Damon Mcknight
Australia is often referred to as an island continent, with 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. The northernmost point of Australia is the Horn Island, part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of Cape York Peninsula. However, the northernmost inhabited island of Australia is Boigu Island, also part of the Torres Strait Islands. Boigu Island is only 6km away from the mainland of Papua New Guinea and is predominantly inhabited by indigenous Torres Strait Islanders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Boigu Island |
| Alternate Names | Malu Kiyay, Malu Kiwai |
| Population | 199 (as of 2021 census) |
| Indigenous Population | 189 (as of 2021 census) |
| Area | 89.6 sq. km |
| Distance from Papua New Guinea | 6 km |
| Education | Malu Kiwai Campus of Tagai State College |
| Library | Indigenous Knowledge Centre |
| Economy | Pearling, Fishing, Trade with PNG |
| History | Suffered eight Japanese air raids during World War II |
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What You'll Learn
- Boigu Island, Queensland, is Australia's northernmost inhabited island
- Boigu is only 6km from Papua New Guinea
- Horn Island, also in the Torres Strait Islands, is Australia's northernmost point
- K'gari, Queensland, is the world's largest sand island
- Macquarie Island is one of Australia's most distant possessions
Boigu Island, Queensland, is Australia's northernmost inhabited island
Boigu Island is also the name of the town and locality on the island within the Torres Strait Island Region. The island is considered part of the New Guinea mangroves ecoregion, a subset of the Australasian realm. The interior of the island is sparsely vegetated and mainly swampland, while the coast is fringed by mangroves, which protect against sea erosion. Boigu Island is the largest and only inhabited island of the Talbot Islands group.
In the 2021 census, the population of the island was 199, of whom 189 people (95%) identified as Indigenous Australians. The island's residents are predominantly Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders. The Malu Kiwai State School opened on the island in 1985, and in 2007, it became the Malu Kiwai Campus of Tagai State College, a primary school. There is no secondary school on the island.
Due to its proximity to Papua New Guinea, Boigu Island is outside of the Australian quarantine zone. PNG island traders travel 45 minutes by boat to Boigu Island each weekday to sell their products.
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Boigu is only 6km from Papua New Guinea
Boigu Island, also known as Malu Kiyay or Malu Kiwai, is the northernmost inhabited island of Australia. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea. Boigu Island is only 6km from the mainland of Papua New Guinea. To put this proximity into perspective, it is said that residents of Boigu Island can see Papua New Guinea from where they stand.
The island has a total area of 89.6 square kilometres and a population of 199 people, as recorded in the 2021 census. Of this population, 95% identify as Indigenous Australians, specifically as indigenous Torres Strait Islanders. The island is considered part of the New Guinea mangroves ecoregion, and its interior is sparsely vegetated, consisting mainly of swampland. The coast is fringed by mangroves, which protect against sea erosion.
Due to its proximity to Papua New Guinea, Boigu Island is outside of the Australian quarantine zone. Each weekday, PNG island traders travel for 45 minutes by boat to Boigu Island to sell their products. The island's location near Papua New Guinea has also influenced its history. From the 1870s to around 1910, the Boigu people, along with their neighbours, were harassed by "warriors" from the Marind-anim, headhunters from what is now southeast South Papua.
Boigu Island's close proximity to Papua New Guinea highlights the relatively isolated nature of Australia and the unique geographical relationships between the two nations.
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Horn Island, also in the Torres Strait Islands, is Australia's northernmost point
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders, ranging from small rocks that are submerged during high tide to islands larger than 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi). One of these islands is Horn Island, which is part of the Torres Strait Islands group at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, Australia's northernmost point. It is located approximately 17 kilometres off Queensland's coast and just south of Papua New Guinea.
Horn Island has a small population of approximately 650 people, with a focus on pearling and fishing. The island is home to the only airport in the Torres Strait Island group, as most of the other inhabited islands only have an airstrip. Horn Island also has a museum and art gallery in the small town of Wasaga. Visitors can also take tours of some of the historic World War II sites on the island.
