36-625: Three Islands and Three Islands Reef are part of the Three Islands Group National Park in Far North Queensland , Australia, in the Coral Sea , 1,581 km (982 mi) northwest of Brisbane , about 44 km (27 mi) north-northeast of Cooktown . The Three Islands Group National Park comprises Three Islands, Two Islands and Rocky Islets, a group of eight islands. They are all located within
72-579: A form of local government on each island. On 27 January 1942, after the fall of Singapore during World War II , the Australian government gave the order to evacuate all civilians from Thursday Island, which now became a military base. In 1946, civilians started returning to the island. In 1952 the Council was dissolved and replaced by administrators. On 9 May 1974, the Shire was established and gazetted by
108-604: A tropical climate and as such, the name Tropical North Queensland is also used as the name for the region, mostly due to the tourism industry. Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) defines its area from Cardwell in the south up to the Torres Strait in the north and west to the Queensland border with the Northern Territory. However, the phrase Tropical North Queensland is ambiguous and may be used to name
144-541: A wider area including parts of North Queensland , or even Mackay . Shire of Torres The Shire of Torres is a local government area located in Far North Queensland , Australia, covering large sections of the Torres Strait Islands and the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula north of 11°S latitude . It holds two distinctions—it is the northernmost Local Government Area in Australia, and
180-604: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Far North Queensland Far North Queensland ( FNQ ) is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland . Its largest city is Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula , which stretches north to the Torres Strait , and west to the Gulf Country . The waters of Torres Strait include the only international border in
216-623: Is an Australian Aboriginal language in North Queensland. The language region includes areas from the Upper Herbert River to Mount Garnet . Yir Yiront (also known as Yiront , Jirjoront , Yir-yiront , and Kokomindjan ) is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is in Western Cape York within the local government areas of Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama and Shire of Cook , in
252-474: Is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Mossman and Daintree areas of North Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Shire of Douglas and Shire of Cook , particularly the localities of Mossman, Daintree, Bloomfield River , China Camp, Maytown , Palmer , Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal . Warungu (also known as Warrungu , Warrongo , and Waroongoo . )
288-532: Is the highest peak in both Northern Australia and Queensland. The Far North region is the only region of Australia that is the indigenous country of both Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders . Far North Queensland supports a significant agricultural sector, a number of significant mines and is home to Queensland's largest wind farm, the Windy Hill Wind Farm . Various government departments and agencies have different definitions for
324-476: Is the only one to abut an international border – it is at one point just 73 kilometres (45 mi) from Papua New Guinea . It is administered from Thursday Island . In the 2021 census , the Shire of Torres had a population of 3,421 people. The Hann Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 . On 30 October 1885,
360-696: The Atherton Tableland , Hinchinbrook Island and other resort islands such as Dunk Island and Green Island . Major attractions around and in Cairns include Cairns Aquarium , Cairns Botanic Gardens , The Reef Hotel Casino , Kuranda Scenic Railway , Barron Falls and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway . Towns and localities attracting large numbers of tourists include Cape Tribulation , Port Douglas , Mission Beach and Cardwell . The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates
396-614: The Bjelke-Petersen government, in an effort to gain leverage on a boundary dispute between the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments. It was created from the following parts: However, elective government was not restored to the Shire until March 1991—along with the Shires of Mornington , Cook and Aurukun , it was administered by the Local Government Department's Far North regional office. When
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#1732776756977432-657: The Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 was enacted, 15 island councils were created. Each was responsible for local basic utilities and services, and worked with the Queensland Police to provide for community police officers—hence extending well beyond the normal functions of local government. The remaining areas were governed under the Local Government Act like most other parts of Queensland. In March 1991, elected Council status
