Lockhart River, Queensland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lockhart River is an Aboriginal community on Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. The population of 800 consists mostly of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, whose descendents were forcibly moved to the area beginning in 1924.[1]
Lockhart River is a coastal Aboriginal community situated on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula, approximately level with Weipa. It is 800 km north by road from Cairns & approx. 2550 km by road north of Brisbane. Lockhart River is the northern most town on the east coast of Australia. The community is also located approx. 2 km inland from Quintell Beach and is within the Iron Range National Park. During WW2 the Airport was constructed as a bomber base.
Lockhart River is also the name of a river located 14 km south of the community. The river was named by explorer Robert Logan Jack in January 1880 after a close friend, Hugh Lockhart.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1934 people were collected from throughout Cape York and placed on the mission at Lockhart River, which became a centre for the sandalwood trade. When the Second World War broke out the Europeans left and the Aboriginal people were told to go back to the bush and fend for themselves. In 1947 the mission was re-established with drastic changes inflicted on how the people should live and behave. In particular, tribal groups were forced to combine into a single community.
In 1964 the church handed over the mission to the Queensland Government who tried to relocate the people to Bamaga. The people refused to go but in 1971 were forced to move away from the traditional area of the coast. No consideration was given to traditional owners of the land and this move resulted in much discontent and friction.[3]
The community has DOGIT status and is governed by its own community council.
[edit] Population
A mix of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders both live in the community. Population is between 650 - 700 'locals' + approximately 30 'whites' performing various tasks i.e.: teachers, nurses, police, shop employees, council administration, council workshop, carpenter & plumber.
The Lockhart River 'local' population is made up from 5 different clan groups. The Wuthathi from the north of the Olive River. The Kuuku Ya'u from Lloyd & Weymouth Bays, the Uutaalnganu from the Lockhart River south to Friendly Point, the Umpila from Friendly Point to the Massey River, and the Kaanju from the inland mountain areas behind the coast. (Targeting 2000, 1995) Local language is slowing fading out.
Information about the population spread throughout division: The main population in this division are Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders who nearly all live in the community town area itself.
There is 2 'Outstations'. 1 is at 'Old Site' & is only normally used during the dry season when vehicles can drive to that location on a rough inland road. It is sometimes used as a weekender by some local families during the calm weather over the Christmas to January period.
The 2nd 'Outstation' is at Chillie Beach & this is normally occupied all year round by the HOBSON family group. It remains accessible by road & water most of the time.
A number of smaller communities also exist. These are Wattle Hills Station, Pascoe River 'Farm', Chillie Beach, Packer's Bay & Portland Road communities.
Wattle Hills Station is located just inside the mouth of the Pascoe River north of Lockhart River. It is a share arrangement for persons opting out of main stream society. Very little problems arise from these people. Approx 30 persons live in open plan style houses. This station has its own airstrip & mail service once a week. Some of the houses have telephone connected and all are linked by their own private UHF radio network under the Rural Fires scheme.
Pascoe River 'farm' is located on the banks of the Pascoe River quite some distance inland. Access to the 'Farm' is from the main Lockhart River to Archer River road 52 km from the Lockhart River community. A track leads a further 15 km to the 'Farm'. It is occupied by the FYFE extended family group. Approximately 20 - 30 persons live here (many of them are children) and all adults are unemployed.
Chillie Beach has a number of feral dwellings squatting along the secluded beaches & headlands. Approximately 10 - 20 persons live here, however this varies throughout the year.
Packer's Bay also has a number of open plan & full residential style houses occupied by persons opting out of mainstream society. Approximately 10 persons live here.
Portland Road community is a reasonably standard housing area with some open plan style houses. It is predominantly a fishing community. Many prawn trawlers & cray boats use these sheltered waters. Approximately 20 - 30 persons live here.
[edit] History Timeline
1848 The explorer Edmund Kennedy set up a base camp near the mouth of the Pascoe River. Edmund Kennedy left nine men there. By the time they were located by the supply ship only 2 remained alive with seven dying from disease & starvation.
By the 1870's Fisherman with luggers looking for pearl shell & trochus were in the coastal areas. Miners in search of tin & gold along with timber cutters were in the hills around Gordon Creek & the country inland around the Wenlock River.
1924 - 1941 The Church of England set up a mission at Ochid Point in Lloyd Bay. This mission was then moved to Bare Hill, south of Cape Direction which is now known as 'Old Site'.
