Thursday Island

A lot smaller than many other islands in the Torres Strait, it is the administrative centre of the whole area.


Its only township covers almost all of the island, so practically the island is the town (by the same name).


Its population of 2,500 is by far the largest in the area - there is no other town of its size between Weipa and Papua New Guinea.



You may feel that there could be more touristic things to see, but that's not what this island is all about.



Most of all it is about history and culture, and there is an interesting mixture of many different cultures.

The thing I really like about this island is its pace and its vibe, reflecting its culture and tropical weather. The longer you stay the more you can take it in and realise what a great place it is.  

History
Originally in the Kaurareg country, TI has been inhabited for a long time. But its history was much the same as the surrounding islands' until the pearling industry happened. 

Thanks to its sheltered location, the population grew, and the administration of the Torres Strait was finally moved here from Somerset.

Culture
Originally it was the local Kaurareg culture, but that changed. 

The hugely successful pearling industry attracted people, so apart from Torres Strait Islanders today there also is a mixture of Aboriginals, Papuans, Japanese, Chinese, Malays, Filippinos, Indians and many other nationalities.

Torres Strait Cultural Festival
If you happen to be around in late September, every second year there is the Torres Strait Cultural Festival at the Ken Brown Oval in the south western end of the town.

It lasts three days and is one of the greatest events on and around the Cape York peninsula if you like indigenous dancing.

Thursday Island Weather
Unfortunately I lost my wet season photos - the skies of TI are not always perfect!
But late in the Dry season they often are, completely cloudless, making the already blue waters looking even more magnificent. Check out the Thursday Island weather forecast that is current day by day (page coming soon).

And before you even set your foot on this island, you are blown away by the colour of the waters!

And once you get to the wharf, there is a nice walking path along the beach,

... while in the streets, there are some colourful views, shops, buildings,

... and places to eat.

 

Things to See on Thursday Island

The main touristic things to see on Thursday Island are the Green Hill fort and museum, the historical cemetery, the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, and the churches.


Green Hill Fort and Museum
Green Hill is a beautiful hill with some great views over the rest of the island, and the blue waters that surround it.
Up the hill is a big fort with cannons, built in fear of a Russian invasion in the late 1800s.
It is well preserved, and under the steps there is a museum with local and military history displays.


Thursday Island Cemetery
Thursday Island Cemetery is on a nice hill and great for a brief look and a stroll, but even better if you have a closer look.

The oldest section is the Japanese pearlers', and then there are the Anglican, Roman Catholics', Indonesian, Malaysian and others.

Gab Titui Cultural Centre
The Torres Strait Islanders cultural centre is a relatively new building that houses Islander art from all across the Torres Strait.
There is art from a lot of different islands, and some of it is up for sale.
Every now and again there are also song and dance performances.

Quetta Memorial Church
There are many churches on Thursday Island, but this one was built in memory of the disaster in 1890 when the 380-foot mail ship Quetta sank near Albany Island, after it struck a large rock not previously seen. 133 people died, the story is inside the church. And there are also other beautiful churches.

Green Hill Fort and Museum

The main thing to see on Thursday Island is the fort up the hill.





There are the cannons,




... the views,




... the beautiful sunsets,
 



... and the underground museum.

Thursday Island Cemetery

Another popular thing is the Thursday Island cemetery - particularly the old Japanese pearlers' graves.

Gab Titui Cultural Centre

And of course, the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, with all the Torres Strait islanders' art.

Quetta Memorial Church

And finally, the Quetta Memorial Church, with information on the disaster of the cruiser ship Quetta.

Thursday Island Walks to Other Places

If you stay a bit longer and want to have a better look around the island - if you continue along the beach-path walk that started in the beginning of this page - next you come to the ANZAC Park.

 
 
 

After that you come to the churches on Douglas Street - Quetta, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and a few others.




To the western end of Douglas Street, past the sports and festival oval and the hospital,





... you turn onto Aubrey Parade and walk past the park on Bach Beach.




You walk past a mangrove area where flying foxes roost,





... on your way to Tamwoy.



In the southern end of Tamwoy you can take a side track to Green Hill - not the way the tourists go!




And the views over the surrounding waters and islands are beautiful.



Another side track is the Slaughter Beach, which takes you to the old Quarantine Wharf, and the Cook Esplanade.




From there, along the Aplin Road, you come to the Thursday Island Cemetery. It's famous for its graves of large amount of different nationalities, including the section of the old Japanese pearl divers' graves.



There is also the grave of Bernard Namok, the designer of the Torres Strait Islander flag.



Continuing east along the coast you first come to the suburb of Rosehill,




... and then walk along the beach to Waiben, with the views of Hammond Island.




In the eastern end of Waiben there is an unsealed track to Sadies Beach and Lions Lookout.



Up the hill is Lions Lookout with views over Horn Island from a WWII bunker,




... and down the hill is Sadies Beach.




Walking through takes you to the eastern end of the town - Navy Wharf and Bayo Beach,




... Mairu Beach,




... and the track to Milman Hill.

 


With its two windmills always seen from most of TI and the neighbouring islands, Milman Hill is two times higher than Green Hill.




While Green Hill has a fort built in the late 1800s, Milman Hill has a WWII defence facility.




There is no lookout point but you can always look for a spot to enjoy the beautiful sunset of TI - which you can also do at the Fort and other places :-)

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