In a historic turn of events, traditional owners have regained ownership of the town of Jabiru on the edge of Kakadu National Park. 

Jabiru was built in 1982 to support a nearby uranium mine, but as the mine's expiry drew closer, traditional owners pushed for control over the town's future.

The town’s lease has been handed over in order to empower locals to reform the town as a tourism hub.

The recent announcement was met with a day of celebration in Jabiru, decades in the making.

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt described the handover as “a monumental moment in the history of land rights in this country”.

“The Mirarr people have a comprehensive master plan to transform the local economy away from mining into a world-class tourism destination, with service industries supporting economic growth in the region,” he said.

“Taking ownership of Jabiru and the township lease means traditional owners will now be in control of decisions that affect their land.

“Land security brings economic security. It also brings back the cultural security and strength that always prevailed.”

Mine operator Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) is bound by law to rehabilitate the mine site in coming years so it is ready to be added as part of the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National park.

Following that, the plan is to transform the region into a tourism hub, backed by the federal and Northern Territory governments, which have committed $276 million and $135 million to the works respectively.

Northern Land Council Chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi said at the ceremony that a solid agreement had been struck with the federal government.

“We have negotiated an important remediation agreement with the Commonwealth, supported by [Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley] to ensure the town-related environmental liability from the last 40 years is a government responsibility,” he said.

“Now all Mirarr land is reconnected as Aboriginal land, and always will be.”