Northern Peninsula Area

In March 2008, 5 communities - Bamaga, Injinoo, New Mapoon, Seisia and Umagico – amalgamated as the Northern Peninsula Regional Council.

Settlement history

In 1606, the Dutch were the first Europeans to arrive in the Northern Peninsula Area. Others also passed this area until the landing of Captain Cook in 1770 at Possession Island (Thunadha). In 1848, Edmund Kennedy set out from Cardwell on the ill-fated overland expedition to Cape York (Pajinka).

The Queensland Government established a settlement at Somerset (Pulu) in 1864. This was the first real arrival of non-Aboriginal people into the Northern Cape York Peninsula. Over the next 40 years, introduced diseases decimated the Aboriginal population in the area. The government estimated the population decreased from 3000 to less than 300 people.

The 5 major groupings - Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang - created their own settlement. This was 'discovered' by the Chief Protector of Aborigines in 1916.

After World War Two, which saw a considerable military presence in the area, Torres Strait Islanders began moving into Injinoo. Settlements were subsequently built at Bamaga, New Mapoon and Umagico to relocate evicted people from this and other areas of the Cape. In 1948 a reserve was created under the direction of the Queensland Department of Native Affairs.

Bamaga, a Torres Strait Islander community, was first established at Muttee Head in 1947. People from Saibai Island relocated to the area because of the threat to their island from tidal inundation. By 1954, the community had been relocated to its present site, known as Ichirru.

New Mapoon was originally established as a township named Charcoal Burner in 1963. It was a relocation area for Indigenous people from Mapoon just north of Weipa (known as Old Mapoon and sometimes Marpuna).

Seisia, formerly known as Red Island Point, was established in 1948. Six brothers from the Saibai Island Clan (Koedal) arrived in the area in the pearling lugger “Seisia” named for the brothers – Sunai, Elu, Ibuai, Sagaukaz, Isua and Aken. The Red Island Point Community was granted ownership of the land under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) in 1985. When registering as a Local Authority, the community changed its name to Seisia.

Umagico, known locally as 'Alau', came into being in the early 1960s. The then state government forced the Morrobalama People (living in and around the Charlotte Bay region of eastern Cape York – the Lockhart River Mission) to settle in the area. In the early 1970s, people from Moa Island in the Torres Strait were also resettled in Umagico.

Community services

Seisia is the main port for the Northern Peninsula Area. Bamaga is the area's commercial and administrative centre and major government services are located there.

Bamaga's community services include a hospital, health centre, ambulance service, family resource centre, healing centre, healthy lifestyles centre, home and community care, women's shelter and crisis shelter.

There is a pre-school, primary and secondary schools and a TAFE college. Law and order is supported by a police station, watch-house and courthouse in Bamaga.

The NPA police station has 10 officers and the area is also supported by a community justice group.

State government funding supports sporting and recreation facilities, a kids' club, child care services, domestic violence prevention and youth development programs.

More information

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

Other sites

• Injinoo Indigenous Knowledge Centre
• New Mapoon Indigenous Knowledge Centre
• Seisia Indigenous Knowledge Centre