Thursday Island & Torres Strait Islands

Introducing Thursday Island & Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait Islands have been a part of Queensland since 1879, the best known of them being Thursday Island (or TI as it’s known locally). The 70 other islands are sprinkled from Cape York in the south to almost Papua New Guinea in the north. Erub (Darnley Island as it is also known) is in the eastern group, and is of volcanic origin. It’s another important island in the region as it has come into the spotlight as a campaigner for equal recognition of Torres Strait Islanders’ rights.

Torres Strait Islanders came from Melanesia and Polynesia about 2000 years ago, bringing with them a more material culture than that of mainland Aboriginal people.

It was a claim by Torres Strait Islander Eddie Mabo to traditional ownership of ­Murray Island that led to the High Court handing down its groundbreaking Mabo ruling. The court’s decision in turn became the basis for the Federal government’s 1993 Native Title legislation.

Thursday Island is hilly and just over 3 sq km. It was once a major pearling centre, and the cemeteries tell the hard tale of that dangerous occupation. Some pearls are still produced here from seeded ‘culture farms’. The island is a friendly, easy-going place, and its main appeal is its cultural mix – Asians, Europeans and Pacific Islanders have all contributed to its history.

The Peddells Ferry Island Tourist Bureau (07-4069 1551; www.peddellsferry.com.au; Engineers Wharf; 8.30am-5pm, to noon Sat) will tell you everything you need to know.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009