Flynn vs Wallace Rockhole

Flynn and Wallace Rockhole are two distinct Northern Territory areas located about 88 km apart. Flynn is more developed and has a much larger First Nations population. The economic gap between them is wide; typical First Nations household income in Flynn is $1,443, while in Wallace Rockhole it is much lower at $762. This is reflected in employment, with the First Nations unemployment rate far higher in Wallace Rockhole at 40.9% compared to 14.7% in Flynn.

Connecting the two is a shared First Nations identity, though it takes different forms. In Wallace Rockhole, a far higher share of people speak a First Nations language (76.8%) compared to Flynn (25.9%). Access to services also differs greatly; Flynn is very walkable and almost all homes are within 10 minutes of public transport, whereas Wallace Rockhole is mostly car-dependent with no homes near public transport. These gaps in infrastructure and income have remained significant since 2011.