| Wujal Wujal Queensland |
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Sign welcoming people to Wujal Wujal, having travelled from the south along the Bloomfield Track |
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Wujal Wujal
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| Population: | 326[1] |
| Postcode: | 4895 |
| Location: | |
| LGA: | Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council |
| State District: | Cook |
| Federal Division: | Leichhardt |
Wujal Wujal is in northern Queensland, Australia. Wujal Wujal is the name of a relatively small Aboriginal community on the north and south sides of the Bloomfield River. It has an area of 19.94 square kilometres of land. At the 2006 census, Wujal Wujal had a population of 326.[1]
It is located approximately 30 km north of Cape Tribulation and 60 km south of Cooktown. Access to the community is via a partly unsealed road which is only suitable for four wheel drive vehicles due to the gradient of the terrain and the many streams and rivers that make up the Daintree Drainage Basin which cross the path at very regular intervals. During high waterflow the road is unpassable. This is if you come from Cape Tribulation. If some one comes from the Cooktown direction the road is partly sealed as well but well driveable with a two wheel drive in the dry season. In the wet season it might be a bit slipery. Be cautious on this track because there is regular traffic of heavy trucks.
The rare Bloomfield River Cod (Guyu wujalwujalensis) is found only in the Bloomfield River and is named after this community.
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Wujal Wujal was formerly known as the Bloomfield River Mission and the people are Kuku Yalanji. The community has an estimated population of 470 (2001). The community at Wujal Wujal is thought to have existed on the site for thousands of years and is set around the highly sacred waterfalls of Wujal Wujal meaning many falls in the local language. Visitors are warned not to bring any alcohol into the community as part of the Queensland governments aims at tackling aboriginal alcohol abuse. Traffickers of such contraband substances have found themselves paying excessive fines. The government also help the community by giving small one day a week jobs involving community service to try and deter the members away from boredom and therefore alcohol abuse. The community has a helicopter landing pad just beside the hospital Royal Flying Doctor Service. Non-emergency medical services are provided in the community health clinic, by a dedicated nursing staff and 2-3 per week visits from doctors based at Cooktown Hospital. In 1980 the Aboriginal Council came into being, with the area regaining its traditional name, Wujal Wujal. The community has an Indigenous Knowledge Centre 'Binal Mangka Bayan (which means house of knowing things). The centre provides access to books, magazines and other educational material.
Councillors of Wujal Wujal Community:
The waterfalls are of the highest standard of natural beauty and for the community the falls are very sacred. The general public have access only to one waterfall as the other larger falls are only for the eyes of the female members of the community.
Access to most vehicles is limited and only four wheel drive vehicles can travel on the uncoated tracks. Tours are available for those without such transportation in small groups from Cape Tribulation's Ferntree and Coconut Lodge Resorts and are reasonably priced for the wealth of information gained and for the experience of visiting such an exceptional area of natural beauty.
In 2003 the Walker family, one of the family groups of the Kuku Yalanji people, commenced their rainforest tours on their traditional country at Thompson Creek, six km south of Wujal Wujal. Guided walks to the Bloomfield Falls have recently been added as another opportunity in their business.
As their tour attracts business from the Bloomfield area, mainly the Bloomfield Wilderness Lodge, the guests come by boat to their landing site on the Bloomfield River bank - creating the need for a jetty or ramp.