Mapoon Aboriginal Mission Queensland
Encyclopedia
Mapoon Aboriginal Community is located at Port Musgrave
, western Cape York
in Queensland. A Presbyterian mission was established at Mapoon in 1891 with the aim of providing education and health services to the Aboriginal people. By 1907, under the Reformatories Act, it was operating as community for local people. At the 2006 census
, Mapoon had a population of 239.
In the 1950s the discovery of bauxite
on the Western Cape area saw mining leases for large areas given to Comalco
and Alcan
. The Mission was closed as the government of the day sought to rationalise services for the Cape indigenous people by centralising the services to the Bamaga area. People were moved there from Mapoon by ship and historical reports suggest that people were forced or tricked to board the barge. It is believed among the local people that the aboriginal residents' houses were burnt to the ground to prevent the residents returning, however other (govt) reports state some houses were burnt due to their dangerous and verminous condition. 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 and now the Mapoon Aboriginal Council administers the community affairs with government support.
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 excellent all-weather 80 km dirt road from the town of Weipa. There is also a productive fishing business, providing mudcrabs to southern markets from the Port Musgrave Bay and Dulhunty and Wenlock rivers.
The community differs from many other Cape communities in that the quality government built residences are spread out in bushland along Red Beach Road towards Cullen Point rather than being clustered together.
In 2000, the Mapoon Aboriginal community was formally recognised under Deed of Grant in Trust
arrangements. The 1996 census population of Mapoon was 139.
an "Alcohol Management Plan" exists in the community, with restrictions on the amount and type of liquor that may be carried on persons or vehicles in the area. This Plan was formulated and requested by the majority of Elders within the community and passed by law by the Government of Queensland into S.168 of the Liquor Act 1992. It is enforced by the Queensland Police based at Weipa.
Mapoon is a recognised tourist destination with excellent camping facilities at Cullen Point and Janie Creek. (Permit required from the Mapoon Council Office) The area is known for excellent fishing and crabbing. During the Wet season from December to April the Cape area is inaccessible except by air and sea.
Port Musgrave
Port Musgrave is a shallow, almost enclosed, estuary, forming a bay on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia. Two major rivers, the Wenlock and the Ducie discharge into it. The surrounding area is rich in freshwater swamps, while the estuary itself has...
, western Cape York
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
in Queensland. A Presbyterian mission was established at Mapoon in 1891 with the aim of providing education and health services to the Aboriginal people. By 1907, under the Reformatories Act, it was operating as community for local people. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Mapoon had a population of 239.
In the 1950s the discovery of bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
on the Western Cape area saw mining leases for large areas given to Comalco
Comalco
Rio Tinto Aluminium is now known as Rio Tinto Alcan after Rio's takeover of Alcan. It was the world's eighth largest aluminium company...
and Alcan
Alcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
. The Mission was closed as the government of the day sought to rationalise services for the Cape indigenous people by centralising the services to the Bamaga area. People were moved there from Mapoon by ship and historical reports suggest that people were forced or tricked to board the barge. It is believed among the local people that the aboriginal residents' houses were burnt to the ground to prevent the residents returning, however other (govt) reports state some houses were burnt due to their dangerous and verminous condition. Many residents were unhappy at Bamaga, at one of the nearby communities now known as New Mapoon
New Mapoon
New Mapoon is an area South of Seisia and West of Bamaga at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, adjoining the Lockerbie Scrub. At the 2006 census, New Mapoon had a population of 346....
. Over the following years, many moved back to (Old) Mapoon and eventually the government provided new housing and now the Mapoon Aboriginal Council administers the community affairs with government support.
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 excellent all-weather 80 km dirt road from the town of Weipa. There is also a productive fishing business, providing mudcrabs to southern markets from the Port Musgrave Bay and Dulhunty and Wenlock rivers.
The community differs from many other Cape communities in that the quality government built residences are spread out in bushland along Red Beach Road towards Cullen Point rather than being clustered together.
In 2000, the Mapoon Aboriginal community was formally recognised under Deed of Grant in Trust
Deed of Grant in Trust
A Deed of Grant in Trust is the name for a system of community-level land trust established in Queensland to administer former reserves and missions...
arrangements. The 1996 census population of Mapoon was 139.
an "Alcohol Management Plan" exists in the community, with restrictions on the amount and type of liquor that may be carried on persons or vehicles in the area. This Plan was formulated and requested by the majority of Elders within the community and passed by law by the Government of Queensland into S.168 of the Liquor Act 1992. It is enforced by the Queensland Police based at Weipa.
Mapoon is a recognised tourist destination with excellent camping facilities at Cullen Point and Janie Creek. (Permit required from the Mapoon Council Office) The area is known for excellent fishing and crabbing. During the Wet season from December to April the Cape area is inaccessible except by air and sea.