Thursday Island

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Thursday Island, also known as Waiben or Waibene, is a small island and the main town in the Torres Strait, off the northern coast of Queensland, Australia. It sits about 39 kilometres (24 miles) north of Cape York Peninsula and is part of the Shire of Torres. The locality includes the town of Thursday Island and the nearby Rose Hill on the island’s northeastern tip.

The island covers about 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 square miles). Its highest point is Milman Hill, at 104 metres (341 feet). Thursday Island is a major transport and administrative hub for the Torres Strait, with two wharfs on the island and another on nearby Horn Island. It is the administrative centre for both the Shire of Torres and the Torres Strait Island Region. The local economy relies on government services, pearling and fishing, and tourism.

As of the 2021 census, about 2,805 people lived on Thursday Island, with Indigenous Australians making up about 69% of the population. The island has a long Indigenous history and many Torres Strait Islanders still call it home. The most spoken languages include Torres Strait Creole and Kalaw Lagaw Ya, along with English.

Milestones and history
- Indigenous people have lived in the Torres Strait for thousands of years.
- European contact began in the 19th century. The port on Thursday Island, called Port Kennedy, was established in 1867 and later renamed Thursday Island in 1962.
- The pearling industry grew in the late 1800s and early 1900s, bringing workers from Asia and the Pacific. The industry declined after World War II.
- Thursday Island was a World War II military base for Australian and American forces. Fortifications at Battery Point remain as heritage sites. The Quetta disaster of 1890 is remembered by the All Souls Church on the island.

Culture and places to visit
- Gab Titui Cultural Centre showcases local Indigenous and Islander art and culture.
- All Souls and St Bartholomew Church, and the Quetta memorial church, reflect the island’s history.
- The island has a hospital, courts, a public library (Ngulaig Meta Library), and education hubs.

Education
- Tagai State College runs primary and secondary campuses on Thursday Island.
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic primary school.
- The Tropical North Queensland TAFE has a Torres Strait campus on the island.

Climate
- Thursday Island has a tropical savanna climate with a wet season (December to April) and a dry season (May to November).
- It is hot most of the year, with average highs around 30–32°C (86–90°F) and cooler evenings in winter.
- Annual rainfall is heavy, around 1,780–1,800 mm.

Transport
- Ports North operates two wharfs on Thursday Island and Horn Island, making the Torres Strait Islands accessible by ferry. There is also a Horn Island airport. The area is the main gateway for ships and flights in the region.

Today, Thursday Island remains an important administrative, cultural, and transport hub in the Torres Strait, reflecting a mix of Indigenous heritage, history of pearling, and growing tourism.