huts

Yarrabah Mission, now known as Yarrabah Community, was founded by Reverend John Brown (JB) Gribble in 1892 to protect the Gunggandji’s from the ongoing rampant exploitation of these people. JB fell ill shortly after he arrived so his eldest son Ernest inherited his legacy. Ernest Gribble went on to become one of the most controversial Missionaries in Australia. His career lasted for 64 years, making him the longest-serving Anglican Missionary. Gribble aspired for the Yarrabah population to take pride and control in their community. He implemented a government, formed from indigenous members, and a court (also staffed by indigenous members of the community) that monitored the behavior of the residents. Gribble also crowned a King, King Menmuny, who reigned over the Mission and looked after his people. By 1904, another mission on Fraser Island was closed and 117 residents were forcibly relocated to Yarrabah Mission. A move which was naturally resented and resisted by those involved. Mass breakouts and instances of insubordination became common so the court decided to expel the ringleaders to Fitzroy Island. Gribble secured a lease on Fitzroy Island in 1905 and the first 30 people were moved out to the new outstation ‘Kobahra’. The Kobahra residents were quick to build eight buildings including a coral church. They also planted coconuts, paw paws, mangoes, yams and other crops in an effort to become self-sufficient on the island. The settlement was closed in 1912 after residents petitioned the Protector of Aboriginals for their release. The island continued to be leased to the Yarrabah Mission for many years afterwards. While the Yarrabah Mission no longer maintained a permanent population on Fitzroy Island, it became a popular location for special occasions such as picnics and organised outings. World War II With the outbreak of war in the Pacific the Yarrabah Mission lost its’ lease. The Imperial Japanese Navy had a series of submarines patrolling our coast and attacking shipping. Cairns was the nearest main port for traffic bound to Papua New Guinea via Townsville. Due to the constant threat of attack, the No. 28 Radar Station was established on Fitzroy Island in 1942. No. 28 Radar Station monitored all shipping and air traffic approaching Cairns. Welcome Bay also served as a transient mooring for destroyers and cruisers waiting to join shipping convoys heading to Port Moresby. Between 1942 and 1945 over 100 servicemen served with the No. 28 Radar Station. In addition to the Radar Station, servicemen also manned a Wireless Signal Station and a Morse code-blinking Lighthouse. Submarine Indicator Loops spread through Welcome Bay were constantly monitored. The combination of these efforts uncovered a Japanese submarine lurking around the island in May 1943. The station monitored its movements for nine days while it avoided multiple attempts by the Royal Australian Navy to destroy it with depth charges. It finally slipped away on the 17th of May leaving the Investigating Officers at a loss as to its mission although it was theorized that it may have been dropping off or collecting spies. The World War II military base camp was on the site of the current Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. The dam constructed by the servicemen to store water can be seen at the start of the Summit track. Source: www.fitzroyisland.com/explore-fitzroy/history/

HAYSTACKS

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AUSTRALIAN AB0RIGINES RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING Contact with Whites Fatal In the whole of Australia it is estimated that there are 70,000 Australian blacks still living. During the past ten years, the ratio of the increase of aborigines and half-castes at Yarrabah Mission in Queensland has been greater than that of Queensland's white population. __ This is taken in some quarters as an indication that the Aboriginal race can be preserved. Mr. F. Garnett, South Australia's Chief Protector of Aborigines, does not hold that view. "In sixty years a full-blooded Australian black will be a curiosity in South Australia". he said. , 'Full bloods are decreasing to such an extent that 60 years is a conservative estimate". Statistics support Mr. Garnett. Taking official figures over a period of years the decline of ' full-bloods and -the increase of castes indicate that the 'black race is rapidly disappearing". "The Australian black is not black to the same degree as the African negro" he said, "and- the pigments that give his skin a dark, chocolate, tinge are not so deeply imbedded or strong as' the African negro. For that reason, the Australian Aboriginals quickly lose color when crossed with white blood. Most quadroons show only slight traces of black parentage and this fact will eventually wipe. the evidence of the Australian aboriginal existence." Source: The Mail, Adelaide, 31 May 1924 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63787464

Grey Peaks is a national park in Far North Queensland, Australia, 1,374 km northwest of Brisbane. It is part of the Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for the conservation of lowland tropical rainforest birds.[1] The forests of the national park dominate are dominated by large-fruited red mahogany Eucalyptus pellita and red turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Peaks_National_Park

HISTORY OF THE SETTLE- MENT Yarrabah Mission, situated approximately ten miles from Cairns by launch is conducted by the Church of England and maintained by the Board of Missions and the Government. It was established in 1892, the settlement being opened by Rev. Gribble, who died six months later. His son Rev. E. R. Gribble filled the breach caused by the death of his father, and for seventeen years did faithful service. At the time of our visit, the inhabitants numbered approximately 400. The white staff comprised eleven members, their respective duties being as follows:- Mr. S Lyon, Superintendent. Mrs Lyon, Matron of Hospital Rev. A. C. Flint, Mission Clergyman Mr. R Matthews, in charge of saw-mill. Mr. Howard in charge of cattle and teams. Mr. Thompson, storekeeper, and boys master. Miss Kent, Matron of girls' dormitory. Miss Bain, secretary Misses Howard (2), teachers Mrs Howard (residing with her husband and daughters PASSED EXPERIMENTAL STAGE Mr. Lyon is the type of missionary who evidently believes in the efficacy of teaching a man a congenial trade, and thereby keeping his mind occupied with healthy thoughts if one is to make him increase his self-respect; this, of course, is in addition to wholesome religious teachings. He put his theory into practice at Yarrabah and that it was a success is evident from the moment one steps ashore. Yarrabah has passed the experimental stage! It is now a well-organized community of highly-skilled tradesmen. The township is lit by its own electric light plant and the Houses are "larger: and' cleaner than many of the buildings called "homes" in Cairns. To trace the stages of the evolution of the native from a child of the wilderness to a highly skilled mechanic, carpenter or electrician would seem a tall order, but it means reviewing only a few years of work done at Yarrabah. Source: The Mail, Adelaide, 31 May 1924 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63787464