Bamaga

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Bamaga
Queensland
Bamaga-cape-york-queensland-australia.jpg
Main street of Bamaga
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bamaga
Coordinates 10°53′16″S142°23′20″E / 10.8879°S 142.3888°E / -10.8879; 142.3888 (Bamaga (town centre))
Population1,186 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density17.915/km2 (46.40/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4876
Area66.2 km2 (25.6 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s) Northern Peninsula Area Region
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal division(s) Leichhardt
Localities around Bamaga:
New Mapoon New Mapoon Somerset
New Mapoon Bamaga Somerset
Umagico Umagico Somerset

Bamaga (English: /ˈbæməɡə/ BAM-ə-gə, Kalaw Lagaw Ya: [ˈbamaɡa] ) [2] is an Indigneous town and locality about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the northern tip of Cape York in the north of Queensland, Australia. It is within the Northern Peninsula Area Region. [3] [4] It is one of the northernmost settlements in continental Australia and is the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.

Contents

In the 2021 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people. [1]

History

The original site for the township of Bamaga was at a site known as "Muttee Heads" some 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the present Bamaga township. The present site was established after World War II by people from Saibai Island in Torres Strait, after Saibai Island was devastated by abnormally high tides. It is named after Saibai elder Bamaga Ginau, who envisaged the site but died before it was established. [4]

In 1947, the Bamaga township was moved to its present site as a result of a need by the founding people for a larger supply of fresh water. With local industries and the Northern Peninsula Airport (on Urradhi traditional land) Bamaga became the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area, which was made up of the three Aboriginal communities of Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon, and the Islander communities of Seisia and Bamaga. All five are Deed of Grant in Trust – communities with their own community councils.[ citation needed ]

Bamaga Post Office opened by September 1951. [5]

Bamaga State School opened on 28 January 1964. On 23 March 2005, it was renamed Northern Peninsula Area State College. [6]

Some 20 years later, another community, "New Mapoon", was established. It was set up for the forced relocation of people of "Old Mapoon" community, located some two hours north by road from the township of Weipa for bauxite mining. [7]

Bamaga State High School opened on 30 January 1973, but closed on 9 December 1994. [6] [8]

Demographics

In the 2006 census, the town of Bamaga had a population of 784 people, of whom 688 (87.8%) identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. [9]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,164 people, of whom 957 (82.4%) identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. [10]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people, of whom 929 (78.3%) identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. [1]

Geography

Bamaga and the surrounding communities are located north of the Jardine River which supplies the town water.[ citation needed ]

Climate

Cape York Post Office, Queensland, Australia
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
371
 
 
30
24
 
 
353
 
 
30
24
 
 
371
 
 
30
24
 
 
256
 
 
30
24
 
 
69
 
 
29
23
 
 
26
 
 
28
22
 
 
20
 
 
28
22
 
 
9.5
 
 
28
22
 
 
6.4
 
 
29
22
 
 
15
 
 
30
23
 
 
57
 
 
31
24
 
 
195
 
 
31
24
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
15
 
 
86
75
 
 
14
 
 
85
75
 
 
15
 
 
85
75
 
 
10
 
 
85
75
 
 
2.7
 
 
84
73
 
 
1
 
 
83
72
 
 
0.8
 
 
82
71
 
 
0.4
 
 
82
71
 
 
0.3
 
 
83
72
 
 
0.6
 
 
86
73
 
 
2.2
 
 
88
75
 
 
7.7
 
 
87
76
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Bamaga experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw, Trewartha: Awaa), with hot conditions year-round. There is a wet season from mid-November to mid-May, and a dry season from mid-May to mid-November.

