Mapoon, Queensland
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 , Mapoon had a population of 317 people. Geography. Mapoon is on the western side of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia. 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 (), creating a side bay of the Gulf called Port Musgrave (), which is probably named after Sir Anthony Musgrave , the Queensland Governor from 1883 to 1888. Ducie River () and Wenlock River () flow though the locality into Port Musgrave. Red Beach is a sandy strip facing Port Musgrave adjacent to the south side of the town (). The government-built housing is spread out in bushland along Red Beach Road towards Cullen Point, rather than being clustered together as in other Western Cape communities. Flying Fox Island is a marine island () in the west of Port Musgrave close to the coastline north of the town. During the wet season from December to April the town is largely inaccessible except by air  and sea. There is an airstrip south of the town (). The Alcan Weipa mining lease covers of the locality of Mapoon. It is a bauxite mine. It includes the Myerfield Strip, an aircraft landing strip (). The name "Myerfield" was proposed by Alcan Pty Ltd, which had built the airstrip. History. 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. "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. 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. By 1907, under the Reformatories Act, it was operating as a community for local people. 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 were excised from the mission reserve . 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. They were then transported by ship. The police raid was ordered and overseen by Patrick Killoran, the then director of Aboriginal Affairs in Queensland. Historical reports suggest that people were  forced or tricked to board the barge. Reports also claim that local people viewed the Aboriginal residents' houses were burnt to the ground to prevent the residents returning, however government 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. Mapoon State School opened on 30 January 1995. On 1 January 2002, it became the Mapoon campus of Western Cape College. The , the  population of Mapoon was 139. 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 , the locality of Mapoon had a population of 239. At the , the town of Mapoon recorded a population of 263 and 90% of the town's population was of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. In the , the locality of Mapoon had a population of 317 people. Economy. There is a fishing business, providing mudcrabs to southern markets from the Port Musgrave Bay and Dulhunty and  Wenlock rivers. 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 (). 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 dirt road from the town of Weipa. Attractions. Camping facilities near the town are found at Cullen Point and Janie Creek. The area is known  for excellent fishing and crabbing. Alcohol Management Plan. 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.