Galiwin'ku
Galiwin’ku is the largest community on Elcho Island, which is 150 km north-west of Nhulunbuy and 550 km north-east of Darwin. Elcho Island is at the southern end of the Wessel Island group, and is bounded on the western side by the Arafura Sea and on the eastern side by Cadell Strait.  Galiwin’ku is the only town on Elcho Island, and is also the Aboriginal name for the whole island.
Aboriginal people have inhabited this region for more than 40,000 years. After the Goulburn Island mission was set up in 1921, Elcho Island was chosen as the site for a second Methodist overseas mission. However, oil drilling by the Naphtha Petroleum Company closed the mission site, which was relocated to Milingimbi.
Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island was eventually established in 1942 as a refuge from possible bombing of the Milingimbi Royal Australian Air Force Base during World War II.
The Methodist church started its Methodist overseas mission in Galiwin’ku in 1947. During the 1950s a fishing industry started, a large market garden flourished and a cypress pine logging industry and sawmill began. During early settlement, the mission encouraged Aboriginal people to stay on their traditional homelands and use Galiwin’ku as a service centre. However, the mission ended when self-government came in the 1970s, and the community is now the largest Aboriginal community in north-east Arnhem Land. In 2008, Galiwin’ku became part of the East Arnhem Shire and the Shire took over local government.
The population of Galiwin’ku and its surrounds in 2011 was approximately 2,124, of which 1,890 were Indigenous (89 per cent). In 2011, 44 per cent of Galiwin’ku’s population was younger than 20 years of age.
The changing size and age composition of the Indigenous population of Galiwin’ku is increasing the need for housing and employment opportunities, as well as aged care and health services.
Gapuwiyak
Gapuwiyak means "brackish water".
Gapuwiyak (called Lake Evella in English) is a mainland Australian Aboriginal community located on the shore of Lake Evella near the upper reaches of the Buckingham River. The lake was seen by Harold Shepherdson from his aeroplane the Miles Hawk in 1935 and he named it Lake Evella after his wife Ella and Eva the wife of a fellow missionary Rev. T.T. Webb.
Gapuwiyak is 60 air km south east of Galiwin'ku and 115 air km west of Nhulunbuy (220 km by good gravel road). There is almost year round road access to Katherine.
The community has an average population of around 1000 Yolŋu people.
Gapuwiyak is a traditional Aboriginal community with restricted access. Permission to visit is required (by law) and can be made through the Northern Land Council directly or via the Gapuwiyak Council.
All freight for the ALPA store is barged to the community on a weekly service. The barge landing is located 20 km north west of the community on the banks of the Buckingham River. The barge road is gravel and is accessible all year round.