Minjilang, Northern Territory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MinjilangNorthern Territory |
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 Minjilang
Location in Northern Territory
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| Population | 271 (2006 census) | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 0822 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 35 m (115 ft) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | West Arnhem Region | ||||||||
| Territory electorate(s) | Arafura | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lingiari | ||||||||
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Minjilang, once known as Mission Bay, is an Aboriginal community. It is located on Croker Island in Australia's Northern Territory. Croker Island is about 235 kilometers (146 miles) northeast of Darwin. Minjilang is the only main town on Croker Island. The island itself is very close to the mainland.
Contents
A Look Back: Minjilang's History
From 1940 to 1968, a place called the Croker Island Mission was in Minjilang. It was run by the Methodist Overseas Mission.
Where is Minjilang?
The community of Minjilang is on the eastern side of Croker Island. It sits on a quiet spot called Mission Bay. Besides Minjilang, there are only eight small family outstations on the island. These are like smaller family homes away from the main community.
Who Lives in Minjilang?
At the 2011 census, Minjilang had 308 people living there. Most of them were Aboriginal people. About 150 people speak the Iwaidja language. They are the only people who still speak this language. Other languages spoken include English, Kunwinjku, and Maung.
Croker Island was a safe place for many children. These children were part of the "Stolen Generation". This was a time when Indigenous children were sadly taken from their families. Minjilang is a "dry" community. This means no alcohol is allowed in the village. This rule helps to prevent problems. However, a drink called kava can be sold and used under special rules.
Minjilang's Weather
Minjilang has a tropical savannah climate. This means it is very hot all year round. The rainy season usually runs from December to April. It gets a lot of rain during these months.
| Climate data for Minjilang | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.5 (99.5) |
34.5 (94.1) |
34.7 (94.5) |
41.4 (106.5) |
33.1 (91.6) |
33.8 (92.8) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.7 (89.1) |
36.0 (96.8) |
35.8 (96.4) |
36.8 (98.2) |
38.4 (101.1) |
41.4 (106.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.3 (88.3) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.7 (87.3) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.7 (85.5) |
28.1 (82.6) |
27.4 (81.3) |
28.3 (82.9) |
29.8 (85.6) |
31.6 (88.9) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.9 (91.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.5 (76.1) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24.1 (75.4) |
23.9 (75.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.1 (77.2) |
25.2 (77.4) |
23.8 (74.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 20.1 (68.2) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.9 (62.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
14.0 (57.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 316.6 (12.46) |
257.1 (10.12) |
281.7 (11.09) |
159.0 (6.26) |
43.0 (1.69) |
5.2 (0.20) |
3.7 (0.15) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.5 (0.02) |
6.5 (0.26) |
67.8 (2.67) |
208.2 (8.20) |
1,390.4 (54.74) |
| Average rainy days | 16.9 | 16.8 | 16.5 | 11.7 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 4.9 | 11.5 | 86.6 |
Services in Minjilang
Minjilang has a supermarket where people can buy food and other items. There is also a school for children. The community has a clinic with a nurse and a health worker. A doctor visits every two weeks, and a dentist comes from time to time.
The West Arnhem Region provides many important services. These include collecting waste and supplying power and water. They also manage the sewerage system. The region helps keep the roads, the barge landing, and the community airstrip in good condition.
Getting Around and Staying Connected
Croker Island Airfield is about 11 kilometers (7 miles) west of Minjilang. It is near a small family outstation called Adjamarrago. Murin Airways offers flights to Darwin almost every day. The flight to Darwin takes about an hour.
A barge service to Darwin, run by Perkins Shipping, comes once a week. The roads on the island are mostly dirt roads. Visitors need a special permit to come to Croker Island. This permit is from the Northern Land Council. This is because the land is owned by Aboriginal people and is restricted. The community can listen to one radio station. They also get four television channels.
