Lockhart River

Settlement history

The coastal people of eastern Cape York were some of the first people to join the labour market through beche de mer and pearling industries that started in the 1870s. In 1908 an Aboriginal reserve was proclaimed at Lloyd Bay. It was placed under the control of the Anglican Church in 1924.

The fear of an imminent Japanese invasion during World War Two forced the mission to be disbanded. The residents were told to live in bush camps and were supplied with intermittent rations.

By 1944 most of the people who were living in the mission returned to it. But then a flu epidemic went through the mission population and about one third died. In 1953 work started on a new village to build 65 houses.

In 1969 a new mission was completed at Iron Range. On 29 October 1987 land in the Lockhart River region was assigned to the Lockhart River Council, under the Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).

The Lockhart River DOGIT, (except for the town area, which remains under Lockhart River Council control), was transferred to traditional owners in September 2001 into the Mangkuma Land Trust. This transfer was done under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld).

Community services

Lockhart River's community services include a health clinic, women's shelter, school to year 12 and an Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

Law and order is supported by 2 to 4 police officers and a community justice group. The state government funds youth leadership and development programs, child and vacation care, alcohol demand reduction activities and family and community history projects.

More information

• regional office contacts
• alcohol limits
• Quarterly report on key indicators in Queensland's discrete Indigenous communities July-September 2008

Other sites

• Indigenous Knowledge Centre