# Bamaga

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Bamaga (English: /ˈbæməɡə/ BAM-ə-gə, Kala Lagaw Ya:) 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. It is one of the northernmost settlements in continental Australia and is the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.
In the 2021 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people.

## 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.
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.
Bamaga Post Office opened by September 1951.
Bamaga State School opened on 28 January 1964. On 23 March 2005, it was renamed Northern Peninsula Area State College.
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.
Bamaga State High School opened on 30 January 1973, but closed on 9 December 1994.

## Demographics

In the 2006 census, the town of Bamaga had a population of 784 people, of whom 688 (87.8%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
In the 2016 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,164 people, of whom 957 (82.4%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
In the 2021 census, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people, of whom 929 (78.3%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

## Geography

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

## Climate

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 :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| 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) | 16.9 | 15.7 | 16.3 | 11.7 | 7.0 | 5.7 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 9.0 | 98.1 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1887-1955 normals and extremes) ||||||||||||||

## Language

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

## Education

Northern Peninsula Area State College is a government primary and secondary (Kindergarten-12) school for boys and girls. 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). It includes a special education program. The college has its Bamaga senior campus at Sagaukaz Street (10°53′43″S 142°23′09″E﻿ / ﻿10.8952°S 142.3858°E﻿ / -10.8952; 142.3858﻿ (Northern Peninsula Area State College - Senior Campus)). Its Bagama junior campus is at Anu Street (10°53′12″S 142°23′24″E﻿ / ﻿10.8868°S 142.3901°E﻿ / -10.8868; 142.3901﻿ (Northern Peninsula Area College - Bamaga Junior Campus)). The college has a second junior campus in the town of Injinoo.
The Cape York Campus, a technical and further education (TAFE) college, has been established at Bamaga (10°53′43″S 142°23′19″E﻿ / ﻿10.8954°S 142.3886°E﻿ / -10.8954; 142.3886﻿ (technical college)). The campus provides a wide range of tutorial courses including seamanship and other courses.
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council operates an Indigenous Knowledge Centre at HACC Centre Building in Adidi Street, Bamaga.

## Amenities

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

## Tourism

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

## Medical

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