this success is showcased through several commercial subsidiaries, each contributing as an economic driver for North-East Arnhem Land and each playing a strategic role in delivering a sustainable business model in support to the wellbeing of Rirratjingu people today – and the generations to follow. 

The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation is “open for business”, operating through their numerous commercial subsidiaries. 

If you have ever switched on a light, charged your phone or driven a vehicle on the Territory’s Gove Peninsula, then you have been a customer of Rirratjingu Fuel Pty Ltd. 

The company has become an extraordinary role model for Indigenous businesses throughout Australia by demonstrating that Indigenous corporations can be significant players in the commercial world with global competitors, including Exxon Mobil, Caltex and BP. 

Rirratjingu Fuel supplies diesel to the Gove Peninsula for electricity generation. It also sells directly to third-party fuel consumers in bulk, including Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation, who use this diesel fuel for the needs of remote communities and homelands throughout North-East Arnhem Land. 

In 2008, RAC founded Rirratjingu Mining Pty Ltd. Based just outside the Nhulunbuy township, Rirratjingu Mining was established to increase Indigenous employment and deliver commercial returns. This subsidiary operates today as a successful blue metal quarry. The company has a contract with Rio Tinto to quarry and crush blue metal rock, which is used in on-Country rehabilitation, building roads, embankments and various concrete products. 

Recent years have witnessed a growing customer base for quarry product. Today, Rirratjingu Mining is a major supplier of raw materials, including blue metal rock, sand and gravel across North-East Arnhem Land. 

Further investment in recent years has expanded operations and positioned the business to capitalise on the numerous infrastructure projects under consideration across the region, such as projected housing and community projects, and the upgrading of the Carpentaria Highway. 

Through their Rirratjingu property investment vehicle, Rirratjingu Investments Pty Ltd, the corporation continues to demonstrate a clear commitment to the long-term success of the region through significant infrastructure investments. 

With housing considered an essential enabler for the economy of the region, Rirratjingu Investments has a crucial role to play during the post-mining economic transition. 

As a wholly owned subsidiary, Rirratjingu Investments plays a leadership role in generating sustainable economic growth with a focus on community housing and commercial infrastructure. 

RAC’s multi-million-dollar Malpi residential estate, and their recently completed Rirratjingu Business Centre and Yanawal accommodation units, are testimony to their commercial capacity, forward thinking and commitment to the region.

Rirratjingu Property Management and Maintenance Services Pty Ltd is a 100 percent-owned RAC subsidiary, with the primary purpose to provide housing and general maintenance services.

This business arm, while being a commercial operation, has a key focus of providing a training environment and employment pathway for local Yolngu. 

With major contracts, including the Northern Territory Government’s public housing in Yirrkala, this subsidiary has proven to be the perfect business vehicle to drive RAC’s Indigenous employment and training operations.

Today, their full and part-time works team undertake a variety of projects, including:

Chainsaw operation and environmental management

Truck and heavy machinery operations

Carpentry and associated housing maintenance (130 properties in Yirrkala)

Weed eradication in the community for all stakeholders

Rirratjingu Enterprises Pty Ltd was established in 2020 to service the needs of Rio Tinto and other commercial businesses in the region. The company is a 100 percent-owned RAC subsidiary. 

Rirratjingu Enterprises’ principal contract is the provision of hydro mulching and irrigation services as part of the Rio Tinto mining rehabilitation strategy. The company has also established a growing haulage contracting service to various businesses within the region.

Rirratjingu Project Management Pty Ltd was incorporated on the 6 March 2023 in partnership with Sitzler Pty Ltd. As a majority shareholder, RAC have been able to inject immediate capacity and capability into their construction arm. Sitzler brings to Rirratjingu Project Management their nationally recognised experience, technical capability and reputation to deliver on the largest of projects. 

Rirratjingu Project Management’s primary objective has been to provide RAC with significantly increased technical capacity, access to required resources and equipment, and a much stronger capital base to support major housing infrastructure aspirations. 

With the rapid growth of this business, the company has recently opened its own office within the new Rirratjingu Business Centre to service its operating needs.