Mapoon, Queensland

Last updated

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Mapoon
Queensland
Mapoon-cape-york-queensland-australia.JPG
Mapoon beach
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Mapoon
Coordinates 12°01′08″S141°54′09″E / 12.0190°S 141.9025°E / -12.0190; 141.9025 (Mapoon (town centre))
Population317 (2016 census) [1]
 • Density0.04819/km2 (0.12480/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4874
Area6,578.7 km2 (2,540.1 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal division(s) Leichhardt
Localities around Mapoon:
Gulf of Carpentaria Injinoo Jardine River
Gulf of Carpentaria Mapoon Shelburne
Mission River Mission River Wenlock

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. [2] [3] [4] In the 2016 census, Mapoon had a population of 317 people. [1]

Contents

History

Pre-European settlement

Teppathiggi (also known Tepithiki and Teyepathiggi) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Western Cape York Peninusla, Middle Dulcie River, Lower Batavia River, Ducie River, and Mapoon. The language region includes areas within the local government boundaries of Cook Shire Council. [5]

Uradhi (also known as Anggamudi, Ankamuti, Atampaya, Bawtjathi, and Lotiga) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Western Cape York Peninsula. The traditional language region includes north of Mapoon and Duyfken Point and east of the coast strip to the north of Port Musgrave (Angkamuthi country) incorporating the mouth of the Ducie River, the lower reaches of the Dulhunty River and the upper reaches of the Skardon River in the north. Following the displacement of Indigenous people by British settlement, it was also spoken in the Northern Peninsula Area Region including the communities of New Mapoon, Injinoo and Cowal Creek. [6]

1891: Mission

In 1891 the Moravian Church established a mission at Mapoon with the aim of providing education and health services to the Aboriginal people. It was their first mission in Cape York Peninsula and they established it at the request of the Presbyterian Church. [7] By 1907, under the Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act 1865 (Qld) where missions were registered as schools, it was operating as a community for local people.[ citation needed ]

1950–2000

In the 1950s when bauxite was discovered on the Western Cape area, the Queensland Government passed legislation to help the interested companies Comalco and Alcan with the 'Comalco Act' (Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty Ltd Agreement Act 1957 (Qld)). As a consequence some 8,000 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi) were excised from the mission reserve. [8] The government, together with Comalco determined to evict the residents off the mission, and they were moved forcibly by the Queensland police from Old Mapoon to New Mapoon on 15 November 1963. The closing of the Mission was explained publicly as a measure to 'rationalise services' for the Cape indigenous people by centralising them in the Bamaga area. In November 1963, people were forced from their homes by armed police. [9] They were then transported 200 kilometres (120 mi) by ship. [10] The police raid was ordered and overseen by Patrick Killoran, the then-director of Aboriginal Affairs in Queensland. [11] Aboriginal residents' houses were burnt to the ground in 1963 by Queensland Police. [12]

Many residents were unhappy at Bamaga, at one of the nearby communities now known as New Mapoon. Over the following years, many moved back to (Old) Mapoon and eventually the government provided new housing.[ citation needed ] Mapoon became known as one of the places involved in the fight for Indigenous land rights in the 1970s, and seven families had moved back by 1975. The Black Resource Centre in Melbourne, [12] led by Cheryl Buchanan, was involved, and she also took Lionel Fogarty to meet the displaced residents. [13]

Mapoon State School opened on 30 January 1995. [14] On 1 January 2002, it became the Mapoon campus of Western Cape College. [14] [15]

The 1996 census, the population of Mapoon was 139.[ citation needed ]

21st century

In 2000, the Mapoon Aboriginal community was formally recognised under Deed of Grant in Trust arrangements. The Mapoon Aboriginal Council administers the community affairs with government support.

At the 2006 census, the locality of Mapoon had a population of 239. [16]

At the 2011 census, the town of Mapoon recorded a population of 263 and 90% of the town's population was of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. [17]

Geography

Mapoon is on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia. [18]

The town of Mapoon is on a peninsula that extends into the Gulf of Carpentaria with Cullen Point (also known as Tullanaringa Point) at its tip ( 11°57′23″S141°54′30″E / 11.9564°S 141.9083°E / -11.9564; 141.9083 (Cullen Point (Tullanaringa Point)) ), [19] creating a side bay of the Gulf called Port Musgrave ( 12°01′00″S141°57′09″E / 12.0166°S 141.9525°E / -12.0166; 141.9525 (Port Musgrave) ), which is probably named after Sir Anthony Musgrave, the Queensland Governor from 1883 to 1888. [20] Ducie River ( 12°03′06″S142°01′14″E / 12.0516°S 142.0206°E / -12.0516; 142.0206 (Ducie River (mouth)) ) and Wenlock River ( 12°03′29″S141°55′42″E / 12.0581°S 141.9283°E / -12.0581; 141.9283 (Wenlock River (mouth)) ) flow though the locality into Port Musgrave. [21] [22]

Red Beach is a sandy strip facing Port Musgrave adjacent to the south side of the town ( 12°01′39″S141°54′42″E / 12.0274°S 141.9116°E / -12.0274; 141.9116 (Red Beach) ). [23] The government-built housing is spread out in bushland along Red Beach Road towards Cullen Point, [18] rather than being clustered together as in other Western Cape communities. [ citation needed ]

