Umbakumba

History

Before European contact, Macassan sailors would visit the area searching for trepang from around the early to mid-1700s. They introduced culinary delights such as tamarinds, chilli and beer. The trade continued until the Australian Government introduced the White Australia Policy in 1906. There is still evidence of the Macassans, such as the wild tamarind trees, which the traders introduced to the area. The place-name itself Umbakumba comes from the Malay word ombak-ombak, which means ‘lapping of waves’. Mr Fred H. Gray, a pearl and trepang trader, established the Umbakumba Native Settlement on an old Macassan trading post. He used the settlement as a base for trepanging and employed many of the indigenous locals during the 20s and 30s. In 1938 Umbakumba became renowned as the service and refuelling base for the Qantas Empire Airways flying boats that travelled the long-haul route between Sydney, Singapore and the south of England. During WWII, this converted to a Royal Australian Air Force flying base. The Church Mission Society, which was running the Angurugu Mission on the western side of the island, did not endorse Gray's position on the island. When CMS withdrew the support of the settlement, Gray stated that he chose to continue with the work he had begun. In May 1956, the Northern Territory Administrator sent a letter to Gray stating that it was government policy only to approve of Missions run by recognised "Christian Missionary Organisations", which would exclude "the establishment and conduct of Missions by private individuals as proprietary concerns." The government withdrew the subsidy paid to the settlement. The Church Mission Society took over control over the settlement administration on February 17, 1958, with Keith Hart as superintendent. CMS…

Most-observed species

• darwin stringybark

  Eucalyptus tetrodonta F.Muell. · Magnoliopsida
  29
• sugar grass

  Heteropogon triticeus (R.Br.) Stapf ex Craib · Liliopsida
  26
• black-bean

  Erythrophleum chlorostachys (F.Muell.) Baill. · Magnoliopsida
  24
• Green Plum

  Buchanania obovata Engl. · Magnoliopsida
  21
• western salwood

  Acacia lamprocarpa O.Schwarz · Magnoliopsida
  19
• yellow hakea

  Hakea arborescens R.Br. · Magnoliopsida
  19
• Sarga plumosa (R.Br.) Spangler

  Sarga plumosa (R.Br.) Spangler · Liliopsida
  16
• Quinine Bush

  Petalostigma banksii Britten & S.Moore · Magnoliopsida
  14