Saibai Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Saibai (Torres Strait Creole) Saibai (Tok Pisin) Saybay (Kala Lagaw Ya) |
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Landsat image of Saibai Island
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A map of the Torres Strait Islands showing Saibai in the north central waters of Torres Strait
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 9°24′S 142°41′E / 9.400°S 142.683°E |
| Archipelago | Torres Strait Islands |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Torres Strait |
| Major islands | Saibai, Kauamag |
| Area | 107.9 km2 (41.7 sq mi) |
| Length | 21.8 km (13.55 mi) |
| Width | 5.2 km (3.23 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1.7 m (5.6 ft) |
| Highest point | unnamed |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Queensland |
| Local government area | Torres Strait Islands Regional Council |
| Island Region | Top Western |
| Largest settlement | Saibai (pop. 171) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 340 (2021 census) |
| Ethnic groups | Torres Strait Islanders |
| Saibai Island Queensland |
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| Population | 340 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 3.32/km2 (8.6/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4875 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 102.5 km2 (39.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Torres Strait Island Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Leichhardt | ||||||||||||||
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Saibai Island, often just called Saibai, is an island in the Torres Strait Islands group. It is part of Queensland, Australia. The island is located north of mainland Australia. It is also south of the large island of New Guinea. Saibai is a specific area within the Torres Strait Island Region. The main town of Saibai is on the island's northwest coast.
Most of Saibai Island is owned by its traditional people. This is called native title. Some parts are used for government buildings or have historical importance.
In 2021, about 340 people lived on Saibai Island.
Contents
Geography of Saibai Island
Saibai Island was formed by mud and sand. These materials were carried by rivers from Papua New Guinea.
Saibai Island is a large, flat island. It is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of the Papua New Guinea mainland. Nearby to the north is Kauamag Island, which no one lives on. A narrow water channel separates Kauamag from Saibai.
The island is about 21.8 kilometers (13.5 miles) long. It is also about 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles) wide. Saibai is very flat. Most of it is covered by mangrove swamps. The highest point is only 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) above sea level. Because it is so low, the island often floods during the wet season. This happens when very high tides occur at the same time. A paved airstrip on the island allows planes to land all year.
The main village of Saibai is in the northwest. It has 171 residents. The second village, Churum, is in the southwest. About 128 people live there.
History of Saibai Island
After World War II, Saibai Island faced big problems. Very high tides caused a lot of damage. A group of islanders, led by Bamaga Ginau, decided to move. They accepted help from the government to resettle on Cape York Peninsula. The village of Saibai was completely flooded by 10 meters (33 feet) of water. The islanders were also worried about land washing away and not having enough fresh water.
A new town was built inland from Red Island. It was named Bamaga. Later, some people moved to a new settlement on the coast. They called this place Seisia.
In January 2012, very high tides flooded the island's cemetery. This damaged many important gravesites.
People and Culture
The main language spoken on Saibai is Kalaw Kawaw Ya (KKY). Saibai Islanders have always traded and had good relationships with their neighbors in Papua New Guinea. The people of Saibai became Christians in 1871. This happened when the London Missionary Society arrived.
The societies on Saibai, Boigu, and Dauan islands are based on "Buwai," which means clan or moiety. There are two main Buwai: the Koei Buwai (Senior Moiety) and the Moegina Buwai (Junior Moiety). Each of these is divided into smaller groups called totemic subclans. Examples include the Samu Augadh (Cassowary Totem) and Koedal Augadh (Crocodile Totem). All parts of life, like gathering food, family matters, and traditional religion, are connected to these clan relationships.
The people of Saibai are legally recognized as the traditional owners of the island. They are of Melanesian origin. For thousands of years, they lived in villages. They followed traditional ways of hunting, fishing, farming, and trading. This was long before Europeans, Asians, or Pacific Islanders visited the area. The people of Saibai have strong family and trade connections with Mt Cornwallis and Boigu Island. They also have important, though less strong, ties with nearby Papuan communities.
Saibai Island Population in 2016
In 2016, Saibai Island had a population of 465 people. Most people, 84%, were born in Australia. About 85.6% of the population were Torres Strait Islanders or Aboriginal people. Specifically, 70% of the people said they had Torres Strait Islander ancestry. The most common religion was Anglican, followed by 44.9% of the people.
Most households on Saibai (79.5%) spoke a language other than English at home. The most common languages were Kala Lagaw Ya and Torres Strait Creole.
Saibai Island Population in 2021
In 2021, the population of Saibai Island was 340 people.
Education on Saibai Island
Saibai Island Campus is a primary school for children from early childhood up to Year 6. It is located at 5 School Road. This school is part of the Tagai State College. Tagai State College has 17 different campuses across the Torres Strait.
There is no high school on Saibai Island. The closest high school is on Thursday Island.
Special Places on Saibai Island
Saibai Island has some sites that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites. One of these is the Holy Trinity Church.
