Mona Mona Mission facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mona Mona Mission Queensland
Mona Mona Mission Location in Queensland
Postcode(s)	4881

The Mona Mona Aboriginal Mission was a special place for Aboriginal people near Kuranda, Queensland, Australia. It was started around 1913 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mona Mona Mission: A Place of History

Starting the Mission

Around 1913, many Aboriginal people, especially from the Djabugay people, were moved to the Mona Mona Mission. They were brought there by force.

Life and Work at Mona Mona

For many years, until about 1940, the mission was almost self-sufficient. This means they grew their own food. They also cut and milled timber from the area.

Why the Mission Closed

After 1940, the soil on the mission land wasn't good for growing food anymore. It became too expensive to run the mission. Also, the city of Cairns was growing. Cairns needed more water. So, there was a plan to build a dam on Flaggy Creek. This creek flowed through the mission land. The dam would have flooded the mission houses.

In 1962, the Mona Mona Mission was closed. The people living there were moved to other missions. Some went to places like Great Palm Island and Woorabinda.

Returning Home

However, the dam project never happened. Because of this, some Djabugay people and former residents have moved back to Mona Mona. They have built new houses there. They are still waiting for the Queensland Government to help build more houses and other important things, like a school.

In 2010, the Queensland state government gave the local Indigenous people a 30-year lease for the Mona Mona area. This means they can use the land for a long time.