Napranum

Main language group: Thainakuith

Napranum, meaning ‘meeting place’, is located a few kilometres south-east of Weipa, on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula. Napranum is home to around 730 Indigenous people who are descended from as many as 40 different groups from around Cape York.

While the township of Weipa (Weipa North) was developed around the Comalco bauxite mining lease and dates from the mid 1960s, Napranum had its origins as a Presbyterian Church Mission in 1898. Napranum has previously been known as Weipa Mission Station and as Weipa South. Following the discovery of bauxite in 1957 — the richest single bauxite deposit in the world — the Queensland Government revoked the reserve status of the area and mining commenced in 1960.

In the early 1990s the community became self-governing under the leadership of the Napranum Aboriginal Council through the DOGIT (Deed of Grant in Trust) Communities program. Though Napranum has experienced profound change over many years, recent history reveals a community rich in infrastructure. The community boasts a hospital, day-care centre, aged-care facility, women’s shelter, youth centre, training centre, and schools.

 All places
 

See also . . .

Learn about Pot (Guiree story — flying fox twins story).
Learn about artist Thancoupie.

Online references . . .

Visit the Aboriginal Co-ordinating Council website.