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Photo by 1st Lt. John Stuart –  

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Tiwi Islands

The Two Islands famously known as the ‘Tiwi’ are part of the Northern Territory, Australia. They are 80 kilometers to the north of Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea. Melville Island and Bathurst Island are among the smaller nine uninhabited islands. The Tiwi, an Aboriginal Australian people are at an estimated 2,453 people according to the census in 2016.

The Tiwi Land Coun governs the Island, the council is one of the four land councils in the Northern Territory.

The Tiwi Islands were the result of the rise of sea level during the last ice age which was about 11,700 years ago. The main islands are separated by Apsely Strait which connects Saint Asaph Bay in the north and Shoal Bay in the south. They are inhabited by the Tiwi people as they have been for thousands of years before European settlement.

1. The Islands’ History.

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Tiwi Islanders are believed to have had contact with Macassan traders and the first historical record of contact between indigenous islanders and European explorers. In 1824, Captain Gordon Bremer was appointed by the British Colonial Office to take possession of Bathurst and Melville.

Bremer established the first European settlement on the islands, which was also the first British settlement in northern Australia. However, it only lasted five years and was abandoned in 1829.

2. Problems With Land Ownership

Due to the fact that Bremer had claimed the northern area of the continent, the jurisdiction of the northern territory including the Islands was taken over by the Government of the Colony of South Australia by instruction from the Colonial Office in 1863.

In 1911, it was finally relinquished to the federal government after years of negotiations. After a few years, control of the islands was transferred to the indigenous traditional owners through the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust.

3. Missionary Work

Photo by Laterthanyouthink –  

In 1910, German catholic missionary Francis Xavier Gsell applied for a license to establish a Christian mission. In the same month, the South Australian government declared a part of  Bathurst island was to be dedicated to the mission. 

The Catholic mission had a positive impact on the island. The mission provided access to education and welfare services. However, there were also negative effects like Aboriginal language and culture.

4. Local Government

Photo by Tourism NT – Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Carved_Poles_2645.jpg/640px-Carved_Poles_2645.jpg

The administration of the islands is divided between the local Tiwi Islands Regional Council and the Tiwi Land Council. The representatives on the Shire Council are elected from the Four wards: Milikapati Ward, Nguiu Ward, Pirlangimpi Ward, and Wurankuwu Ward.

5. The Culture and Art

Indigenous Australian art is an important part of Tiwi Island and its culture. The three indigenous art centers are Tiwi Design, Munupi Arts & Crafts, and Jilamara Arts & Craft. Aside from the art network, there are independent operations like fabric design, printing, and clothing businesses that are operated by indigenous women since 1969.

In fact, a lot of wood carvings of birds are made by Tiwi people, some of these are displayed in the Mission Heritage Gallery on Bathurst Island. The carvings have various meanings that represent Tiwi mythology.

In the 1960s, the idea of carving human sculptures was introduced by Cardo Kerinauia into Paru Village. His idea was inspired by the sculptures he had seen in Darwin. The villagers started a cottage industry of wood carving and had several Tiwi artists.

Their artwork is usually a social activity and consists of groups of people sitting together and talking while they work.

6. Involvement in Music

In 2004, the band B2M was formed in the Tiwi Islands. The lead Simon was determined to try to make a difference through music. The band gained a large indigenous following in Australia and was able to spread positive messages about alcohol and drugs.

They have had multiple successful tours that have resulted in a gain of followers.

7. Thriving in Sports

Photo by Rulesfan at English Wikipedia –  

The most popular sport on the Tiwi Islands is Australian Rules Football, It’s the league has 900 participants from a community of 2,600.

The Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final is held every year in March and has up to 3,000 spectators. In actual fact, notable footballers from the Islands have played in the national VFL/ AFL competition.

Aside from football, the Tiwi Islands is known for being Notable with its Cricket team. The match between Hayden XI and Border XI had a turnout of 1,000 people which is nearly half of the islands’ population.

8. The Beautiful Flora and Fauna

Photo by Satrina Brandt –  

The land is mainly covered by eucalypt forests and open woodlands with small patches of rainforest occurring in association with perennial freshwater springs and mangroves.

The island is home to the world’s largest breeding colony of crested terns and a population of vulnerable olive ridley turtles, and several species of shark and saltwater crocodiles.

Invasive mammals on the islands include cats, pigs, water buffalo, horses, and cattle. The Water Buffalos are usually found in Melville and are the most common. In Bathurst, feral pigs are common. 

The islands have been identified as an important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of the large numbers of Red Goshawks, Partridge Pigeons, and bush stone-curlews.

However, the list doesn’t stop here, there are multiple birds that are globally significant like rainbow pittas and silver crowned friarbirds.

9. Mining Operations

On Melville Island’s north coast, islanders have noticed mineral sands. In 2005, Matilda Minerals developed a proposal for mining on the islands and it was approved the next year.

When mining began in 2007, there were shipments of zircon and rutile for export to China. The Tiwi Operations halted in 2008 and in October of the same year it was placed in administration.

10. Forestry To The Rescue

Forest products are an important factor in the island’s economy. In 2001, the Land Council and Australian Plantations Group decided to expand the supply of woodchips.

In 2007, the Northern Territory Government investigated claims that the company had breached environmental laws. Much of the land which was maintained by the timber company was an important source of local jobs.

However, as with all great things, the Southern Plantations collapsed in 2009 and the Land Council has been examining options for future management of the plantations.