Bickerton Island
 Bickerton Island (Australia)
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulf of Carpentaria |
| Area | 215 km2 (83 sq mi) |
| Length | 21.5 km (13.36 mi) |
| Width | 20.9 km (12.99 mi) |
| Country | |
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Australia
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| Territory |  Northern Territory |
| Shire | East Arnhem Shire |
| Ward | Anindilyakwa Ward |
| Largest city | Milyakburra (pop. 140) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 140 |
| Density | 0.65 /km2 (1.68 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Anindilyakwa |
Bickerton Island is situated 13 km west off Groote Eylandt and 8 km east of the mouth of Blue Mud Bay in eastern Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is about 21 by 21 kilometers in size, with deep bays and indentations, and has an area of 215 km2. The largest bays are South Bay and North Bay. The only village, Milyakburra, is located on the eastern side of South Bay, beside Bickerton Island Airport. Bickerton Island was named by Matthew Flinders for Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton, Bt.
It has a small aboriginal community of 140 people, [1], all in the community of Milyakburra.[1][2]
Flinders actually called it "Bickerton's Island", and noted as follows in Voyage to Terra Australis II: "In passing the south side of Bickerton's Island, we observed in it a deep bight or bay which would afford shelter in the north-west monsoon, if there be depth sufficient for a ship; and the hills at the back being high and woody, there was a probability of its receiving a stream of fresh water. The country round the entrance of the bight, had the appearance of being sandy and sterile."
Bickerton Island administratively belongs to Anindiyakwa Ward of East Arnhem Shire and is thereby governed by the Anindiyakwa Land Council in Angurugu on Groote Eylandt. The community of Milyakburra was established in 1975 as a family outstation, and the Milyakburra Community Council was incorporated in 1983 [3].
- ^ http://www.bushtel.nt.gov.au/northern_territory/region1/shire_id3/community_display?comm_num=532
- ^ http://www.nt.gov.au/business/documents/general/Groote%20Eylandt%20final%20snapshot%20July%202006.pdf
- ^ http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/0A76C311-2E91-4CCC-A729-82C8A90E371A/0/nt_MilyakburraProjectl.pdf
Coordinates: 13°46′53″S 136°12′06″E / 13.78139°S 136.20167°E
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