Air Adventure Australia

Destination Profile - Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands

Thursday Island, is now identified as one of the last great frontiers in Australia. It is only three square kms in area, 39 km from the top of Cape York, 800 km north of Cairns and 3040 km north of Brisbane. T.I, as the island is more affectionately known by the locals, is nestled in the protective embrace of the Prince of Wales group of Islands in the Torres Strait and is a hilly Island of almost 5 km. Its multi-cultural population numbers around 4000.

In 1880 Thursday Island acted as the defence centre for Australia and evidence of this still exists in that the cannons still remain in place. A majority of the residents are involved in some way with the Island's new three major industries of pearling, crayfishing and trochus.

The Torres Strait Islands were first discovered in 1606 by Spanish Captain Torres, who named the newly found islands after himself. It was another 160 years before Captain Cook entered the region and claimed the entire east coast of Australia. These waters then became a trade route for ships travelling to India and Britain.

Thursday Island holds some great Australian History from playing an important role in WW II, acting as the defence centre for Australia and the near-by Horn Island being a strategic air-base to the traditional inhabitants of this group of Islands that stretch from Cape York to the PNG coastline.

The Torres Strait Islanders (being the correct name for this culturally unique group) lived, fished, traded and where possible on the islands tended vegetable gardens, all for them and their families to survive by. They were masters of the sea and its many products.

The business language of the island is English but as most of the population is indigenous Torres Strait Islanders, the social language among the general population is Torres Strait Creole.

Industries in the Torres Strait have traditionally been tied to the sea. Pearling in the late 19th and early 20th century provided the backbone of the Torres Strait economy but with its decline crayfishing has become the backbone of the economy. Tourism is beginning to make its mark as more tourists come over for day visits by boat from Cape York. Some communities are now building their own high quality accommodation for tourists to holiday in. Unemployment is a great concern with such a limited economic base at present.

Around the time of the First World War, the Australian Government was concerned about an invasion from Russia. One of their defensive measures was to establish an outpost of the Australian defence forces on TI. The fort and cannons on Green Hill date from this time. Though very impressive to visitors, the cannons were never "fired in anger", nor the soldiers called upon to defend their country.

The Green Hill Fort is presently the home of the TI Historical Society. Memorabilia, such as old journals, artefacts, articles of colonial settlement, especially from the pearling days, are here for visitors to view.

This destination is part of the Cape York Outback Paradise Australian Adventure.