Wreck Bay Village facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wreck Bay VillageJervis Bay Territory |
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Panorama of Wreck Bay, with the village on the far right
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 Wreck Bay Village
Location in Jervis Bay Territory
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| Postcode(s) | 2540 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 30 m (98 ft) | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||
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| Federal Division(s) | Fenner | ||||||||
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Wreck Bay Village, once known as the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Reserve, is a special Aboriginal village in the Jervis Bay Territory, Australia. In 2021, about 152 people lived there. It is mainly an Australian Aboriginal community. The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council manages and runs the village.
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Where is Wreck Bay Village Located?
Wreck Bay Village is found at the northeast corner of Wreck Bay. It sits between two smaller bays called Mary Bay and Summercloud Bay. This village is in the southern part of the Jervis Bay Territory. It is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of the Jervis Bay Airfield. By road, it is about 6.6 kilometers (4.1 miles) from Jervis Bay Village.
The History of Wreck Bay
European people first started settling near Jervis Bay in the early 1880s. The Jervis Bay Territory, which includes Wreck Bay, became part of the Australian Commonwealth in 1915. This was so the government in Canberra could have access to the sea.
Wreck Bay gets its name because its waves are often very high. This made it easy for ships to be damaged or "wrecked" there in the past.
How the Aboriginal Community Started
Aboriginal people began a small settlement at Summercloud Bay around the early 1900s. They liked this area for many important reasons. It had strong cultural meaning for them. It was also close to both the bush and the sea, which provided food and other resources. Plus, it was far enough away from European settlements.
This area later became an Aboriginal reserve called the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Reserve. It was managed by a mission manager. Creating this permanent home helped their cultural practices and traditions to continue.
Land Handover and Community Management
In 1995, the Australian Government officially gave 402 hectares (993 acres) of land to the Aboriginal community. This land included the Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens.
In 2021, an Indigenous artist named Nikita Ridgeway created special artwork. This artwork was used to decorate two fire trucks for the Wreck Bay (Australia) Rural Fire Brigade. The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council owns and manages this fire brigade.
Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens
The Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community owns and helps manage the Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens. They work together with Parks Australia. This park is very special because it has Australia's only botanical garden that is owned and managed by Aboriginal people.
Visiting Wreck Bay Village Today
Today, Wreck Bay Village is private land. This means that the general public cannot enter or visit the village.