Horn Island is one of the more remote islands of Australia, but it is not the most remote. That title goes to Lord Howe Island, a small oceanic island in the Tasman Sea, 600 kilometres (370 mi) east of the Australian mainland.
The Torres Strait Islands are known for their proximity to Papua New Guinea. Boigu Island, for example, is the northernmost inhabited island of Queensland and Australia, and Papua New Guinea is only 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away. The interior of Boigu Island is sparsely vegetated and mainly swampland, while the coast is fringed by mangroves, which protect against sea erosion. The Torres Strait Islands are predominantly inhabited by Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders.
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K'gari, Queensland, is the world's largest sand island
Boigu Island, Queensland, is Australia's northernmost island. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea.
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K'gari, Queensland: The World's Largest Sand Island
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is the world's largest sand island. Located in Queensland, Australia, it is a World Heritage-listed site, recognised for its cultural and historical significance, as well as its natural beauty and diverse wildlife.
The island covers an area of 1,653 square kilometres (638 square miles) and is situated approximately 250 kilometres (160 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is part of the Wide Bay-Burnett region and falls within the local council area of the Fraser Coast Region.
K'gari is derived from the language of the Butchulla people, the traditional custodians of the land. The name refers to an Aboriginal Dreaming story about a goddess named K'gari who fell in love with the earth and never wanted to leave. The island was originally named Great Sandy Island by European colonists and later Fraser Island, after Captain James Fraser, a shipmaster who was shipwrecked and died on the island in 1836.
K'gari boasts a unique geology, with extensive deposits of minerals like rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite. The island is characterised by its coastal dune fields, which have been divided into seven morphological units, including the Awinya, Yankee Jack, and Bowarrady. These dunes are thousands of years old, with the oldest, the Awinya unit, dating back over 340,000 years.
The island has a rich history, including a period of logging that began in 1863 and ended in 1991 due to conservation concerns. Sand mining leases were granted from 1950 to 1977, with mining operations ceasing after widespread opposition and the establishment of Australia's first environmental impact inquiry.
K'gari offers a range of experiences, from driving on wide-open beaches to witnessing the magic of shifting sand blows and iridescent waters teeming with marine life. Visitors can choose between holiday resorts and wilderness camping, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.
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Macquarie Island is one of Australia's most distant possessions
The island is an exposed portion of the Macquarie Ridge, formed where the Indo-Australian tectonic plate meets the Pacific plate. It is the only place on Earth where rocks from the Earth's mantle are exposed above sea level. This unique geological feature led to the Australian government nominating Macquarie Island for inscription on the World Heritage Register in 1996. The island was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, recognising its significance as a site of major geoconservation importance.
Macquarie Island is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including seals, penguins, and many species of seabirds. It is the nesting site for the entire royal penguin population during their annual breeding season. However, the island's ecosystem has faced threats from invasive species such as rabbits, rats, and mice, which have caused soil erosion and destroyed seabird nests. In 2007, the Australian and Tasmanian governments announced a joint plan to eradicate these pests, with a focus on protecting Macquarie Island's World Heritage values.
The island has a small human population, with a research station established by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) in 1948. The station has been in continuous operation since then, with a population of between 20 and 40 people throughout the year. Macquarie Island's climate is characterised by low sunshine levels, making it one of the cloudiest places on Earth.
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Frequently asked questions
Boigu Island, also known as Malu Kiyay or Malu Kiwai, is the northernmost Australian island. It is part of the Top Western group of the Torres Strait Islands, which lie in the Torres Strait separating Cape York Peninsula from the island of New Guinea.
The mainland of Papua New Guinea is only 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) away from Boigu Island. In fact, from the island, you can literally see Papua New Guinea.
In the 2021 census, the population of the island was 199, of whom 189 people or 95% of the population identified as Indigenous Australians.
![The Island [Limited Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LYMsvoz-L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
