Mainland communities U-Z
The following brief histories provide researchers with information about the creation of missions and reserves in Queensland.
Umagico | Weipa | Wellesley Islands | Whitula | Woorabinda | Wujal Wujal | Yarrabah | Yungaburra | Zamia Creek | Zion Hill
* See the pdf version [new window 
93 kb] with full bibliographic references
Umagico
Umagico was started in 1963 by people from the Lockhart River Mission. Subsequently a number of these people moved back to New Lockhart. Their places were taken by people of Torres Strait Islander descent and Umagico today is a mixed community.
Weipa
A Moravian Mission was established on the Embley River in 1898. Foxton, Parry-Okeden and Roth became trustees of the reserve in 1900.
In July 1904 an area of 2 500 square miles was gazetted as an Aboriginal reserve for the use of Aboriginal people at Weipa.
Wellesley Islands
In April 1905 an Aboriginal reserve was gazetted comprising all the islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria known as the Wellesley Group, including the Forsyth Group and the South Wellesley Islands, with the exception of Sweers Island which was not gazetted until 1934.
Whitula Station
In 1892 Rev. H.M. Shuttlewood, Rector of Charleville, suggested that a reserve be established in the far west towards Windorah. Ten years later in September 1902 a reserve was established at Whitula Station 30 miles from Windorah. In his 1902 report the Southern Protector Archibald Meston noted that "the continued drought in the west created a necessity for a western reserve for the far West Blacks". This reserve was created to assist Aboriginal people within a 200 mile radius. In 1904 the reserve was cancelled.
Woorabinda
Woorabinda was opened in 1927 as a replacement for Taroom with 55 000 acres gazetted as an Aboriginal reserve. Woorabinda was re-gazetted as an Aboriginal Reserve on 20 September 1941. During World War Two, more than 200 Aboriginal people from Hopevale were sent to Woorabinda. Forced to live in primitive, inadequate conditions many of these people died from diseases such as measles, influenza and pneumonia.
In 1948 approximately five acres of land were gazetted as a reserve for the benefits of Aboriginal people at Duaringa. The area located between Foleyvale and Woorabinda was gazetted to accommodate people moving between the other two reserves.
In 1986 complete control was invested in the Woorabinda Community Council. On 27 October 1986 a Deed of Grant in trust was issued to the Woorabinda Council for an area of 38 811 ha.
See also
For family history information relating to Woorabinda refer to genealogies recorded by Norman Tindale in 1938. The Tindale Collection is available to view through the the John Oxley Library. Access conditions apply.
Wujal Wujal
Wujal Wujal is the Kuku-Yalanji name given to the area which was previously known as Bloomfield and later the Bloomfield River Mission. According to Meston's 1896 Report on the Aboriginals of Queensland, Bloomfield River Mission "originated in 1886, when Sir S.W. Griffith, then Chief Secretary, wired from Normanton on 18th March advising the appointment of L.G. Bauer as Superintendent for twelve months at a salary of £300 and provisions".
The land on which the mission was situated was gazetted as an Aboriginal reserve in August 1886. In addition to the 640 acres gazetted in 1886, 50 square miles of land were reserved as a hunting ground for Aboriginal people in March 1889. Bauer's appointment was not renewed after 12 months and the mission was taken over by the Lutheran Missionary Council of South Australia.
In 1900 Bloomfield was included as a place to which JFG Foxton, WE Parry-Okeden and WE Roth were appointed trustees. The following year the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Synod made the decision to withdraw from the mission and by 1902 the mission was abandoned and its reserve status revoked. The Aboriginal residents of the mission remained in the area and established a number of small camps.
In 1957 a grant of £2500 was given to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia for the re-establishment of a Reserve for Aboriginals at the Bloomfield River Camp. An area of 260 acres which included part of the old reserve was gazetted as an Aboriginal reserve in May 1958.
Yarrabah (Cape Grafton)
Yarrabah (Cape Grafton) was established as an Anglican Mission under the charge of the John B. Gribble in 1892. Gribble had previously attempted but failed to start a mission at Bellenden Ker in 1890. In 1893 Gribble bought an Aboriginal man named Menmurry and his family to Yarrabah and converted them to Christianity. Menmuny became Gribble's assistant and in 1899 he was made king of the local community at Gribble's suggestion.
Yarrabah was declared a reformatory in 1901. In 1904 75 sq. miles were gazetted as an Aboriginal Reserve. A deed of grant in trust was issued to the Yarrabah Council on 27 October 1986 for an area of 15 609 ha.
Yungaburra
In 1935 the Local Protector of Aboriginals for the Yungaburra district reported two main camps in the area, one at Peterson's Creek and the other at Lamond's Hill. By 1938 three camps were mentioned in the local Protector’s annual report: Barron River, Peterson's Creek and Fullers at Boonjie. During the 1950s a Departmental report recorded the existence of a mission controlled by the Assembly of God Church at Yungaburra. According to the report none of the people on the mission were under the control of the Department with the majority of South Sea Islander descent. In 1959 an officer from the Department of Health and Home Affairs reported over 100 Aboriginal people living at the Pinnacle reserve which was located six miles from Yungaburra.
Zamia Creek
A reserve at Zamia Creek in the parish of Bauhinia consisting of 6 906 acres was gazetted in November 1968. This reserve was cancelled in October 1986.
Zion Hill (Moreton Bay)
In 1838 the Presbyterian minister Rev. JD Lang received permission from the NSW. Government to establish an Aboriginal mission at the convict settlement of Moreton Bay. A 640 acre section of land in present day Nundah, was reserved for the mission. Lang recruited 20 German volunteers from Evangelical Lutheran missionary societies to implement his scheme. The Germans created a mission settlement named Zion Hill and encouraged local Aboriginal men and women to work on the farms. Aboriginal children were taught English and given religious instruction at the mission school. A downturn in the NSW economy in the 1840s resulted in the withdrawal of Government funding and private donations and all missionary activity ceased by 1845. Many of the missionaries remained as pioneer farmers of the North Brisbane area.
* See the pdf version [new window 93 kb] with full bibliographic references
Last updated: 12th December 2011
Creatively engaging people with information, knowledge and community