1941 The 'Old Site' mission was abandoned at the start of World War 2 and moved in closer to the American Bomber base at Iron Range.
During World War II a large American bomber base was set up at Lockhart River with 4 airstrips operating. The US bombers would fly to the Coral Sea battles & be met by their fighter escorts based at Bamaga & Horn Island further north. Many thousands of troops both US & Australian passed through as part of their jungle training before being shipped to SE Asia. Portland Road community 40 km north of Lockhart River was the supply port for the war effort with a large jetty. This jetty has since been removed. Many old bunkers and rusting 44 gallon drums can still be found in bush areas.
After the war the community moved back to 'Old Site'.
1967 - 1987 The Queensland Government took control of the mission & tried to move the population to Umagico near Bamaga. Some people moved to Umagico however many resisted the move & the current site of Lockhart River Community was established.
1987 The Lockhart River Community was given 'Deed of Grant in Trust' (D.O.G.I.T.) title of the lands. Locally elected councillors now provide administration for the Lockhart River D.O.G.I.T.
[edit] Shopping & Services
Council workshop: Vehicle repairs, services & puncture repairs only (no panel repairs available). A welding section is also available for very basic welding repairs & fabrications.
Post Office: Is not an official post office. It is merely a room used to sort received mail & collect mail to be flown out. No normal Post Office facilities are available.
Domestic Violence Woman's Shelter: A well set up woman's shelter exists at Lockhart River community directly opposite the police station. The shelter is poorly run by 'locals' and often unstaffed. The shelter use UHF CB radio channel 10.
Airport: The local airport is run by the council under its own incorporated body called the Lockhart River Airport Corporation.
Medical and Veterinary Facilities Local hospitals, medical clinics, doctors, QAS, Dental, Optical: A local hospital is available for Primary Health Care only which is staffed by 4 x registered nurses with 'Remote Nursing' qualifications. The community does not have a doctor. The Royal Flying Doctor Service visits each week on Wednesday & overnights, flying out Thursday afternoon. About each 2 months a dentist & other medical specialists attend as needed. No fully fitted ambulance is available.
Two separate shops operate in the community.
The Retail store is operated by the Dept of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Policy & Development. This store has EFTPOS facility & cash out to a max. of $100. It stocks sufficient foods for day to day living but at higher than larger city prices. Fresh fruit, vegetables, milk & bread can be fairly ordinary in quality. Diesel & unleaded fuels are available at the bowser. Opening times week days are from 0910 to 1230. Closes for lunch. Then 1335 to 1600. On Saturday the store opens at 0905 to 1030. The store does not open on Sunday.
The Anglican Church shop or as it is locally known as the 'Jamie Shop' is a cash only business. It does not stock a great deal of food & the prices are normally higher than the Retail Store. It's opening times vary however it usually remains open to 1700 on week days and opens on Saturdays & Sundays for about 2 hours between 1400 to 1600.
An alternative to shopping at Lockhart River is purchasing your groceries, meats & alcohol supplies from various outlets in Cairns. Normal payment method is by credit card at the same time you fax your orders to the suppliers. Delivery to Lockhart River community is by barge operated by Seaswift Pty Ltd at 41-43 Tingira Street, Portsmith, Cairns, 4870. Seaswift normally require credit card direct debit access for transport costs.
[edit] Transport
Road conditions: Bitumen streets around community itself. Many severe potholes in the bitumen roads will cause damage to vehicles if not driven slow enough. All other access roads are dirt. The roads are rough and hard mechanically on vehicles. L/River has a lot of creeks crossing on the roads and some are quite deep. This causes a lot of mechanical failures in vehicles because of water in the various oils & seal damage.
The 'WET' season starts at about the 2nd week of November each year with local storm activity. Later in the 'Wet' season the monsoonal rains keep the rivers flooded. Usually the first vehicles to travel out to the Archer River Roadhouse start about the 1st week of June.
In the 'WET' you can expect to drive through some long deep mud sections and numerous deep creeks where a snorkel is definitely required. In the 'DRY' you can expect to destroy your vehicle on hard corrugations & ruts.
[edit] References
- ^ Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council: Lockhart River. URL accessed 2006-04-27
- ^ Place Names Search: Queensland Government. URL accessed 2006-04-27
- ^ State Library Qld. URL accessed 2006-05-7
