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Mornington Shire Council | | Category: | Organisation | | | Date: | 1 January 1978 | | | Sub Category: | Local Government | | Place: | Mornington Island | | State/Country: | Queensland, Australia | | Summary Information: | | | Mornington Shire Council was established in 1978 under the Local Government (Aboriginal Lands) Act 1978 (Qld). The Shire is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and incorporates 21 islands, an area of 1227 square kilometres. Mornington Island itself is the largest island, estimated to be about 700 square kilometres in area.
'The original people of Mornington Island are the Lardil. They are the largest tribal group and formerly occupied the North Wellesley Islands (Mornington, Sydney and Wallaby). Yangkal tribal lands consist of the islands between Mornington and the mainland. The Kaiadilt tribal group occupied the South Wellesley Islands (Bentinck and Sweers)... Since the early part of this century Mornington Island had been managed under the Queensland Aborigines Act by the Uniting Church. In 1978 the Queensland Government decided to take over control of the Island. The community protested the decision and sought Commonwealth Government support for its cause. Later that year agreement was reached between the Commonwealth and the State for self-government via a local authority', the Mornington Shire Council (Mount Isa Centre). |
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