Weipa, Queensland

Weipa
Queensland

Weipa

Coordinates

12°37′S 141°52′E / 12.617°S 141.867°ECoordinates: 12°37′S 141°52′E / 12.617°S 141.867°E

Population

3,334 (2011 census)

• Density

305.9/km² (792/sq mi)

Established

1961

Postcode(s)

4874

Area

10.9 km² (4.2 sq mi)

Location

2,471 km (1,535 mi) NW of Brisbane
816 km (507 mi) NW of Cairns

Mean max temp	Mean min temp	Annual rainfall
32.8 °C ^{91 °F}	21.9 °C ^{71 °F}	1,963.9 mm ^{77.3 in}

Weipa /ˈwiːpə/ is the largest town on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. At the 2011 census, Weipa had a population of 3,334; the largest community on Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast. The Port of Weipa is mainly involved in exports of bauxite. Over the last decade or so there have been occasional shipments of live cattle from the port.

Weipa is just south of Duyfken Point, a location now agreed to be the first recorded point of European contact with the Australian continent. Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon, on his ship the Duyfken, sighted the coast here in 1606. This was 164 years before Lieutenant James Cook sailed up the east coast of Australia.

Weipa began as a Presbyterian Aboriginal mission outpost in 1898.

Very restrictive legislation was enacted by the state of Queensland in 1911, making the Protector the legal guardian of every Aborigine and half-caste child (until he/she was 21), and the right to confine (or expel) any such person within any reserve or Aboriginal institution, and the right to imprison any Aborigine or half-caste for 14 days if, in the Protector's judgement, they were guilty of neglect of duty, gross insubordination or wilful preaching of disobedience. It also gave powers to the police to confine Aborigines to reserves to "protect them from corruption". This latter power was given by Comalco in 1957 to justify the removal of Weipa Aborigines.

In 1932 the community had to relocate to its present site, at Jessica Point now called Napranum, because of malaria. It is about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the present town of Weipa. At this time most of the people were Awngthim but soon different tribes and clans were brought from Old Mapoon (when the people were forcibly removed and the settlement burnt down on 15 November 1963), and other communities.

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