After almost four decades, the Kenbi land site on the Northern Territory's Cox Peninsula is back in the hands of its traditional owners.
In a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and government ministers, the Larrakia people were given the area's title deeds.
Mr Turnbull says the future of the site is now in their hands.
"Although a long and protracted process, it has produced a result that will ensure the Belyuen group -- and the Larrakia people, more broadly -- have cultural, social and economic opportunities into the future, and that the sharing of benefits can occur in a way that respects the findings of Australian laws and meets the cultural requirements of the Larrakia people. In a symbol of hope and of optimism, the Kenbi Land handover will ensure Larrakia people build autonomy and independence in a partnership based on mutual respect with all other Australians. It will ensure your hard-fought rights are protected and managed. What happens next is up to you."
Even though it was lodged in 1979, the claim on the land was only settled in April of this year, after several hearings, Federal Court reviews and two High Court appeals.
The agreement classifies 52,000 hectares as trust land and another 13,000 as freehold land which can be used for business purposes.
Around 1,600 Larrakia people are set to benefit from the ruling, although Land Council chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi says there are broader advantages.
"The Land Rights Act has delivered justice, justice largely denied to Aboriginal people around Australia. We are more ... in society in 2016, the fears about land rights which were so widespread 40 years ago have been put aside. And, today, we should also put aside the disagreement that I acknowledge some Aboriginal people feel about how this Kenbi land claim has been worked out. Today, let us join together in the spirit of real celebration. The beautiful place we call Cox Peninsula, and islands to the west, are finally back to Aboriginal hands, and many more Aboriginal people than just a few traditional owners will benefit from that."
Among those designated as traditional owners were Raelene and Zoe Singh, who paid tribute to relatives past and present.
(Raelene:) "Our land is very important to us. We are nothing without our land. Our mother taught us about this land, this country, and I'm very sad that she is not here today. I also remember all the other people who have passed away and cannot be here for this big occasion."
(Zoe:) "I feel very proud today we are getting our land back. Most of all, I remember my mother, who passed away. She taught us really everything about our country. It has been a long, hard struggle for me, my brother, my sister and other relatives. Now we just want to get on with our normal lives. I look forward to caring for the country (which) has been given back to us."
Not everyone is happy with the agreement, with Larrakia man Eric Fejo staging a protest after the ceremony over what he says is the government's push to develop the area.
Also unhappy was Labor MP and Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon, who accused the Territory's Country Liberal Party, the CLP, of trying to suppress the claim.
"It was not bipartisan in 1978 and 1979 when the then CLP Government took what was an act to try to strangle at birth this land-claim process and which held out to -- ultimately, almost 18 years -- to try and prevent the claim being progressed. Now, that's a shame. That is an absolute shame. And it speaks of that part of our history we should all be aware of. And I know those of you who come from the Northern Territory, who live in the Northern Territory, and, most particularly, if you are an Aboriginal person in the Northern Territory, you understand precisely what I'm saying."
