Mornington Island
Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, sits in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland, Australia. It is the largest of the Wellesley Islands, covering about 1,000 square kilometres with 22 islands in the group. The main town is Gununa, on the southwest coast along the Appel Channel, which separates it from Denham Island.
People and culture: The Lardil people, who call themselves Kunhanaamendaa (people of Kunhanhaa), are the traditional owners. Kaiadilt people were relocated here from Bentinck Island in the 1940s. Today the island is home to Aboriginal communities and others. The Mornington Island Mission operated from 1914 to 1978, after which the Queensland Government took control. The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation runs MIArt, an art centre, and the Mornington Island Dancers, a long-running cultural group.
Environment: The island is mostly flat and fringed with mangroves. It has 10 estuaries in near-pristine condition. The area is near the Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area, about 40 kilometres to the northwest. The island’s highest point is about 150 metres, and the coastline is gentle. The climate is tropical savanna: a hot, wet season from December to April and a dry season from May to November. Average rainfall is around 1,200 millimetres a year.
Community and services: About 1,025 people lived on Mornington Island in 2021, most of them Aboriginal. The main settlement, Gununa, has shops, a post office and community services. There are ongoing development projects, including new visitor accommodation and other facilities to support tourism, health and local jobs.
Education: Mornington Island State School serves children from early childhood to Year 10. There is no high school on the island, so students usually study by distance education or board elsewhere.
Language and art: Lardil is spoken on the island, and efforts are underway to revive Kaiadilt language. Mornington Island Art (MIArt) is one of the oldest Indigenous art centres in Australia and is run by the Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation. The artists explore Lardil and Kaiadilt culture, and works have been shown in major cities.
Alcohol: In 2003 Queensland introduced an Alcohol Management Plan to reduce problems caused by alcohol. In 2022 the island adopted limited, regulated access to alcohol to reduce harm and prevent illegal drinking.
This version covers the basics of Mornington Island: where it is, who lives there, its culture, and what’s happening today.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:42 (CET).