When Gough Whitlam famously poured soil into the hands of Gurindji leader Vincent Lingiari it became a symbol of his dedication to indigenous land rights.
Almost 40 years on, soil from the same land will be offered back to the Whitlam family to signal the former prime minister's importance in Aboriginal history.
Mr Whitlam died on Tuesday, aged 98, leaving behind a legacy of driving change for Australia's indigenous people.
He paved the way for indigenous land rights and legislated the Racial Discrimination Act.
In the final weeks of his government, Mr Whitlam returned the Northern Territory's Wave Hill Station to traditional owners - handing over the deeds to Mr Lingiari before pouring soil into his hands to signal the ownership was forever.
Maurie Japarta Ryan, Mr Lingiari's grandson, will collect soil from Kalkarindji and hopes to hand it to the Whitlam family.
"This is part of us now," he told ABC radio.
"He will always be part of our folklore."
Mr Whitlam's election campaign in 1972 promised indigenous land rights.
"We do that not just because their case is beyond argument, but because all of us as Australians are diminished while the Aborigines are denied their rightful place in this nation," he said at the time.
His government created the Aboriginal Land Rights Commission and drafted legislation, but was dismissed before it could pass parliament.
The Fraser government later passed the Northern Territory Land Rights Act.
The Central Land Council says Mr Whitlam was Australia's first prime minister for Aboriginal affairs, despite never holding the title officially.
"We all know that's who he was," chair Francis Kelly said.
"He didn't need to give himself that name."
Other indigenous leaders described Mr Whitlam a "great friend" of Aboriginal Australians and a champion for their rights.
Flags flew at half-mast at the Northern Land Council's headquarters in Darwin as the organisation farewelled a "great Australian".
Council chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said Mr Whitlam's dedication to indigenous land rights paved the way for the High Court's Mabo decision - which recognised native title for the first time.
Galarrwuy Yunupingu, leader of the Yolngu clans of north-east Arnhem Land, said he mourned Mr Whitlam's passing with great sadness, calling him "a unique and sincere man".
Federal Northern Territory MP Warren Snowdon said the indigenous reforms initiated by Mr Whitlam would last forever.
"What he did was to put down a marker," he told parliament during a condolence motion on Tuesday.
"What he did was change the way we relate to one another."
Mr Snowdon also read out a message from the Gurindji people: "Very sad we lost that old man, but good because people all over Australia will be reminded of his great legacy, and the great thing he did with our leader."
Indigenous senator Nova Peris hailed Mr Whitlam as the first political leader to reach out to Aboriginal Australians and say "we are equals".
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