Hammond Island

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.



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.



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

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

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

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

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

... beachfont picnic tables,

... and there are some lovely beach decorations,

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

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

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

Hammond Island Church

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

it is the island's most famous attraction.
   

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

... it has beautiful views from the hilltop,
   

... a church bell,
   

... and it has a face.
   

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

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

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

Get this 50 pages guide totally for FREE. It contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip. You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you should take, how to get there and get around, where to stay (general info), what will it cost.. and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

This complete 300 pages travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks, at least 30 guaranteed FREE camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to the Cape), at least 40 best swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things - from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception, how to deal with the national parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery gear by my vehicle-recovery-guy partner). Not to mention locals' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)

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