Welcome to Aurukun

Aurukun is situated in the Western Region of Cape York.  It is one of the larger communities in the Cape with approximately 1200 people. Aurukun was established as as a Presbyterian mission in 1904. 

Much earlier the coastal people played a role in preventing the Dutch explorers of the seventeenth century from landing at Cape Keerweer.  The Cape takes its name from a Dutch word meaning to "turn back". This was because hundreds of armed warriors engaged in skirmishes that forced the Dutch to retreat.
 

 In 1978, the Queensland Government decided to take over control of both Aurukun and Mornington Island reserves.  Both communities were against this and protested seeking the help of the Commonwealth Government.

 After lengthy negotiations, legislation for self-management of the two reserves was introduced into Federal Parliament and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Queensland Reserves and Communities Self-Management) Act was passed on 7 April 1978.  On the same day, the Queensland Government revoked the two reserves which meant that neither the Queensland Act or the new Commonwealth legislation applied to the area any longer.

 Further negotiations took place between State and Federal Ministers and after lengthy discussions, an agreement was reached wherein local authorities would be created for the former reserves and that the land should be leased to the newly created councils for a period of fifty (50) years.