THURSDAY ISLAND

rincan18
Oct 11, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jun 26

Thursday Island is currently a 2-star accredited Queensland Tidy Town.

You can tell us about your experience visiting Thursday Island by voting in the online poll or leaving a comment below.

History and Geography Facts

The original place of permanent European settlement in Torres Strait was Somerset, south-east of the tip of Cape York Peninsula, established in 1864. However, the channel between Albany Island and Somerset proved to be hazardous for a port and in 1875 it was jointly decided by the Queensland and British governments to transfer the port to the deep anchorage on the south side of Thursday Island. The new port was called Port Kennedy, after Edmund Kennedy, the explorer of Cape York Peninsula, and was established in 1867. The town that developed on the island was also called Port Kennedy, but on 1 June 1962 the town was renamed Thursday Island. In 1877, an administrative centre for the Torres Strait Islands was set up on the island by the Queensland Government and by 1883 over 200 pearling vessels were based on the island.

Thursday Island has an area of about 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 square miles). The highest point on Thursday Island, standing at 104 metres (341 feet) above sea level, is Milman Hill, a World War II defence facility.

While Thursday Island is within the Shire of Torres and is the administrative centre for that shire, it is also the administrative and commercial centre of the local government area of Torres Strait Island Region despite not being part of that local government area.

Local Government Information

During World War II, Thursday Island became the military headquarters for the Torres Strait and was a base for Australian and United States forces. January 1942 saw the evacuation of civilians from the island.[20] Residents of Japanese origin or descent were interned. The residents did not return until after the end of the war and many ethnic Japanese were forcibly repatriated. The island was spared from bombing in World War II, due, it was thought, to it being the burial place of many Japanese pearl shell divers, or possibly the Japanese thinking there were still Japanese residents on the island.

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Attractions and Events

· Island Stars Culture experience : Island Stars Cultural Experience is like no other experience and a 'must-do' when visiting the Torres Strait. Our show will take you on a special journey that explores Island Custom and two of the oldest living cultures in the world. Our dance, story-telling and musical show will leave a lasting imprint in your mind and a special place in your heart to remember our stories and traditions

· Rosie ware designs : Rosie is self-taught and is an award winning textile artist designer and printer on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, creating and printing out of her home art studio with a small gallery. Her studio overlooks the Thursday Island Harbour with nearby surrounding islands and views of mainland Australia in the background. She prints on quality silks, satins, cotton and linen fabrics.

· Kazu Pearls : About 40 years ago, a Japanese entrepreneur came here with the idea of establishing a state of the art pearl farm in the ideal conditions of tropical calm waters and top-notch Japanese know-how and technology and expertise. Fast forward to today, and Mr Kazu is still making perfect pearls.

· Lax charters and tours : Personalised tours of Thursday Island guided by an indigenous local. On this cultural tour you will see all of TI's treasures in an air-conditioned coach. Taste some Torres Strait kaikai and have exclusive access to the crayfish factory. The best, and cheapest, tour of Thursday Island.

· Green fort Hill : Green Hill Fort is a heritage-listed fortification at Chester Street, Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. The fort is important in Australian military history as a strategic coastal defence installation in the period of transition from British to Australian responsibility for defence. The 1885 confrontation between Britain and Russia.

Dine out and takeaway

· Sasan Café- Seafood, mediterranean.

· Island Rooster/ Uncles Frankies café

· Malu Paru- Italian, Cajun and Greek

· Ma:Kai- Cafe Australian

· Torres Hotel- Bars and Pub

· The Federal Hotel- Bar and Pub

· The grand hotel bistro- Bar and Pub