Thursday Island - Queensland - Islands of Australia

Thursday Island is believed to have been named by Captain William Bligh while he was on his way to Batavia. Settlement began with a government outpost in 1877 with the population rising quickly.

When residents feared the Russian Invasion, they chose to build a fort to protect themselves. Battery Point was built in 1892.

As farming began to become popular on Thursday Island, a number of tries were made. A cultured pearl industry was created in the 1950s, and they attempted to raise and farm green turtles during the 1970s. Guests to Thursday Island can still visit the Japanese Cemetery which is the resting place of hundreds of Japanese pearl divers.
 

With a number of tours available, guests will enjoy immersing themselves in the rich culture of Thursday Island. Historical tours, World War II exhibits, and the opportunity to be transported “back in time” to life on the island will be sure to please any history buff! It is a wonderful place to experience historical events from a new perspective.

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Torres Strait Art Gallery – Located in the Jardine Hotel, the art gallery features both historical and contemporary artwork.

Maritime Museum – (no specific information)

Historical Cemetery – The cemetery is home to hundreds of gravesites of Japanese pearl divers. Some of these gravesites are marked by small bowls to hold food for the spirits of the dead.

Greenhill Fort – Guests can tour abandoned bunkers and tunnels and visit the Torrest Strait Historical Museum.

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Blue Waters Take Away

Bobby’s Snack Bar

Café Gallery

Island Rooster

Le’s Takeaway Meals & Restaurant

Malu Paru Restaurant

Shiba’s Kiosk

Somerset Restaurant

The Pearl Lugger

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There are a variety of tours on Thursday Island on which guests can experience the history and culture of the island. Guests can also select tours where they simply cruise around the islands and enjoy the scenery. Whatever visitors select, they are sure to be pleased.

One of the most popular tours is the “Thursday Island Tour.” On this tour, guests spend 2 hours on a bus tour of the island. They visit many historical sites such as Greenhill Fort and other important landmarks on the island.

The “Horn Island Tour” is led by the curator and founder of the Heritage Museum on Horn Island. This tour leads guests on a historical tour of Thursday Island’s role in history, particularly World War II. With warplane relics, pearldiving memorabilia, and an old gold mine, it is an experience that everyone who visits Thursday Island should take part in.

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Besides the number of historical sites and tours, guests to Thursday Island can also participate in various sporting activities. The island has tennis, shooting, basketball, football, and aerobics facilities. They also feature boating, fishing and canoeing for those who wish to play in the water.

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• Car Hire - Rental (No Information Available)
• Boat Hire - Rental (No Information Available)
• Bike Hire - Rental (No Information Available)

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Thursday Island offers a number of facilities open to visitors. They have a number of banking facilities available as well as a post office. They also have emergency services including hospital, ambulance, and police.

In addition to those types of facilities, Thursday Island is home to several local shops. Those who enjoy shopping will have a great time exploring the local quality merchandise. No one should go home empty handed!

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From Queensland, the easiest way to get to Thursday Island is by a daily flight. Visitors can leave Cairns and arrive at Bamaga. There is also a flight that runs twice a week from Cairns to Weipa.

Those who do not wish to fly commercially can use a local ferry to go to Thursday Island. There are also small charter plan operations and helicopter services as well.

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Thursday Island is the administrative center of the Torres Strait Islands.

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Do you have any photos of Thursday Island ?  Please email me your photos (Minimum 800x600 Pixels), I will credit you as the photographer under each photo.

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Thursday Island (Australia) Thursday Island Harbour (Australia)

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