Climate data for Cape York Post Office, Queensland, Australia (1887-1955 normals and extremes); 40 m AMSL
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)29.8
(85.6)		29.6
(85.3)		29.6
(85.3)		29.5
(85.1)		28.8
(83.8)		28.1
(82.6)		27.6
(81.7)		27.8
(82.0)		28.5
(83.3)		29.9
(85.8)		30.9
(87.6)		30.8
(87.4)		29.2
(84.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)26.9
(80.4)		26.8
(80.2)		26.7
(80.1)		26.6
(79.9)		25.9
(78.6)		25.2
(77.4)		24.6
(76.3)		24.7
(76.5)		25.4
(77.7)		26.4
(79.5)		27.4
(81.3)		27.5
(81.5)		26.2
(79.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)24.0
(75.2)		23.9
(75.0)		23.8
(74.8)		23.7
(74.7)		23.0
(73.4)		22.3
(72.1)		21.5
(70.7)		21.6
(70.9)		22.2
(72.0)		22.9
(73.2)		23.8
(74.8)		24.2
(75.6)		23.1
(73.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)370.6
(14.59)		352.1
(13.86)		370.9
(14.60)		255.5
(10.06)		69.1
(2.72)		26.1
(1.03)		19.7
(0.78)		9.5
(0.37)		6.4
(0.25)		14.9
(0.59)		56.7
(2.23)		194.6
(7.66)		1,746.1
(68.74)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)16.915.716.311.77.05.74.83.11.62.14.29.098.1
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1887-1955 normals and extremes) [11]

Language

The community languages of Bamaga are Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Brokan (Torres Strait Creole), and English, particularly for education and government business. [12]

Education

Northern Peninsula Area State College is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood-12) school for boys and girls. [13] [14] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 634 students with 69 teachers (68 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent). [15] It includes a special education program. [13] The college has its Bamaga senior campus at Sagaukaz Street ( 10°53′43″S142°23′09″E / 10.8952°S 142.3858°E / -10.8952; 142.3858 (Northern Peninsula Area State College - Senior Campus) ). [13] Its Bagama junior campus is at Anu Street ( 10°53′12″S142°23′24″E / 10.8868°S 142.3901°E / -10.8868; 142.3901 (Northern Peninsula Area College - Bamaga Junior Campus) ). [13] The college has a second junior campus in the town of Injinoo. [16]

The Cape York Campus, a technical and further education (TAFE) college, has been established at Bamaga ( 10°53′43″S142°23′19″E / 10.8954°S 142.3886°E / -10.8954; 142.3886 (technical college) ). [17] The campus provides a wide range of tutorial courses including seamanship and other courses. [18]

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council operates an Indigenous Knowledge Centre at HACC Centre Building in Adidi Street, Bamaga. [19]

Amenities

St Stephen's Catholic Church is in Lui Street. It is within the Thursday Island Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns. [20]

Tourism

Muttee Heads is a fishing/camping spot with access to Jardine River mouth and is 30 kilometres (19 mi) west on Cairns road. [21]

Medical

The Bamaga Hospital as an establishment has five medical doctors and 14 nurses who can capably handle most cases presented. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape York Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia

The Cape York Peninsula is a peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest wilderness in northern Australia. The land is mostly flat and about half of the area is used for grazing cattle. The relatively undisturbed eucalyptus-wooded savannahs, tropical rainforests and other types of habitat are now recognised and preserved for their global environmental significance. Although much of the peninsula remains pristine, with a diverse repertoire of endemic flora and fauna, some of its wildlife may be threatened by industry and overgrazing as well as introduced species and weeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torres Strait Islands</span> Group of islands in the Torres Strait between Australia and New Guinea

The Torres Strait Islands are an archipelago of at least 274 small islands in the Torres Strait, a waterway separating far northern continental Australia's Cape York Peninsula and the island of New Guinea. They span an area of 48,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi), but their total land area is 566 km2 (219 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thursday Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Thursday Island, colloquially known as TI, or in the Kawrareg dialect, Waiben or Waibene, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands, an archipelago of at least 274 small islands in the Torres Strait. TI is located approximately 39 kilometres north of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boigu Island (Queensland)</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Boigu Island is the most northerly inhabited island of Queensland and of Australia. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea. The mainland of Papua New Guinea is only 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from Boigu. Boigu has an area of 89.6 square kilometres (34.6 sq mi). Boigu Island is also the name of the town and locality on the island within the Torres Strait Island Region. Boigu is predominantly inhabited by indigenous Torres Strait Islanders. In the 2021 census, the population of the island was 199, of whom 189 people or 95% of the population identified as Indigenous Australians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mabuiag Island</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Mabuiag, also known as "Mabuyag" and natively "Mabuyaagi", formerly "Jervis Island") is one of the Torres Strait Islands in Queensland, Australia. Mabuiag is also a town and locality in the Torres Strait Island Region local government area. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mabuiag Island had a population of 253 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saibai Island</span> Suburb of Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seisia, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Seisia is a coastal town and a locality in the Northern Peninsula Area Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Seisia had a population of 293 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset, Queensland</span> Suburb of Shire of Torres, Queensland, Australia

