Shire of Aurukun

Coordinates: 13°21′30″S 141°43′41″E / 13.35833°S 141.72806°E / -13.35833; 141.72806
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Shire of Aurukun
Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population1,382 (2018)[1]
 • Density0.18615/km2 (0.48213/sq mi)
Established1978
Area7,424 km2 (2,866.4 sq mi)[1]
MayorKeri Pauline Tamwoy
Council seatAurukun
RegionFar North Queensland
State electorate(s)Cook
Federal division(s)Leichhardt
WebsiteShire of Aurukun
LGAs around Shire of Aurukun:
Cook Cook Napranum
Gulf of Carpentaria Shire of Aurukun Cook
Gulf of Carpentaria Pormpuraaw Cook

The Shire of Aurukun is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. The shire covers part of western Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

It covers an area of 7,424 square kilometres (2,866.4 sq mi), and has existed as a local government area since 1978.

History[edit]

According to the earliest records, Cape Keerweer, located on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast, was the first site where Europeans wished to settle in Australia. A Dutch ship with Captain Willem Janszoon was the first recorded Dutch landing at Cape Keerweer. Captain Janszoon wanted to build a city at the site but the exploitative action of his crew led to a fight between the local Aboriginal people and the sailors. It resulted in the killing of various crew members and the ship had to leave.[2]

The territory of the Shire of Aurukun was previously an Aboriginal reserve administered under the Queensland Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 by the Presbyterian Church. The Aurukun Mission was established in 1904 and Aboriginal people from all over Cape York were relocated there.

In 1978, the land was taken over by the Queensland Government, who enacted the Local Government (Aboriginal Lands) Act 1978, proclaimed the Shire of Aurukun and granted to it Aboriginal Land Lease No. 1. An elected council lasted just one month and an administrator was appointed. The State's media at the time generally was of the opinion that bauxite revenues were a major factor in the Government's decision making on the issue.[3]

In the 1990s, an elected council once again took charge.

Towns and localities[edit]

The Shire of Aurukun includes the following settlement:

Language[edit]

Aurukun is known as part of the Wik Nation.[4] The location of Aurukun has the Wik Mungkan Tribe as traditional custodians and is known as a strong First Nations community. It is the last Aboriginal community in Queensland who have a traditional language (Wik Mungkan) as a thriving and strong first language, with more than 1200 fluent speakers from children to elders. Many cultural-based programs, incorporating the five Wik Language Groups have been facilitated from the local Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC); This includes the Kaap Thonam: Woyan-Min Biocultural Project App (the Biocultural Project).[4]

In 2022, the Biocultural Project was led by Perry Yunkaporta, Wik Elder and Apelech Clan songman and traditional owner and included Noel Waterman, Aurukun IKC Coordinator and Gabe Waterman, Wik and Kugu Art Centre Manager. Engaging the community, they developed the software application 'Kaap Thonam, a Wik Seasons Calendar', teaching important knowledge of Aurukun's seven seasons. Perry Yunkaporta has been working on the Biocultural Project at the Wik Mungkan IKC in Aurukun for several years, contributing his rich linguistic expertise and cultural knowledge in leading learning on country activities with students from the local school.[4]

Libraries[edit]

The Aurukun Shire Council operates the Wik Mungkan Indigenous Knowledge Centre in Aurukun,[5] in partnership with the State Library of Queensland. This was the sixth IKC to open, on 22 November 2002. The council has operated the IKC for 20 years, with periods of closure for various reasons. The IKC currently offers library services, as well as a location for the Aurukun Flexi Learning Centre which focuses on culturally based learning, including Wik language classes.[4]

Population[edit]

The population of the Shire of Aurukun, along with the Shires of Cook, Torres and Mornington, have been singled out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), who conduct the Australian census every five years, as particularly difficult to measure accurately. Reasons for this include cultural and language barriers, transport and geographical spread of the population, who are mostly located in isolated communities. As such, all figures are likely to be lower than the actual population on the census date.[citation needed]

Year Population
1981 791
1986 937
1991 784
1996 781
2001 1,032
2006 1,043

Chairs and mayors[edit]

Start of term End of term Chairman/Mayor Notes
2008 2012 Neville James Pootchemunka [6]
2012 2020 Dereck Walpo Elected on 16 June 2012 in a postponed election due to the death of one of the original candidates.[7] Re-elected unopposed in 2016.[8]
2020 present Kerrie Pauline Tamwoy [9]

Election results[edit]

2024[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 Queensland local elections § Aurukun.[edit]
2024 Queensland local elections: Aurukun
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Craig Koomeeta (elected) 433 20.54
Independent Leona Nanette Yunkaporta (elected) 424 20.11
Independent Eloise Yunkaporta (elected) 375 17.79
Independent Jayden Marriott (elected) 369 17.50
Independent Kempo Tamwoy 317 15.04
Independent Bobby Adidi 190 9.01
Turnout 563 60.28

2020[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2020 Queensland local elections § Aurukun.[edit]
2020 Queensland local elections: Aurukun[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Kempo Tamwoy (elected) 352 18.64 +18.64
Independent Craig Koomeeta (elected) 335 17.74 +17.74
Independent Delys Yunkaporta (elected) 251 13.29 +13.29
Independent Anna Kerindun (elected) 197 10.43 +10.43
Independent Noel Waterman 179 9.48 +9.48
Independent Bobby Adidi 163 8.63 +0.69
Independent Douglas Ahlers 147 7.79 +7.79
Independent Stuart Marquardt 134 7.10 −4.11
Independent Jonah Yunkaporta 130 6.89 +6.89
Turnout 66.91

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. ^ "History". Aurukun Shire Council. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  3. ^ Cribb, Margaret (December 1978). "Australian Political Chronicle: January-June 1978". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 24 (3): 371–372. ISSN 0004-9522.
  4. ^ a b c d This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Wik Mungkan Indigenous Knowledge Centre (22 November 2022) by Indigenous services published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 18 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Aurukun Shire Council". Public Libraries Connect. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  6. ^ "2008 Aurukun Shire - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  7. ^ "2012 Aurukun Shire - Postponed Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 24 October 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  8. ^ "2016 Aurukun Shire Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  9. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Aurukun Shire Division 1 Councillor". Electoral Commission of Queensland.

External links[edit]

13°21′30″S 141°43′41″E / 13.35833°S 141.72806°E / -13.35833; 141.72806

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