The Four Campuses

Aurukun

The Aurukun community has a population of approximately 1,200 people. It is situated on the Archer River 220 km south of Weipa. The community is serviced by plane, road and barge services. These services are essential as the community is inaccessible for six months of the year during the wet season. The original settlement of Aurukun was established as a Presbyterian mission in 1904. The Aboriginal people were encouraged to come into the mission for medicine, schooling and mission teaching. The mission school separated students into single sex dormitories. Despite the missionary presence, many remained outside the mission until the 1950s ensuring the culture remained strong.

In 1975 the community was placed under direct State Government control, but the Wik Native Title Case has returned the land to its traditional owners. The tribes or clans in the Aurukun region are based on language groupings. There are approximately 15 tribal language groupings. The primary language, however, is Wik Mungkan, the first language for most community members.

Mapoon

Mapoon is a small Indigenous community of approximately 350 people. Also known as Old Mapoon, the community is located along the shores of Port Musgrave 85kms north of Weipa. The community is relatively easy to access by road, even during the wet season. Mapoon was established as a Presbyterian mission in 1891. By 1907, under the Reformatories Act, it was operating as an industrial school with dormitories filled with children from all across the Cape. In the 1950s the bauxite rich land was discovered and mining leases were established with Comalco and Alcan.

In 1963 the Department of Native Affairs relocated people to the region now known as New Mapoon, however by 1973 people were returning to the site. Mapoon State School began as a one teacher community school with only a handful of students. Since then the school has grown into a P-6 education facility.

Napranum

Formerly known as Weipa, Napranum was established in 1898 by the Moravian missionaries on behalf of the Presbyterian Church. The mission moved to Jessica Point, the present site. The community is 12kms south of Weipa with a population of approximately 1100. Napranum has access to all the facilities available in Weipa but transport can be an issue for some community members without access to vehicles. In the 1950s bauxite was discovered with mining commencing in 1960. In 1966 the mission became a Government settlement with the school opening in 1967.

Napranum Campus was formerly known as Jessica Point State School and earlier as Weipa South State School. Before the closure of the Campus the school was a P-6 education facility catering for approximately 80 enrolments. Classes were divided into three enrichment classes and one Re-Entry class. Students now attend the Weipa Campus after an extensive transition support and consultation process.

Weipa

Weipa has a population of approximately 2500 people. It is a coastal mining town which forms part of the Cape York Peninsula. The township of Weipa was originally developed by Comalco as the mine at Weipa South (now known as Napranum) expanded during the early 1960s. The area was called Weipa North and was developed to accommodate the mining personnel. The economy in Weipa is strongly linked to the bauxite mine, but alternative industries are increasingly contributing to the economic growth of the community.