Somerset is a coastal locality split between the Shire of Torres and the Northern Peninsula Area Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Somerset had "no people or a very low population".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Injinoo, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Injinoo is a coastal town in the Northern Peninsula Area Region and a locality split between Northern Peninsula Area Region and the Shire of Torres in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is on the north-western coast of Cape York Peninsula. In the 2021 census, the locality of Injinoo had a population of 498 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mapoon, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Mapoon is a coastal town in the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon and a locality split between the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon and the Shire of Cook in Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mapoon had a population of 469 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Mapoon, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

New Mapoon is a town in the Northern Peninsula Area Region and coastal locality split between the Northern Peninsula Region and Shire of Torres, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of New Mapoon had a population of 412 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince of Wales Island (Queensland)</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

The Prince of Wales Island, or Muralag, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago at the tip of Cape York Peninsula within the Endeavour Strait of Torres Strait in Queensland, Australia. The island is situated approximately 20 km (12 mi) north of Muttee Heads which is adjacent to Bamaga and south of Thursday Island. It is within the locality of Prince Of Wales within the Shire of Torres. In the 2021 census, Prince Of Wales had a population of 62 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moa Island (Queensland)</span> Island in the Torres Strait, Queensland

Moa Island, also called Banks Island, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago that is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Thursday Island in the Banks Channel of Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. It is also a locality within the Torres Strait Island Region local government area. This island is the largest within the "Near Western" group. It has two towns, Kubin on the south-west coast and St Pauls on the east coast, which are connected by bitumen and a gravel road. In the 2021 census, Moa Island had a population of 432 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yam Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Yam Island, called Yama or Iama in the Kulkalgau Ya language or Turtle-backed Island in English, is an island of the Bourke Isles group of the Torres Strait Islands, located in the Tancred Passage of the Torres Strait in Queensland, Australia. The island is situated approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Thursday Island and measures about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi). The island is an official locality known as Iama Island within the local government area of Torres Strait Island Region. The town, also called Yam Island, is located on the north-west coast of the island. In the 2021 census, Iama Island had a population of 275 people.

Urradhi is a Paman language of the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, and is apparently extinct. It was spoken by the Urradhi people. Urradhi proper is the south-western dialect of the language. The name is composed of urra "this" and the proprietive dhi "having". The south-eastern dialect of the same language, Wudhadhi, is made of the same elements, wudha being "this". These are part of a group of closely related and highly mutually intelligible dialects, these being Angkamuthi to the north of Urradhi, Atampaya inland from these, Utudhanamu inland north from Atampaya, Yantaykenu further north, being the language of the Bamaga area, Yadhaykenu on the east coast north of Wudhadhi, and Yaraytyana further north again. This group has no common language name, though Urradhi is commonly used as a cover name. Speakers use the term Injinoo Ikya to refer to their language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Peninsula Area Region</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Northern Peninsula Area Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia, covering areas on the northwestern coast of Cape York Peninsula. It was created in March 2008 out of three Aboriginal Shires and two autonomous Island Councils during a period of statewide local government reform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula on the Gulf of Carpentaria. In the 2021 census, the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon had a population of 432 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umagico, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Umagico is a town and coastal locality in the Northern Peninsula Area Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Umagico had a population of 394 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dauan Island</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Dauan Island is an island in the Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia; it is also known as Cornwallis Island. Dauan Island is also a town and locality in the Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Dauan Island had a population of 131 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masig Island, Queensland</span> Suburb of Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia

Masig Island is an island and locality in the Torres Strait Island Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Masig Island had a population of 283 people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Bamaga (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN   1-876429-14-3
  3. ↑ "Bamaga – town in Northern Peninsula Area Region (entry 1447)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Bamaga – locality in Northern Peninsula Area Region (entry 46103)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "New Mapoon". Queensland Government. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government . 20 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Bamaga (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  10. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Bamaga (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Cape York Post Office, QLD Climate (1887-1955 normals and extremes)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Bamaga". National Indigenous Australians Agency. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "Northern Peninsula Area State College". Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Northern Peninsula Area". TAFE Queensland. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Bamaga Indigenous Knowledge Centre". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  20. ↑ "Thursday Island Parish". Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns . Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Mutee Head Campground Review". Free to explore. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Queensland Health; http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/Hospital/Index/213 Archived 10 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine ; Accessed 20200714
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