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History of Contact

Guugu Yimithirr and Binthi Warra Timeline of Key Dates and Events

Our Bama (people) have lived on Binthi Country for thousands of years, since millennia, caring and sharing the resources. Our history shows a long commitment to our our Country and culture. Binthi Warra has always maintained strong connections, and our Elders past and present paved the way for us to follow through their respect for Country and tireless commitment. Our families continue to work together to build a strong future, and BLHGAC is our forum to achieve this.

Timeline

1898
1898
1898

Dr Walter Edmund Roth appointed as the Chief Protector of Aboriginal Affairs for the northern region and based in Cooktown.

1900
1900
1900 – 1902

‘Muni’ takes on the declining Bloomfield (Wujal Wujal) mission. The Polands oversee the winding down of the former mission. 23 residents relocated from Mara Yamba mission.

1908
1908
1908 – 1909

The Queensland Government extended the Reserve by 20,000 acres to incorporate the land along the McIvor River – Warrego Mission.

1939
1939
1939

Spring Hill Mission established next to Muni’s Eight Mile property.

1939
1939 – 1945

Outbreak of World War II – Fear and suspicions of ‘enemy aliens’ with Japanese sympathies required registration, with threats of arrest and internment by government authorities.

1942
1942
1942

The military ordered the evacuation to Woorabinda internment and ‘Muni’ arrested and jailed in Cooktown. They were taken to Cairns onboard the Poonbar. The elderly were taken to Palm Island and the remainder were taken by train to Rockhampton then trucked to Woorabinda.

1943
1943
1943 – 1950

Seven years of trauma at Woorabinda. Pastor Victor Wenke ministered to the Woorabinda evacuees and Pastor Ivan Roennfeldt spearheaded the return of the Guugu Yimithirr people. Alick Cameron, Paddy McIvor and George Bowen emerged as the community leaders. With the assistance of the Lutheran opposition MLA Joh Bjelke-Petersen (who retained an interest in the Lutheran mission), they achieved the eventual return of the community to Hope Vale.

1950
1950
1950

The first families returned from Woorabinda.

1956
1956
1956 – 1958

Building, construction and dedication of St John’s Lutheran Church Hope Vale. “It is our most sacred site. It is our St Peter’s of Rome. It is our St Paul’s of London. It is our Notre Dame of Paris. It is a place the place where the spirit of our ancestors and our unborn – unite in our prayers the present living.” Noel Pearson

1971
1971
1971 – Magubadaay-gu (forever)

John B. Haviland (Distinguished Professor of Anthropology) begins his fieldwork as a Linguist to record the Guugu Yimithirr language.