468-624: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority . The islands are important and protected seabird nesting sites. Access to the Rocky Islets is prohibited, and camping is only permitted on Two Islands (a) — between 1 April and 31 August. A maximum of 10 people for up to 14 days is permitted. This Queensland protected areas related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Far North Queensland geography article
504-492: The Local Government Act 1993 . Areas under its jurisdiction include as of 2008 included: The population of the Shire of Torres, along with Cook, Aurukun and Mornington, have been singled out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), who conduct the quinquennial census, as particularly difficult to measure accurately. Reasons for this include cultural and language barriers, transport and geographical spread of
540-826: The Pacific Ocean in the east and extending inland to west of Mount Mulgrave . This includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Douglas , the Shire of Cook and the Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal and the towns and localities of Cooktown , Mossman , Daintree , Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal . It includes the head of the Palmer River , the Bloomfield River , China Camp , Maytown , and Palmerville . Kuku Yalanji (also known as Gugu Yalanji , Kuku Yalaja , and Kuku Yelandji )
576-527: The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu . Cairns has the highest population of Papua New Guineans outside of Papua New Guinea itself. Yalanji (also known as Kuku Yalanji , Kuku Yalaja , Kuku Yelandji , and Gugu Yalanji) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Far North Queensland. The traditional language region is Mossman River in the south to the Annan River in the north, bordered by
612-532: The Australian coast. It impacted the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland in April 2006. In January 2011, Cyclone Yasi passed over Tully and resulted in an estimated $ 3.6 billion worth of damage, making it the costliest cyclone ever to hit Australia. In December 2023, Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast south of Cooktown as a category two cyclone. It later stalled over
648-502: The Queensland Government considered merging the Shire with the other areas, but felt that having one area subject to three different types of legislation would be inefficient, and the Shire was one of a handful to remain unchanged through the process. The shire covers a land area of 1,856.9 square kilometres (717.0 sq mi), of which it controls and administers 885.9 square kilometres (342.0 sq mi) under
684-617: The Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Civic Theatre, and Cairns Art Gallery. The region supports a large tourism industry and is considered a premier tourist destination in Australia. Nearly one third of international visitors to the state come to the region. Attractions include the Great Barrier Reef , Daintree Rainforest and other Queensland tropical rain forests within the Wet Tropics of Queensland heritage area,
720-544: The Time Series Profile. Until the 2007–08 reforms, the council consisted of seven councillors, but this was reduced to four. A mayor is elected separately by the entire Shire. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Torres Shire Council offices at Douglas Street, Thursday Island . On 15 March 2008, Pedro Stephen, an ordained Full Gospel minister first elected in 1994 and
756-406: The area contiguous with the Australian mainland , between Australia and Papua New Guinea . The region is home to three World Heritage Sites , the Great Barrier Reef , the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Riversleigh , Australia's largest fossil mammal site. Far North Queensland lays claim to over 70 national parks , including Mount Bartle Frere ; with a peak of 1,622 metres (5,322 ft) it
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#1732776756977792-618: The area. Many mining towns have come and gone, going through a boom and bust cycle as mines were depleted. The Mount Mulligan mine disaster occurred on 19 September 1921. Seventy-five workers were killed, making it the third-worst coal mining accident in Australia. The region suffered Queensland's worst maritime disaster on 4 March 1899 when the Mahina Cyclone destroyed all 100 ships moored in Princess Charlotte Bay . The entire North Queensland pearling fleet
828-585: The catchments of the Coleman River and Mitchell River . Following the removal of Aboriginal people from their traditional lands, it is also spoken in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama . Yidinji (also known as Yidinj , Yidiny , and Idindji ) is an Australian Aboriginal language of North Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region , in such localities as Cairns , Gordonvale ,
864-630: The coastal islands of Hann Division were separated to create Torres Division . With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 , Torres Division became Shire of Torres on 31 March 1903. Most of the islands were unincorporated until the 1970s, but Thursday Island had a town council going back to 1912. In 1939, the Torres Strait Islanders Act was passed by the Federal Government, allowing for
900-542: The continent at a length of approximately 14,500 kilometres (9,000 mi) and is the longest national highway in the world. Despite being Highway 1, not all sections of the Savannah Way are designated as a federally funded National Highway and certain sections remain unsealed. Despite being in a housing crisis, the region has a very high unoccupied house rate. In the 2021 Australian census in Douglas Shire
