Myora Mission facts for kids

Myora Mission was a special place set up in 1892 on an island called Minjerribah (also known as Stradbroke Island) in Queensland, Australia. It started as a mission station, which was a settlement run by religious groups. Later, it became an Aboriginal reserve, a place where Aboriginal people were made to live. It was also called an "industrial and reform school" and was used as a place where people had to work. Myora Mission closed in 1943.

Myora Mission's Story

Early Attempts: 1843

Before the main mission, a different group of priests tried to start a mission at Moongalba in 1843. However, their efforts did not work out, and they left the island soon after.

Starting the Mission: 1892

The Queensland Aboriginal Protection Association began the Myora Mission in 1892. It was located on Minjerribah, an island known to the local Aboriginal people, the Quandamooka community.

In October 1892, an area of about 20 hectares (about 50 acres) was set aside for the mission. This was at Moongalba, near the top of what is now called North Stradbroke Island.

On November 26, 1892, Myora Mission was officially declared a "Reserve for Mission" by Queen Victoria. From October 1893, the mission aimed to make Aboriginal people adopt European ways of life. Staff at the mission made sure people followed European customs and values.

The mission was also called an "industrial and reformatory school". The Queensland Government paid a Superintendent and a Matron to run the mission. Older boys and girls were taught skills to be "useful" to the mission and society. They were punished if they did not follow the rules. Later, the mission stopped being a school. The dormitories (sleeping areas) were closed, and children who were considered orphans were moved to another mission called Deebing Creek Mission.

Becoming an Aboriginal Reserve: 1896

In 1896, Myora Mission changed its official status. It was renamed a "Reserve for the use of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the State". This meant it was no longer just a mission but an Aboriginal reserve.

Between 1897 and 1940, four different Chief Protectors of Aborigines were in charge of the reserve. By 1905, about 48 people lived permanently at Moongalba. This included five men from the Pacific Islands who were married to local women.

People living at the reserve were often made to work for very little or no pay. They worked at the Benevolent Institution, which was a place that helped people in need. The Medical department of this institution ran the mission from 1906 to 1917. People from the reserve also worked at a fish cannery, an abattoir (a place where animals are processed for meat), and the Moreton Bay Oyster Company. They also worked as nursing assistants, domestic servants (people who work in homes), and fishermen on the island.

Closing Down: 1943

Myora reserve closed in 1943. The land was then given to the Benevolent Institution. The people who lived at Myora were moved to other places on the island, like Moopi Moopi Pa (One Mile) and Goompi (Dunwich). In 1947, the Benevolent Institution itself moved to Sandgate. This meant that all the jobs and facilities it offered also moved away from the island.