Bamaga

History

The original site for the township of Bamaga was at a site known as "Muttee Heads" some south of the present Bamaga township. The present site was established after World War II by people from Saibai Island in Torres Strait, after Saibai Island was devastated by abnormally high tides. It is named after Saibai elder Bamaga Ginau, who envisaged the site but died before it was established. Bamaga State School opened on 28 January 1964. On 23 March 2005, it was renamed Northern Peninsula Area State College. Some 20 years later, another community, "New Mapoon", was established. It was set up for the forced relocation of people of "Old Mapoon" community, located some two hours north by road from the township of Weipa for bauxite mining. Bamaga State High School opened on 30 January 1973, but closed on 9 December 1994.

Geography

Bamaga and the surrounding communities are located north of the Jardine River which supplies the town water.

Most-observed species

• Green Oriole

  Oriolus flavocinctus (King, 1826) · Aves
  318
• Bar-shouldered Dove

  Geopelia humeralis (Temminck, 1821) · Aves
  316
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  293
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  257
• Palm Cockatoo

  Probosciger aterrimus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  243
• Yellow-spotted Honeyeater

  Meliphaga notata (Gould, 1867) · Aves
  240
• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  240
• Australian Brushturkey

  Alectura lathami J.E.Gray, 1831 · Aves
  212