936-471: The deaths of seven people. In early 2000, Cyclone Steve caused major flooding between Cairns and Mareeba . Cyclone Larry crossed the Queensland coast near Innisfail in March 2006. The storm resulted in an estimated $ 1.5 billion worth of damage and damaged 10,000 homes. 80% of Australia's banana crop was destroyed. Cyclone Monica was the most intense cyclone on record in terms of wind speed to cross
972-590: The population, who are located in isolated communities and on small islands. As such, all figures are likely to be lower than the actual population on the census date. In addition, until 1 July 2002, the Australian Bureau of Statistics included the Island and DOGIT councils within the Shire of Torres statistical local area. Information for the reduced Shire back to 1996 has been provided on the ABS website through
1008-420: The rate of empty homes was 18%. Significant industries include tourism, cattle grazing, agriculture and mining of both sand and bauxite . Agricultural products generate between $ 600 and $ 700 million a year. Sugar cane , tropical fruits including bananas, mangoes, papaya, lychees and coffee are grown in Far North Queensland. The region is home to the world's biggest silica mine at Cape Flattery . The mine
1044-435: The region is the city of Cairns. Other key population centres include Cooktown , the Atherton Tableland , Weipa , Innisfail and the Torres Strait Islands . The region also consists of many Aboriginal and farming groups. The northeastern point of Highway 1 passes through the region in the city of Cairns and connects the southern-running Bruce Highway to the western-running Savannah Way . Highway 1 circumnavigates
1080-513: The region's population at 280,638 in 2014. The region contains 25.6% of the state's Indigenous population, or 28,909 people, making up 11.8% of the region's population. In addition to its large Indigenous community, there is also a large number of Melanesians in Far North Queensland, due to the region's close proximity to Melanesia . The majority of them are from Papua New Guinea or are South Sea Islanders , who descend from labourers who were blackbirded and brought to Queensland from Fiji ,
1116-602: The region. The Queensland Government department of Trade and Investment Queensland defines the region as an area comprising the following 25 local government areas; Aurukun , Burke , Cairns , Carpentaria , Cassowary Coast , Cook , Croydon , Doomadgee , Douglas , Etheridge , Hope Vale , Kowanyama , Lockhart River , Mapoon , Mareeba , Mornington , Napranum , Northern Peninsula Area , Pormpuraaw , Tablelands , Torres Strait Islands (not autonomous) , Torres Strait Islands (autonomous) , Weipa , Wujal Wujal , and Yarrabah . The main population and administrative centre of
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1152-438: The southern York Peninsula resulting in record rainfall along the eastern coast that lead to the 2023 Cairns floods . Port Douglas received more than a metre of rain in a few days. The region has many unique native animal species such as crocodile, endangered southern cassowary, koala, flying possum, python, water dragon, wallabie, flying fox, tree kangaroo, platypus, leaf-tailed gecko and bandicoot. Far North Queensland has
1188-535: The southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi . Far North Queensland is the location of the first amber fossils to be found in Australia. The four-million-year-old fossils were found on a beach in Cape York Peninsula but were probably washed ashore after drifting with the currents for about 200 km. In the 1860s, Richard Daintree discovered gold and copper deposits along several rivers which led early prospectors to
1224-542: Was established in 1967 and was severely damaged by Cyclone Ita in 2014. Rio Tinto Alcan operates a bauxite mine on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula near Weipa which contains one of the largest bauxite deposits in the world. In recent years, Far North Queensland has become increasingly known for its artistic and creative offerings, with the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair , and Cairns Festival both held annually. Active arts organisation include
1260-458: Was in the bay at the time of the cyclone. Approximately 100 Aboriginals assisting survivors and 307 men from the pearling fleet were drowned. Its pressure was measured at 914 hPa with a recorded tidal surge of 13 m, the highest ever in Australia. The 1918 Mackay cyclone hit the Queensland coast in January of that year, killing 30 people. In March 1997, Cyclone Justin resulted in
1296-742: Was restored by the new Goss Labor government, and in 1994 Pedro Stephen became its first and so far only mayor. Since 1984, the Shire of Torres only administers those sections of its area which are not autonomous. It is effectively colocated with the Northern Peninsula Area Region , which covers a number of Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) areas on the peninsula, and the Torres Strait Island Region , which replaced 15 autonomous island councils in March 2008. During statewide local government reform in 2007–08,
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