Bamaga
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = town
| name = Bamaga
| state = qld
| image = Bamaga-cape-york-queensland-australia.jpg
| caption = Main street of Bamaga
| coordinates = {{coord|-10.8879|142.3888|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Bamaga (town centre)}}
| pop = 1186
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| established =
| postcode = 4876
| area = 66.2
| timezone = AEST
| utc = +10:00
| dist1 = 649
| dir1 = NNE
| location1 = Weipa
| dist2 = 828
| dir2 = NNW
| location2 = Cooktown
| dist3 = 997
| dir3 = NNW
| location3 = Cairns
| dist4 = 2669
| dir4 = NNW
| location4 = Brisbane
| elevation =
| maxtemp =
| mintemp =
| rainfall =
| lga = Northern Peninsula Area Region
| stategov = Cook
| fedgov = Leichhardt
| near-n = New Mapoon
| near-ne = Somerset
| near-e = Somerset
| near-se = Somerset
| near-s = Umagico
| near-sw = Umagico
| near-w = New Mapoon
| near-nw = New Mapoon
}}
Bamaga ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|b|æ|m|ə|ɡ|ə}} {{respell|BAM|ə|gə}}, {{IPA|mwp|ˈbamaɡa|lang}})Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. {{ISBN|1-876429-14-3}} is an Indigneous town and locality about {{convert|40|km|mi}} from the northern tip of Cape York in the north of Queensland, Australia. It is within the Northern Peninsula Area Region.{{cite QPN|1447|Bamaga|town in Northern Peninsula Area Region|access-date=22 March 2014}}{{cite QPN|46103|Bamaga|locality in Northern Peninsula Area Region|access-date=22 March 2014}} It is one of the northernmost settlements in continental Australia and is the administrative centre for the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people.
History
The original site for the township of Bamaga was at a site known as "Muttee Heads" some {{convert|20|km|mi}} south of the present Bamaga township. The present site was established after World War II by people from Saibai Island in Torres Strait, after Saibai Island was devastated by abnormally high tides. It is named after Saibai elder Bamaga Ginau, who envisaged the site but died before it was established.
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 the Northern Peninsula 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 Deed of Grant in Trust – communities with their own community councils.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Bamaga State School opened on 28 January 1964. On 23 March 2005, it was renamed Northern Peninsula Area State College.{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=22 March 2014}}
Some 20 years later, another community, "New Mapoon", was established. It was set up for the forced relocation of people of "Old Mapoon" community, located some two hours north by road from the township of Weipa for bauxite mining.{{Cite web |date=2 March 2017 |title=New Mapoon |url=https://www.qld.gov.au/firstnations/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories/community-histories-n-p/community-histories-new-mapoon |access-date=15 May 2022 |website=Queensland Government |archive-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515060325/https://www.qld.gov.au/firstnations/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories/community-histories-n-p/community-histories-new-mapoon |url-status=live }}
Bamaga State High School opened on 30 January 1973, but closed on 9 December 1994.{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=Queensland state school - centre closures |url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320144902/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2013/5413T3241.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2022 |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=Queensland Government}}
Demographics
In the {{CensusAU|2006}}, the town of Bamaga had a population of 784 people, of whom 688 (87.8%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL303000|name=Bamaga (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=2008-01-03|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,164 people, of whom 957 (82.4%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC30135|name=Bamaga (SSC)|access-date=30 October 2018|quick=on}}
In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Bamaga had a population of 1,186 people, of whom 929 (78.3%) identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL30135|name=Bamaga (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}
Geography
Bamaga and the surrounding communities are located north of the Jardine River which supplies the town water.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Climate
{{climate chart
| Cape York Post Office, Queensland, Australia
| 24.0 | 29.8 | 370.6
| 23.9 | 29.6 | 352.6
| 23.8 | 29.6 | 370.9
| 23.7 | 29.5 | 255.5
| 23.0 | 28.8 | 69.1
| 22.3 | 28.1 | 26.1
| 21.5 | 27.6 | 19.7
| 21.6 | 27.8 | 9.5
| 22.2 | 28.5 | 6.4
| 22.9 | 29.9 | 14.9
| 23.8 | 30.9 | 56.7
| 24.2 | 30.8 | 194.6
| units = metric
| float = right
| clear = both}}
Bamaga experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw, Trewartha: Awaa), with hot conditions year-round. There is a wet season from mid-November to mid-May, and a dry season from mid-May to mid-November.
