Mapoon

Settlement history

In October 1901, Mapoon was gazetted as an industrial school under the Queensland Industrial and Reformatory Schools Act. Northern Protector of Aboriginals W.E. Roth noted in his annual report that prior to this time the government had been sending to Mapoon 'waifs and strays from the Gulf country generally, but so far without the legal status of their being "neglected" children'. He added that the 'Protectors are thus able to deal summarily with the Gulf children' which meant that police officers in Protector roles could remove children from their families or clan group and send them into the dormitory system at Mapoon.

For the next 30 years, many mixed-descent children were removed from their families in the Gulf country and sent to Mapoon to be raised by the missionaries. South Sea Island people were also brought from Samoa, the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and the Solomon Islands to help the missionaries set up agriculture, carpentry and other ventures. Some of their descendants, along with the descendants of Aboriginal people removed from the Gulf region, live in the Mapoon community today.

In 1954 church and government officials decided to close Mapoon and evacuate the residents to Weipa or elsewhere. Many people were relocated to Hidden Valley near Bamaga in 1961. By mid-1962 nearly 100 people had moved to what became known as New Mapoon. In November 1963 the government removed the traditional owners' leaders to Red Island Point (now Seisia) to be settled at New Mapoon. Some of their houses at Mapoon were burnt to the ground to prevent their return. Within 6 months all remaining residents had left Mapoon.

In 1974 several families returned and 10 years later the Marpuna Community Aboriginal Corporation was established. The Marpuna Corporation gradually built up the community at Rugapayn (Red Beach) to a stage where people were able to resettle permanently. Government recognition followed.

Community services

Mapoon’s community services include a health care centre, a home and community care service and school to year 6.

Law and order is supported by police stationed in Weipa and a Mapoon community justice group.

State government funding also supports an early childhood centre, counselling and support services and domestic violence prevention and justice programs.

More information

• regional office contacts
• alcohol limits
• quarterly reports on key indicators in Queensland's discrete Indigenous communities

Other sites

• Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council

Last reviewed: 17 August 2009

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