Stephen Island (Torres Strait) facts for kids
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Native name:
Ugar
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A Landsat image of Stephen Island
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A map of the Torres Strait Islands showing Ugar in the northeastern waters of Torres Strait
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| Etymology | Philip Stephens |
| Geography | |
| Location | Northern Australia |
| Coordinates | 9°30′25″S 143°32′42″E / 9.507°S 143.545°E |
| Archipelago | Torres Strait Islands |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Torres Strait |
| Administration | |
| State | Queensland |
| Local government area | Torres Strait Island Region |
| Demographics | |
| Ethnic groups | Ugarem Le |
Stephen Island, known as Ugar in the local Meriam language, is an island in the eastern part of the Torres Strait Islands in Queensland, Australia. The island is part of the Ugar Island area within the Torres Strait Island Region.
Contents
Where is Stephen Island?
This island is located near the Great Barrier Reef. It lies north of Coconut Island (also called Poruma). It is also northwest of Murray Island and west of Darnley Island.
Who are the Islanders?
The people of Stephen Island are Torres Strait Islanders. They are of Melanesian origin, meaning their ancestors came from islands in the Pacific Ocean. They have strong family connections with people from nearby Darnley Island (Erub) and Murray Island (Mer).
The traditional owners of Stephen Island call themselves the Ugarem-Le. For thousands of years, before Europeans arrived, the Ugarem-Le lived in villages. They hunted, fished, farmed, and traded goods.
The people of Stephen Island are called Ugarem Le. They are closely related to the Erubam Le of Erub (Darnley Island) and the Meriam Le of Mer (Murray). Their traditional language is Meriam Mìr. This language once had two main forms: Erub-Ugar and Mer-Dauar-Waier.
How did Stephen Island get its name?
Captain William Bligh gave the island its European name in 1792. He named it after Philip Stephens. Stephens was an important person in the British Navy at the time. Bligh was on his second trip to the Pacific to collect breadfruit plants.
A Look at Stephen Island's History
Early European Visits
In September 1792, Captain William Bligh explored the Torres Strait. He was leading two British Navy ships, the Providence and the Assistant. Bligh mapped the reefs and channels and named Stephen Island.
In 1793, two other ships, the Shah Hormuzear and the Chesterfield, stopped near Darnley Island. Six sailors were killed by Islanders there. The Islanders were upset because the sailors were polluting their fresh water. As a result, the ship captains destroyed huts, canoes, and gardens on Darnley Island. They also killed several Islanders.
The captains then went to Stephen Island. They were looking for a boat that went missing during the attack. When the sailors landed, the Ugarem-Le shot arrows at them. The crew fired back and burned a village on Stephen Island.
Changes in the 1800s
In the early 1860s, boats started coming to the Torres Strait. They were looking for sea cucumbers and pearls. In June 1879, the Queensland Government passed a law. This law allowed them to claim all Torres Strait islands, including Stephen Island. This helped the government control the sea cucumber and pearl industries. A sea cucumber station was set up on Stephen Island in the 1880s.
The Coming of the Light
Torres Strait Islanders call the arrival of missionaries "the Coming of the Light". Missionaries from the London Missionary Society (LMS) arrived at Erub in July 1871.
Around 1900, an LMS missionary started a business called Papuan Industries Limited (PIL). PIL helped Islander communities buy their own pearl boats. These "company boats" were used to collect pearl shells and sea cucumbers. PIL then sold these goods. The people of Stephen Island bought their first company boat in 1905. These boats gave Islanders income and made them proud. They also helped with transport and communication between the islands.
Government Control and Reserves
In November 1912, 800 acres of land on Stephen Island became an Aboriginal reserve. Many other Torres Strait Islands became reserves at the same time. By 1918, a Protector of Aboriginals was appointed to Thursday Island. In the 1920s and 1930s, strict laws were applied to Torres Strait Islanders. These laws allowed the government to move Islanders to reserves and missions. A government school was built on Stephen Island in 1925.
The 1936 Strike
In 1936, about 70% of Torres Strait Islander workers went on strike. This was the first time Islanders had organized a challenge against government control. The strike lasted nine months. Islanders were angry about the government controlling their jobs and money. They protested against rules about wages, trade, and travel permits. They also wanted to choose their own boat crews.
The strike led to important changes. The unpopular local Protector, J.D. McLean, was replaced by Cornelius O’Leary. O’Leary started meeting regularly with elected Islander council members. The new councils were given some power, including control over local police and courts.
On August 23, 1937, O’Leary held the first Inter Islander Councillors Conference. Representatives from 14 Torres Strait communities attended. Ned Oroki represented Stephen Island at this meeting. They discussed many issues. Unpopular rules, like evening curfews, were removed. A new system for local representation was agreed upon.
In 1939, the Queensland Government passed the Torres Strait Islander Act 1939. This law included many ideas from the conference. A key part of the new law officially recognized Torres Strait Islanders as a separate people from Aboriginal Australians.
World War II and Equal Pay
During World War II in 1941, the Australian Government began recruiting Torres Strait Islander men for the army. Men from Stephen Island and other islands joined the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion. These Islander soldiers were respected. However, they only received one-third of the pay that white Australian soldiers received.
On December 31, 1943, some companies of the Torres Strait Light Infantry went on strike. They demanded equal pay and equal rights for all soldiers. The Australian military agreed to increase their pay to two-thirds of what white soldiers received. In the 1980s, the Australian Government offered full back pay to these Torres Strait servicemen.
The Torres Strait Treaty
After gaining independence from Australia in 1975, Papua New Guinea claimed some islands and waters in the Torres Strait. In December 1978, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a treaty. This treaty set the borders between the two countries. It also explained how both countries could use the sea.
The Torres Strait Treaty started in February 1985. It allows people to move freely between the two countries without passports or visas. This free movement is for traditional activities like fishing, trading, and family gatherings. These activities happen in a special "Protected Zone" and nearby areas. The Protected Zone also helps protect the land, sea, air, and wildlife of the Torres Strait.
Local Government Today
On March 30, 1985, the Stephen Island community elected three councillors. They formed an independent Stephen Island Council. This council was created under the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984. This law gave Torres Strait Islander councils local government powers for the first time.
The Aboriginal reserve on the island was transferred to the council on October 21, 1985. This was done under a Deed of Grant in Trust. On April 24, 2002, the council's name changed from Stephen Island Council to Ugar Island Council.
In 2007, a government review suggested that the 15 Torres Strait Island councils should be replaced. Instead, the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) was created. In elections on March 15, 2008, people from the 15 communities voted for a local councillor and a mayor. This formed a council with 15 councillors and a mayor.
See also
