Leslie Massey
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is rich in Aboriginal history and culture, with the Lardil people recognised as its Traditional Owners. The island is fringed by mangrove forests and contains 10 estuaries, all in near-pristine condition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia |
| Group of Islands | Wellesley Islands |
| Position in the Group | Northernmost and largest island |
| Area | 1,018 km2 (393 sq mi) or 250 square miles (648 square km) |
| Population | Approximately 1,200 people |
| Towns | Gununa |
| Indigenous People | Lardil (Kunhanaamendaa), Kaiadilt, and others |
| Languages | Lardil (Gununa, Ladil), Kuku-Thaypan (Gugu Dhayban, Kuku Taipan, Thaypan) |
| Art | MIArt, MIAAC |
| Dance | Mornington Island Dancers |
| School | Mornington Island State School |
| Airport | Yes |
| Banking Services | No |
| Postal Services | Australia Post |
| Telecommunications | Telstra Network |
| Nearest Populated Places | Burketown (125 km), Karumba (200 km), Mt Isa (444 km) |
| Nearest Airport | Cairns, Mt Isa |
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What You'll Learn
The Wellesley Islands group
The Wellesley Islands are believed to have been sighted by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman in 1644 and were later charted by British navigator Matthew Flinders between 1802 and 1803. Flinders named the islands in honour of Richard Wellesley, the 1st Marquess Wellesley and Governor-General of Bengal from 1797 to 1805. Wellesley, along with Lord William Bentinck, played a role in securing Flinders' release from detention in Mauritius.
The traditional owners of the Wellesley Islands are the Lardil people, who prefer to be known as Kunhanaamendaa, meaning "people of Kunhanhaa", their name for Mornington Island. The Lardil language, also known as Gununa or Ladil, is spoken on Mornington Island and the northern Wellesley Islands. The Kaiadilt people, who were relocated from nearby Bentinck Island, and people of other nations also reside on the islands.
Mornington Island is the largest island in the Wellesley group, covering an area of 250 square miles (648 square kilometres). It is located about 125 kilometres northwest of Burketown, 200 kilometres west of Karumba, and 444 kilometres from Mt Isa. The island is accessible by air, with REX airlines offering flights five days a week from Cairns and Mt Isa. It is also served by a weekly barge service from Carpentaria Freight, connecting it to the Australian mainland.
Mornington Island is known for its rich cultural history and artistic traditions. The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages an art centre, MIArt, which is one of the oldest Indigenous Australian art centres in the country. The island is also home to the Mornington Island Dancers, one of the earliest established Aboriginal performing arts groups in Australia, celebrating Lardil culture through traditional dance and song.
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Kunhanhaa and the Lardil people
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is fringed by mangrove forests and contains 10 estuaries, all in near-pristine condition. The largest town, Gununa, is in the southwestern part of the island.
The Lardil people, who prefer to be known as Kunhanaamendaa (meaning people of Kunhanhaa), are an Aboriginal Australian people and the traditional custodians of Kunhanhaa/Mornington Island. They are the predominant nation on the island, and they are the traditional owners of the land and surrounding seas. The Lardil language, now moribund, belongs to the Tangkic language family.
The Lardil people had a meticulous ethnobotanical knowledge, and their botanical taxonomy has been likened to botanical scientific taxonomy. They also had a secret language, Damin, which was thought to be created by the Yellow Trevally fish ancestor Kaltharr and devised to mimic "fish talk". Damin was a language involving rituals that were disapproved of by missionaries, and it disappeared with the suppression of the Lardil ritual cycles.
The Presbyterian missionaries established a mission on Mornington Island in 1914. Initially, the missionaries' presence was received positively by the Lardil people. However, Rev. Robert Hall, who had strived to institute economic self-sufficiency for the islanders, was killed by a Lardil man in 1917. Rev. Wilson, Hall's successor, imposed a dormitory system that separated children from their elders, disrupting the intergenerational transmission of tribal lore and law.
Today, the Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages an art centre, MIArt, and a dance troupe, the Mornington Island Dancers, which celebrates Lardil culture through traditional dance and song.
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Mangrove forests and estuaries
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group, with an area of 1,018 square kilometres (393 square miles). The island is home to the Lardil people, the traditional owners of the island, as well as the Kaiadilt people and other nations.
