Pormpuraaw, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Pormpuraaw is an Aboriginal community situated on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula
approximately half way between Karumba
and Weipa
on the Edward River
. It is 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) by road from Cairns
. Pormpuraaw currently has a 2-man police station. According to the 2006 census, the population of the community was 600, with 536 of them being indigenous persons
, Bakanh and Yir Yoront
. This was the third mission to be set up in the southwestern Cape York region.
In 1967 control was passed from the church to the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs.
The community received DOGIT status, and is governed by a community council. Pormpuraaw has been successful in developing a commercial crocodile
farm, a cattle
operation and some tourism
.
. The supply of electricity is not reliable and there are often blackouts and brown outs especially during the wet season. Power is very expensive with an average cost of A$
40 to A$45 per week when running air conditioners.
Town water is supplied by a bore and pumped into tanks. The water is of poor quality and high in minerals which gives it a strong flavour. Both police residences have rain water tanks that are suitable for drinking. Water pressure from both water sources is low.
Sewage
is by pumping stations to settling ponds.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and milk come in weekly via truck during the dry and barge or plane during the wet season. Prices are high compared to the cities and increase further during the wet season.
There are no clothing stores or hairdressers.
Petrol can be purchased from the council workshop during business hours. Prices are very high.
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
approximately half way between Karumba
Karumba, Queensland
Karumba is a town in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia, 71 km by road from Normanton and 2159 km from the state capital, Brisbane. The settlement was previously known as Norman Mouth and Kimberely. Karumba was used by the local aborigines to describe the place...
and Weipa
Weipa, Queensland
Weipa is the largest town on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Weipa had a population of 2,830; the largest community on Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast...
on the Edward River
Edward River (Queensland)
The Edward River is a river in Queensland, Australia.The mouth of the Edward River is located at , on the western shore of Cape York Peninsula, the eastern edge of the Gulf of Carpentaria....
. It is 650 kilometres (403.9 mi) by road from Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
. Pormpuraaw currently has a 2-man police station. According to the 2006 census, the population of the community was 600, with 536 of them being indigenous persons
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Mission
Formerly known as Edward River Aboriginal Mission, Pormpuraaw was an Anglican mission established in 1938. The people included Thaayorre, WikWik
Wik may refer to:* Wik peoples, several Australian Aboriginal groups of Cape York Peninsula* Wik languages...
, Bakanh and Yir Yoront
Yir-Yoront people
The Yir-Yoront are an Australian people living on the southwestern part of the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland in Australia, primarily in the two settlements Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw, having their foundations in the Mitchell River Mission and Edward River Missian, respectively...
. This was the third mission to be set up in the southwestern Cape York region.
In 1967 control was passed from the church to the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs.
The community received DOGIT status, and is governed by a community council. Pormpuraaw has been successful in developing a commercial crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
farm, a cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
operation and some tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Education
There is a State primary school which caters for children from Years 1 to 7 with classes from differing year levels combined. There is one preschool and one day care centre which is operated by an Aboriginal corporation. There is no high school or TAFE in the division.Utilities
Electricity is supplied by a generator and is subject to frequent power interruptions. Electricity is paid up front via the use of power cards which are purchased from the Post OfficeAustralia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
. The supply of electricity is not reliable and there are often blackouts and brown outs especially during the wet season. Power is very expensive with an average cost of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
40 to A$45 per week when running air conditioners.
Town water is supplied by a bore and pumped into tanks. The water is of poor quality and high in minerals which gives it a strong flavour. Both police residences have rain water tanks that are suitable for drinking. Water pressure from both water sources is low.
Sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
is by pumping stations to settling ponds.
Medical
The Far Northern regional Health Authority operates the Pormpuraaw Primary Health Clinic which is open during business hours on Monday to Saturday and after hours for emergencies. There is no doctor or dentist within town. The Royal Flying Doctor Service attends once a week and the dentist once every two to three months. The Royal Flying Doctor will also attend for emergencies. The hospital operates with four registered nurses and four locally recruited health workers.Shopping
There are two shops within the town. One is operated six days a week and owned by the Department of Family Services. The other shop is smaller and operates on a limited basis and is owned by the Anglican Church.Fresh fruit, vegetables and milk come in weekly via truck during the dry and barge or plane during the wet season. Prices are high compared to the cities and increase further during the wet season.
There are no clothing stores or hairdressers.
Petrol can be purchased from the council workshop during business hours. Prices are very high.