Most of the land that was to become part of Stage One of Kakadu was given to the Kakadu Aboriginal Land Trust under the Land Rights Act in August 1978 . In November 1978 , the Land Trust and the Director signed a lease for the land to be managed as a national park . Most of the land that was to become part of Stage One of Kakadu was granted to the Kakadu Aboriginal land Trust under the Land Rights Act in August 1978 and , in November 1978 , the Land Trust and the Director signed a lease for the land to be managed as a national park .