The former Australian of the Year died overnight at his home in the northeast Arnhem Land community of Yirrkala.
Mr Yunupingu*, the frontman of breakthrough band Yothu Yindi, had battled kidney disease for many years. His struggle with the illness was the focus of an episode of the ABC TV program Australian Story about Mr Yunupingu which aired in 2009. He had previously been hospitalised in December after collapsing at home, following a trip to Sydney to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
