Hammond Island


Hammond Island is a great place.

It is the third largest, and the third most populated one of the inner Torres strait Islands, with a population of around 200 people.


Like many other Torres Strait islands, it has some pearling and gold mining history


But unlike the other inner Torres Strait Islands, Hammond used to be a mission island.

hammond island jetty

After the local Kaurarega islanders were forcibly moved to Moa, Hammond Island was briefly a pearl farm, and later gold was found and mined here.

hammond island jetty shelter hammond island gazebo

It even was a cattle growing island, before a Catholic Mission was established.

hammond island

It was the St Joseph's Roman Catholic Mission of Sacred Heart, that was established for Asian immigants.
   hammond island mission

The town is still called St Joseph's, and it is a beautiful little place.
   hammond island beachfront 
There are some sealed streets,

hammond island beach walk

... and there is a beautiful beachfront walk with tropical frangipani and palm trees.
   hammond island beach

There are rows of boats - the main means of transport of the locals,
   hammond island boats

... beachfont picnic tables,

hammond island picnic shelter hammond island picnic table

... and there are some lovely beach decorations,

hammond island boats hammond island boat

... made of buoys, ghost nets and whatever else washes up on the beach.
   hammond island beach decorations

It is a hilly island, you can best see its basaltic rocks from the distance.
   hammond island basalt rocks

And up on a higher hill - is of course the church.
   hammond island church

Hammond Island Church

Built as a part of the Catholic Mission and from the basaltic rocks of Hammond Island,

hammond island church rocks

it is the island's most famous attraction.
   hammond island church rocks

It has a beautiful church yard with lots of rocks and frangipani trees,
   hammond island church yard

... it has beautiful views from the hilltop,
   hammond island church views

... a church bell,
   hammond island church bell

... and it has a face.
   hammond island church face

It looks like dog laying on the top of the hill,

hammond island church dog

... watching over the harbour and all the other islands :-)





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