Talks yesterday in the town of Mount Magnet have brokered a temporary peace between several interrelated Aboriginal families from surrounding regions.

Police say a major riot in the town was averted last Friday when Mount Magnet's three hotels and liquor store were ordered to be closed.

District police Superintendent Allan Gronow says the feud is complex, but the chairman of Western Australia's Commission of Aboriginal Elders, Victor Mourambine, will be talking to groups in Mount Magnet and surrounding centres.

"We would like to see the commission of elders move extremely fast," he said.

"Victor Mourambine is actually staying in Magnet and he will be talking to the Cue people and then he will give us some update.

"But we understand that he will need to get back to his commission and talk to his people, we're hopeful that we're talking within a week."