Minjilang, formerly Mission Bay, is the
Aboriginal community located on
Croker Island
Croker Island is an island in the Arafura Sea off the coast of the Northern Territory, Australia, northeast of Darwin. It was the site of the Croker Island Mission between 1940 and 1968.
Indigenous peoples
At the earliest time of European co ...
, some east northeast of
Northern Territory's capital of
Darwin. It is the only settlement of any size on Croker Island, which lies a few kilometres off the mainland.
History
Croker Island Mission existed at Minjilang between 1940 and 1968, operated by the Methodist Overseas Mission.
Geography
The community of Minjilang is on the opposite, eastern side of the island on Mission Bay, a secluded bay. Besides Minjilang, there are only eight small family
outstations.
[Minjilang community profile from Minjilang Community Inc.]
/ref>
Population
At the 2011 census, Minjilang had a population of 308Iwaidja
The Iwaidja are an indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory.
Name
Norman Tindale states that the name is based on their word for 'no' (''ii'').
Language
Iwaidja is one of the Iwaidjan languages of the Cobourg Peninsula, all of whi ...
and are the only speakers of this language, but English, Kunwinjku
The Kunwinjku (formerly written Gunwinggu) people are an Australian Aboriginal people, one of several groups within the Bininj people, who live around West Arnhem Land to the east of Darwin, Northern Territory. Kunwinjku people generally refer t ...
and Maung are also spoken. Approximately 48% of the population is unemployed.
Croker Island offered a safe haven to many children from the " Stolen Generation", the people who were affected by the policy of forceful removal of Indigenous children from their families. Croker is a so-called ''dry'' community, meaning no alcohol may be brought into the village, to prevent abuse. However, the controlled sale of kava is licensed.
Climate
Minjilang has a
tropical savannah climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...
(
Aw) with oppressively hot weather year round. The rainy season typically run from December through April and is very rainy.
Services
Minjilang has a supermarket, school, clinic serviced by a nurse and health worker (a doctor visits each fortnight and the dentist comes periodically). West Arnhem Region
The West Arnhem Region is a local government area of the Northern Territory, Australia and is administered by the West Arnhem Regional Council. The region covers an area of and had a population of 6,902 in June 2018.
History
In October 2006 the ...
provides a number of services, e.g. waste collection, power and water supply and sewerage, and maintenance of roads, the barge landing and community airstrip.[
]
Communications
Croker Island Airfield is located about 11 km west of Minjilang and immediately south of Adjamarrago, a small family outstation.Unearthed Outdoors'Minjilang Airfield page
/ref> An air service to Darwin is run on a daily basis (except Thursdays and Sundays) by Murin Airways. The haul to Darwin takes about an hour. The community barge service to Darwin by Perkins Shipping is a weekly affair. The island itself has only low-grade dirt roads. A permit from the Northern Land Council
The Northern Land Council (NLC) is a land council representing the Aboriginal peoples of the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia, with its head office in Darwin.
While the NLC was established in 1974, its origins began in the strugg ...
is needed for any visitors wishing to come to Croker Island, as it is restricted Aboriginal-owned land.[tourist overview of Croker Island]
/ref> The community receives one radio station as well as four television stations.[
]
References
External links
Minjilang Community Profile from Minjilang Community Inc.
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Towns in the Northern Territory
Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory