Jack Sullivan was born on Argyle Downs Station, near Soda Creek, in Western Australia. Sullivan is a Nyining and Gidja man from the Kimberley region in Western Australia. His skin name is Djulama in Kununurra but changes to Djambidjina when he is at Turkey Creek. Sullivan was also called Banggaiyerri, the name of a waterhole in Bream Gorge, Western Australia.
Sullivan spent most of his working life employed on the Durack stations doing stock work. He did not receive a full wage until the 1930s, after he complained to Patsy Durack that he was being treated like a child. When Patsy Durack died, his son Reg took over the station management and he placed Sullivan on the station wage books. Reg Durack also allowed for Sullivan to receive some education.
In 1944, Sullivan almost died. While travelling to Argyle, he suffered from stomach pains that made it difficult for him ride his horse. A few days later, he was unable to get up. It took five men to help him get to Argyle crossing the Behn river. At Behn river there were no boats so the men improvised and placed him on a log while they swam dragging him along. Sullivan was bedridden for six weeks being cared for by Eric Durack.
Sullivan is the brother of Bulla Bilingiin (q.v.) and continued his stock work: making fences and roads, mustering bullocks and cows, breaking in horses. He did not retire from stock working until 1971. In retirement he took up carving stones and selling them.
