New Mapoon, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New MapoonQueensland |
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 New Mapoon
Location in Queensland
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| Population | 412 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2.990/km2 (7.74/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 137.8 km2 (53.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
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| State electorate(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Leichhardt | ||||||||||||||
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New Mapoon is a small town and coastal area in Queensland, Australia. It is located in the very northern part of the state. In 2021, about 412 people lived here.
The people who live in New Mapoon today were moved there in the early 1960s from another place called Marpuna. This happened because of mining plans in their old home. Now, they help look after a special area of land that belongs to the Gudang people. The community also has a ranger service. These rangers work with other local rangers to care for the land in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA).
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Where is New Mapoon?
New Mapoon is located near the very tip of Cape York Peninsula. It is south of Seisia and west of Bamaga. The area is next to a special forest called the Lockerbie Scrub.
New Mapoon is one of five communities that make up the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). This area covers about 1,030 square kilometers in far north Queensland. The other communities in the NPA are Injinoo, Umagico, Seisia, and Bamaga.
History of New Mapoon
The area around New Mapoon has a long history. Two important Aboriginal languages from this region are Luthigh and Uradhi.
Early Languages and Land
The Luthigh language was traditionally spoken in areas including Eastern Cape York Peninsula, the Ducie River, and places like New Mapoon and Injinoo.
The Uradhi language was spoken on the Western Cape York Peninsula. This included land north of Mapoon and near the Ducie River. After European settlement, Uradhi was also spoken in the Northern Peninsula Area Region communities, including New Mapoon.
How New Mapoon Started
New Mapoon was first called Hidden Valley. It was also known by local names like Charcoal Burner or Mandingu. The government created New Mapoon to house people from the Mapoon Mission. This mission was closing down in July 1963.
The Mapoon Mission was set up in 1891 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia. It was on the traditional lands of the Tjungundji people. Over time, people from other language groups and even South Sea Islanders were brought to the mission.
In the 1950s, there were talks about closing the Mapoon Mission. The government decided to close it, even though many residents did not want to leave. They wanted to stay in their homes.
Moving to New Mapoon
Around 285 people lived at Mapoon when the closure plan became known in 1954. The church did not fully agree to the closure until 1960. This was partly because of money problems and the discovery of bauxite (a type of ore) nearby.
Between 1961 and 1962, the church started to reduce services at the mission. The government began building houses at New Mapoon. By July 1963, about 100 Mapoon residents had moved to New Mapoon. However, many people stayed at Mapoon, fighting against the closure. They even set up their own schools and ways to get food.
In November 1963, the government sent police to move the remaining people from Mapoon. Records show that residents were made to leave, and some buildings were taken down or destroyed. More residents were moved to Weipa and New Mapoon in early 1964.
After the Mapoon mission closed, some former residents worked hard to return. In 1974, Jerry and Ina Hudson and other families went back to 'old Mapoon'. In 1984, they formed the Marpuna Aboriginal Corporation to rebuild their community.
Population
The number of people living in New Mapoon has changed over time.
- In 2016, the population was 383 people.
- In 2021, the population grew to 412 people.
Learning and Community
New Mapoon does not have its own schools. Students usually go to the Northern Peninsula Area State College in nearby Bamaga. This college has campuses for both younger and older students.
The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council runs a library in New Mapoon. It is called the New Mapoon Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC). This center opened in 2002 and was one of the first of its kind in Queensland. It helps collect and share local history from all five communities in the Northern Peninsula Area.
New Mapoon also has a general store, an "Arts and Craft" shop, and a "Bait and Tackle" shop.