Mornington Island has a rich cultural history and is known for its Indigenous Australian art and performance. The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages an art centre, MIArt, which was established in the 1950s when people from the islands started creating artefacts and bark paintings using natural ochres. Mornington Island is also home to one of the earliest established Aboriginal performing arts groups in Australia, the Mornington Island Dancers, who celebrate Lardil culture through traditional dance and song.
The island is known for its natural beauty, with a flat topography and a maximum elevation of 150 metres (490 feet). It is fringed by mangrove forests and contains 10 estuaries, all in near pristine condition. The waters surrounding the island are inhabited by saltwater crocodiles, making swimming inadvisable.
Mornington Island is located about 125 kilometres (77.67 miles) northwest of Burketown, 200 kilometres (124.27 miles) west of Karumba, and 444 kilometres (275.89 miles) from Mt Isa. It can be accessed by air, with REX airlines offering flights five days a week from Cairns and Mt Isa. A weekly barge service is also available from Carpentaria Freight, which can transport vehicles and goods to the island.
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Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation
The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation (MGAC) is one of the longest-established art and cultural organisations in Aboriginal Australia. It is situated in the remote Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia and is fully owned and controlled by an Indigenous Board. The majority of its staff are Indigenous, and they are focused on delivering locally relevant programs that produce internationally significant artwork.
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is the largest of a cluster of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group in the south of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. The island has a rich cultural history that dates back thousands of years and was first proclaimed as an Aboriginal reserve in 1905. The Lardil people, also known as Kunhanaamendaa (meaning people of Kunhanhaa), are the traditional owners of the island and have occupied their lands for over 8,000 years. The Kaiadilt people, who were relocated from nearby Bentinck Island in 1947-1948, also reside on the island.
The primary purpose of the Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation is to maintain and develop the cultures of the Lardil and Kaiadilt people. The artists of Mornington Island work with various mediums, including painting, music, dance, and storytelling. Their artwork is heavily influenced by their connection to the land and culture, with a strong focus on cultural and spiritual subject matter centred on their connection to Country.
The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages an art centre, MIArt, which is one of the oldest Indigenous Australian art centres in the country. The artists of Mornington Island began using natural ochres in the 1950s and later transitioned to acrylic paint on bark, selling their work in the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Mornington Island Art and Crafts (MIAAC) was established, further solidifying the island's reputation as a hub for Indigenous art and culture.
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Travel and tourism
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the 22 islands that make up the Wellesley Islands group, with an area of 1,018 square kilometres (393 square miles) and a maximum elevation of 150 metres (490 feet). The town of Gununa, located on the southwestern end of the island, is the largest settlement. The island is fringed by mangrove forests and contains 10 estuaries, all in near-pristine condition.
Mornington Island is a remote and culturally significant destination that offers a unique experience for travellers interested in Indigenous Australian art, culture, and nature. The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages the Mornington Island Art (MIArt) centre, which is one of the oldest Indigenous Australian art centres in the country. The art centre showcases artefacts and bark paintings created by the local artists using natural ochres and acrylic paints. The island also has a rich history of performance, with the Mornington Island Dancers being one of the earliest established Aboriginal performing arts groups in Australia. They have performed internationally and celebrate the Lardil culture through traditional dance and song.
The Lardil people, who prefer to be known as Kunhanaamendaa, are the traditional owners of the island and the surrounding seas. The Kaiadilt people, who were relocated from nearby Bentinck Island, and other nations also reside on the island. Visitors are required to participate in the Mornington Island Cultural Awareness Program, which provides interactive information about cultural protocols and services on the island.
Travellers can fly to Mornington Island from Cairns and Mt Isa, with REX airlines offering flights five days a week. There is also a weekly barge service to the island via Carpentaria Freight. It is important to note that Mornington Island does not have banking services, and swimming is not advised due to the presence of saltwater crocodiles.
The island offers a range of experiences for travellers, including the opportunity to explore its natural beauty and wildlife. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area, located 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Mornington, is a haven for birdwatchers. The island's flat topography makes it ideal for hiking and exploring the dramatic wilderness. Additionally, food and wine enthusiasts can enjoy the world-class wineries and renowned restaurants that the Mornington Peninsula is known for.
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Frequently asked questions
Mornington Island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group.
The only permanent community on Mornington Island is Gununa, with a population of approximately 1,200 people.
Mornington Island does not have a banking service and has slow internet bandwidth connections. The waters surrounding the island are inhabited by saltwater crocodiles, so swimming is not advised.
