History
The original site for the township of Bamaga was at a site known as "Muttee Heads" some 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the present Bamaga township. This site was established after World War 2 by people from Saibai Island in Torres Strait, led by a man named Bamaga, after Saibai Island was devastated by abnormally high tides.
In 1947, the Bamaga township was moved to its present site as a result of a need by the founding people for a larger supply of fresh water. With local industries and an airport (on Urradhi traditional land) Bamaga became the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area which was made up of the three Aboriginal communities of Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon, and the Islander communities of Seisia and Bamaga. All five are DOGIT — communities with their own community councils.
Some 20 years later, another community, "New Mapoon", was also established, having been set up for the forced relocation people of "Old Mapoon" community, located some two hours north by road from the township of Weipa for bauxite mining.
All communities except Bamaga and New Mapoon are located on the coastline and the current residents hold a close affiliation with the sea. The current populations are approximately 75% Islander and 20% Aboriginal.
Bamaga and the surrounding communities are located north of the Jardine River which supplies the town water.
Bamaga has an Islander population of approximately 700 people with a further 300 temporary non-islander residents. The Community has reticulated town water, which is pumped from the Jardine River. A new water treatment plant has been constructed recently and Bamaga is fully sewered.
Read more about this topic: Bamaga, Queensland
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