Flying Fox Island is a 3.3-hectare (8.2-acre) marine island ( 11°59′58″S141°53′38″E / 11.9994°S 141.8940°E / -11.9994; 141.8940 (Flying Fox Island) ) in the west of Port Musgrave close to the coastline north of the town. [24] [25]

During the wet season from December to April the town is largely inaccessible except by air and sea. [26]

There is an airstrip 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of the town ( 12°03′00″S141°54′23″E / 12.0499°S 141.9063°E / -12.0499; 141.9063 (airstrip) ). [27]

The Alcan Weipa mining lease covers 1,376.29 square kilometres (500 sq mi) of the locality of Mapoon. It is a bauxite mine. [18] It includes the Myerfield Strip, an aircraft landing strip ( 12°27′04″S141°59′44″E / 12.4512°S 141.9955°E / -12.4512; 141.9955 (Myerfield Strip) ). The name Myerfield was proposed by Alcan Pty Ltd, which had built the airstrip. [28]

Demography

In the 2016 census, the locality of Mapoon had a population of 317 people. [1]

Climate

Old Mapoon, Queensland, Australia
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
421
 
 
33
23
 
 
411
 
 
33
23
 
 
308
 
 
33
22
 
 
95
 
 
33
22
 
 
19
 
 
31
21
 
 
4.2
 
 
30
19
 
 
2.7
 
 
30
18
 
 
1.1
 
 
31
18
 
 
4
 
 
32
19
 
 
11
 
 
34
21
 
 
64
 
 
35
22
 
 
229
 
 
35
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
17
 
 
91
73
 
 
16
 
 
91
73
 
 
12
 
 
91
72
 
 
3.7
 
 
91
71
 
 
0.7
 
 
89
69
 
 
0.2
 
 
87
66
 
 
0.1
 
 
87
65
 
 
0
 
 
87
65
 
 
0.2
 
 
90
67
 
 
0.4
 
 
93
69
 
 
2.5
 
 
95
71
 
 
9
 
 
94
73
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

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

Climate data for Old Mapoon, Queensland, Australia (1893-1998 normals and extremes); 6 m AMSL
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °C (°F)32.5
(90.5)
33.0
(91.4)
33.0
(91.4)
32.8
(91.0)
31.4
(88.5)
30.4
(86.7)
30.3
(86.5)
30.6
(87.1)
32.4
(90.3)
34.0
(93.2)
35.0
(95.0)
34.7
(94.5)
32.5
(90.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)27.5
(81.5)
27.8
(82.0)
27.6
(81.7)
27.4
(81.3)
26.0
(78.8)
24.6
(76.3)
24.2
(75.6)
24.4
(75.9)
25.8
(78.4)
27.4
(81.3)
28.4
(83.1)
28.6
(83.5)
26.6
(80.0)
Average low °C (°F)22.5
(72.5)
22.5
(72.5)
22.2
(72.0)
21.9
(71.4)
20.5
(68.9)
18.8
(65.8)
18.1
(64.6)
18.1
(64.6)
19.2
(66.6)
20.7
(69.3)
21.7
(71.1)
22.5
(72.5)
20.7
(69.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)421.1
(16.58)
411.2
(16.19)
308.4
(12.14)
94.8
(3.73)
18.7
(0.74)
4.2
(0.17)
2.7
(0.11)
1.1
(0.04)
4.0
(0.16)
11.1
(0.44)
63.8
(2.51)
228.9
(9.01)
1,570
(61.82)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)15.214.512.85.61.50.60.50.30.41.14.39.466.2
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1893-1998 normals and extremes) [29]

Economy

There is a fishing business, providing mudcrabs to southern markets from the Port Musgrave Bay and Dulhunty and Wenlock rivers.[ citation needed ]

Education

Western Cape College is a primary (Early Childhood-6) school headquartered at Rocky Point, Weipa. Its campus in Mapoon is on Red Beach Road ( 12°00′58″S141°54′00″E / 12.0161°S 141.8999°E / -12.0161; 141.8999 (Western Cape College - Mapoon) ). [30] [31]

Facilities

Presently the town has a primary school, nursing station, council office and small shop providing fuel and food. Local people are employed on the Council which as well as providing services for the local community in 2006 won the contract to provide road maintenance for the all-weather 80 kilometres (50 mi) dirt road from the town of Weipa.[ citation needed ]

In cooperation between the council and the State Library of Queensland, the new Mapoon Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) was opened on Thursday, 18 August 2022, within the new Mapoon Cultural Centre. [32] The IKC includes computers and a library connection.

Attractions

Camping facilities near the town are found at Cullen Point and Janie Creek. [33] The area is known for excellent fishing and crabbing.[ citation needed ]

Alcohol Management Plan

An alcohol management plan (AMP) exists in the community, with restrictions on the amount and type of liquor that may be carried on persons or vehicles in the area. [34] This AMP was formulated and requested by the majority of Elders within the community and passed by law by the Government of Queensland into section 168 of the Liquor Act 1992. It is enforced by the Queensland police based at Weipa.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

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

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">Weipa</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Weipa is a coastal mining town in the local government area of Weipa Town in Queensland. It is the largest town on the Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast. The Port of Weipa is mainly involved in exports of bauxite. There are also shipments of live cattle from the port.