{{Weather box
|location = Cape York Post Office, Queensland, Australia (1887-1955 normals and extremes); 40 m AMSL
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan high C = 29.8
|Feb high C = 29.6
|Mar high C = 29.6
|Apr high C = 29.5
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 28.1
|Jul high C = 27.6
|Aug high C = 27.8
|Sep high C = 28.5
|Oct high C = 29.9
|Nov high C = 30.9
|Dec high C = 30.8
|Jan mean C = 26.9
|Feb mean C = 26.8
|Mar mean C = 26.7
|Apr mean C = 26.6
|May mean C = 25.9
|Jun mean C = 25.2
|Jul mean C = 24.6
|Aug mean C = 24.7
|Sep mean C = 25.4
|Oct mean C = 26.4
|Nov mean C = 27.4
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|Jan low C = 24.0
|Feb low C = 23.9
|Mar low C = 23.8
|Apr low C = 23.7
|May low C = 23.0
|Jun low C = 22.3
|Jul low C = 21.5
|Aug low C = 21.6
|Sep low C = 22.2
|Oct low C = 22.9
|Nov low C = 23.8
|Dec low C = 24.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 370.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 352.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 370.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 255.5
|May precipitation mm = 69.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 26.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 19.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 9.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 6.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 14.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 56.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 194.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 16.9
|Feb precipitation days = 15.7
|Mar precipitation days = 16.3
|Apr precipitation days = 11.7
|May precipitation days = 7.0
|Jun precipitation days = 5.7
|Jul precipitation days = 4.8
|Aug precipitation days = 3.1
|Sep precipitation days = 1.6
|Oct precipitation days = 2.1
|Nov precipitation days = 4.2
|Dec precipitation days = 9.0
|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1887-1955 normals and extremes){{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_027004.shtml |title=Cape York Post Office, QLD Climate (1887-1955 normals and extremes) |publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-date=10 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110095310/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_027004.shtml |url-status=live }}
}}
Language
The community languages of Bamaga are Kalaw Kawaw Ya, Brokan (Torres Strait Creole), and English, particularly for education and government business.{{Cite web |title=Bamaga |url=https://www.indigenous.gov.au/community/bamaga |access-date=15 May 2022 |website=National Indigenous Australians Agency}}
Education
Northern Peninsula Area State College is a government primary and secondary (Kindergarten-12) school for boys and girls.{{cite web|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|title=State and non-state school details|publisher=Queensland Government|date=9 July 2018|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archive-date=21 November 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.northernpeninsulasc.eq.edu.au|title=Northern Peninsula Area State College|access-date=21 November 2018|archive-date=16 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316203935/https://northernpeninsulasc.eq.edu.au/|url-status=live}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 634 students with 69 teachers (68 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (24 full-time equivalent).{{cite web|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=live}} It includes a special education program. The college has its Bamaga senior campus at Sagaukaz Street ({{coord|-10.8952|142.3858|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Northern Peninsula Area State College - Senior Campus}}). Its Bagama junior campus is at Anu Street ({{coord|-10.8868|142.3901|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Northern Peninsula Area College - Bamaga Junior Campus}}). The college has a second junior campus in the town of Injinoo.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=7 May 2022}}
The Cape York Campus, a technical and further education (TAFE) college, has been established at Bamaga ({{coord|-10.8954|142.3886|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=technical college}}).{{Cite web|date=18 November 2020|title=Landmark Areas - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121195536/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/built-features-queensland-series/resource/db9c913b-b7e2-4d88-9a5e-32cbb1470f12|archive-date=21 November 2020|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}} The campus provides a wide range of tutorial courses including seamanship and other courses.{{Cite web |title=Northern Peninsula Area |url=https://tafeqld.edu.au/about/campus-locations/far-north-queensland/northern-peninsula-area |access-date=15 May 2022 |website=TAFE Queensland |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525233756/https://tafeqld.edu.au/about/campus-locations/far-north-queensland/northern-peninsula-area |url-status=live }}
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council operates an Indigenous Knowledge Centre at HACC Centre Building in Adidi Street, Bamaga.{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/northern_peninsula/bamaga-indigenous-knowledge-centre|title=Bamaga Indigenous Knowledge Centre|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=State Library of Queensland|access-date=13 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213201201/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/northern_peninsula/bamaga-indigenous-knowledge-centre|url-status=live}}
Media
Radio stations that broadcast to the town are ABC Far North, Star 102.7, Hit103.5 and Red Dust Country FM, is a Aboriginal-owned community radio station which broadcast from the town. {{cite web| url=https://www.nparc.qld.gov.au/Our-services/Communication-and-media| title=Communication and media| website=Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council| access-date=29 May 2025| archive-date=22 May 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522023138/https://www.nparc.qld.gov.au/Our-services/Communication-and-media| url-status=live}}
Bamaga is served by five television stations, three commercial television stations (WIN Television, Seven Queensland and Network 10) which are regional affiliates of the three Australian commercial television networks (10, Seven and Nine), and public broadcasters the ABC and SBS services.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
Local newspaper is served by the Cape York Weekly which covers the town. {{cite web| url=https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/| title=Cape York Weekly| access-date=29 May 2025| archive-date=1 June 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601105913/https://capeyorkweekly.com.au/| url-status=live}}
Amenities
St Stephen's Catholic Church is in Lui Street. It is within the Thursday Island Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.{{Cite web|title=Thursday Island Parish|url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/thursdayisland.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118111701/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/thursdayisland.html|archive-date=2020-11-18|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns}}
Tourism
Muttee Heads is a fishing/camping spot with access to Jardine River mouth and is {{convert|30|km|mi}} west on Cairns road.{{Cite web |title=Mutee Head Campground Review |url=https://www.freetoexplore.co/review/mutee-head-free-campground-review/ |access-date=15 May 2022 |website=Free to explore |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813204518/https://www.freetoexplore.co/review/mutee-head-free-campground-review/ |url-status=live }}
Medical
The Bamaga Hospital as an establishment has five medical doctors and 14 nurses who can capably handle most cases presented.Queensland Health; http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/Hospital/Index/213 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710234626/http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/Hospital/Index/213 |date=10 July 2020 }}; Accessed 20200714
See also
{{Portal|Queensland}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Bamaga}}
- {{cite web|url=http://queenslandplaces.com.au/bamaga|title=Bamaga|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland|website=Queensland Places}}
- [http://www.nparc.qld.gov.au Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council]
{{Northern Peninsula Area Region}}
{{Far North Queensland}}
{{Torres Strait |state=autocollapse}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Populated places in Far North Queensland
Category:Torres Strait Islands communities
Category:Populated places established in 1947
Category:Aboriginal communities in Queensland
Category:1947 establishments in Australia