Blogs from Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia, Oceania

13-8-11 up early &we caught tour boat from Siesia Jetty, it started out a calm trip, but when we got to the Torres Strait Sea it got a little rougher. John took us into a bay & we saw an X Pearl Farm that someone lives in now & some hidden houses that people own a little piece of paradise. Headed off to Thursday Island where we had about ½ an hour to see the main St. Not a lot there, I would not like to live there. Then John took us on a tour of the Island & we bought Prawns & Crayfish Tails from the fish market & than saw the lookout, WW2 fortress, churches & pubs. The views were unreal. We then boarded the boat again & went to Horn Island to have ... read more

Saturday 23rd July Thursday Island Today has been a marvellous day, unfortunately not long enough. I think 2 or 3 days on Thursday Island (known as TI) would really give you a full taste of it. The little bit we had was lovely! Started early from the wharf which is fortunately right next to the campsite, so no transport/tent packing issues. About an hour on the boat and there we all were. We began with a necessarily quick bus tour of the island, starting with Green Hill fort. It was built in 1893, as the colonial authorities feared a Russian invasion(!) and de-commissioned in the 1920s. The old fort has wonderful 360 degree views of TI and Torres Strait, and a fascinating historical museum. I wish I’d had more time to spend there, but alas no, ... read more

Our day at sea proves interesting as we hear Cultural Historian Nate Randall discuss the history of food practices in this part of the world. He notes that the aborigines were hunter gatherers living in groups of 50-100 with their nomadic movements dependent on food needs. Among interesting practices was their tracking of bees back to the hive (for its honey) after attaching a feather and the annual burning of forests to chase the kangaroos and emus out into the open. Women gathered yams, bush tomatoes, grass seed bread while kids sucked nectar from flowering plants – a natural lollipop. Macadamia Nuts originated in Australia and were exported to Hawaii. January 26, 1888 the fleet arrived with the convicts for settlement so it’s now celebrated as Australia Day. Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management became the ... read more