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

Coen is a rural town and coastal locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. The town of Coen is inland on the Peninsula Developmental Road, the main road on the Cape York Peninsula in far northern Queensland. In the 2021 census, the locality of Coen had a population of 320 people.

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

Far North Queensland (FNQ) is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. Its largest city is Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula, which stretches north to the Torres Strait, and west to the Gulf Country. The waters of Torres Strait include the only international border in the area contiguous with the Australian mainland, between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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

Bamaga is a small 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. It is one of the northernmost settlements in continental Australia and is the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.

<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">Pormpuraaw, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Pormpuraaw is a coastal town and a locality in the Aboriginal Shire of Pormpuraaw, Queensland, Australia. Pormpuraaw is an Aboriginal community situated on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula approximately halfway between Karumba and Weipa on the Edward River. It is 650 kilometres (400 mi) by road from Cairns. Pormpuraaw currently has a 4-man police station.

<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 2016 census, Injinoo had a population of 561 people.

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

Napranum is a remote town in the locality of Mission River in the Aboriginal Shire of Napranum, Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 census, the town of Napranum had a population of 950.

<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 2016 census, New Mapoon had a population of 383 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. It is unknown when it became extinct.

Alngith ([al-ngeeth]) is an extinct Paman language formerly spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by the Alngith people. The last known speakers survived into the 1980s. Phonologically, this language variety is very similar to the related variety Linngithigh, the only difference being that this language has the process of metathesis whereas Linngithigh does not.

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

The Shire of Cook is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Shire covers most of the eastern and central parts of Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

There are two library services operating in Australia that have adopted the appellation "knowledge centre" in relation to the delivery of library services for Indigenous Australian clients. The Northern Territory Library first developed the Indigenous Knowledge Centre model of service and later changed this to Library and Knowledge Centre. The State Library of Queensland continues to use the title Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

<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. In June 2018, the area had a population of 3,069.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Musgrave</span> Estuarine bay in Far North Queensland

Port Musgrave is a shallow, almost enclosed, estuarine bay located on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.

The Ducie River is a river located on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archer River, Queensland</span> Suburb of Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia

Archer River is a rural locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Archer River had a population of 22 people.

Mission River is a coastal rural locality split between the Shire of Cook and the Aboriginal Shire of Napranum in Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Mission River had a population of 987 people.

Duyfken Point is a point in the locality of Mission River, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mapoon (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Mapoon – town (entry 20875)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  3. "Mapoon – locality in the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon (entry 45896)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  4. "Mapoon – locality in the Shire of Cook (entry 46135)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  5. CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Teppathiggi". Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Uradhi". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. Sutton, Mary-Jean Nancy (5 June 2015), Remembering the mother mission: exploring trauma, cultural heritage values and identity at Mapoon, a former mission village in Western Cape York, Queensland: Ph.D. thesis, The University of Queensland, School of Social Science, p. 16, archived from the original on 30 January 2021, retrieved 30 January 2021
  8. Collings 1997.
  9. Bill Mason (17 November 1999). "Mapoon elder slams Lingard over 'straw hut' remarks". Green Left Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. Tony Koch (2 November 2010). "Notorious bureaucrat who oppressed Aborigines dies unlamented". The Australian . News Limited. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  11. "Emperor for Life: Killoran's Queensland". RadioNational. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Blacks fight for land". Tribune . No. 1905. New South Wales. 10 June 1975. p. 6. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2022 via National Library of Australia.
  13. Fogarty, Lionel (31 January 2019). "'The Rally Is Calling': Dashiell Moore Interviews Lionel Fogarty". Cordite Poetry Review (Interview). Interviewed by Moore, Dashiell. p. 1. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  15. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
  16. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mapoon (Mapoon Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  17. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mapoon". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 January 2013. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  18. 1 2 3 "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  19. "Cullen Point – mountain in Mapoon Aboriginal Shire (entry 8954)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  20. "Port Musgrave – port in Shire of Cook (entry 23654)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  21. "Ducie River – watercourse in the Cook Shire (entry 10656)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  22. "Wenlock River – watercourse in the Cook Shire (entry 36991)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  23. "Mountain ranges beaches and sea passages - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  24. "Marine islands - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  25. "Flying Fox Island – island (entry 12833)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  26. "Mapoon - Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships". Queensland Government - Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships . Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  27. "Heliports and landing grounds - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  28. "Myerfield Strip – landing area in Shire of Cook (entry 23717)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  29. "Old Mapoon, QLD Climate (1893-1998 normals and extremes)". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  30. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  31. "Western Cape College - Mapoon". Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  32. CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Mapoon: from Ideas Box to IKC (8 November 2022) by Indigenous services published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence , accessed on 18 January 2023.
  33. "Mapoon". The State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  34. "Mapoon alcohol limits". Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

Sources