Aurukun
- Location:
- Western Cape York, 900 km northwest of Cairns and 200 km south of Weipa.
- Area:
- 7,375 square km (includes 15 outstations which are occupied on a casual basis during the dry season); road access is often closed during the wet season.
- Population:
- 1,138 - predominantly Wik (traditional owners) representing 17 tribal nations.
- Language:
- Wik Munkun is the first language of most Aurukun children. English is the other dominant language of the area. Some people are fluent in as many as four or five local languages.
History of settlement
Today’s township is on the site of the original Aurukun Mission, established in 1904 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia (later the Uniting Church of Australia) which managed the reserve under provisions of the Queensland Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act, 1897. Aboriginal people were relocated from a large surrounding area, many against their will, to the mission settlement. In 1978, the Queensland Government decided to take control of both Aurukun and Mornington Island reserves; however both communities protested and sought the help of the Commonwealth Government. After lengthy negotiations, legislation for self-management of the two reserves was introduced into Federal Parliament and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Queensland Reserves and Communities Self-Management) Act was passed on the 7th April 1978. On the same day, the Queensland Government revoked the two reserves which meant that neither the Queensland Act nor the new Commonwealth legislation applied to the area. Eventually State and Federal Ministers agreed that local authorities would be created for the former reserves and the land leased to the newly created councils for 50 years. On 22 May 1978 the Local Government (Aboriginal Lands) Act, constituted the Aurukun Shire Council and granted to it Aboriginal Land Lease No.1.
Aurukun is a pilot site for the Australian Government’s Cape York Institute Welfare Reform project and has been chosen as a ‘model community’ for government intervention through the Aurukun Local Partnership Project. Its major focus is to enable the community to take up opportunities arising from Rio Tinto mining activity and the proposed Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco) bauxite mine in the area. It is anticipated that the Chalco mine will have a construction workforce of 700 people and an operational workforce of 100.The Aurukun Local Partnership Project is funded by State and Australian Government agencies commitments totalling $2.9 million over two years. The Queensland Government is contributing $300 million towards common user infrastructure associated with the project.
Aurukun’s community services include a health clinic, childhood centre, family support hub, women’s shelter, and schooling to Year 10.
Law and order is provided by a police presence of 8 to 10 officers, a community justice group, and a Department of Corrective Services Parole and Probation service.
Other services supported by the State Government include youth services, parenting education, childcare and family support programs, public intoxication mitigation initiatives, school holiday activities and local history projects.
Last updated: 30 June 2008.