Thursday Island

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Thursday Island is Australia's northernmost town situated 35 kilometres NW of the tip of Cape York and is an ideal stopover to see the Torres Strait culture and lifestyle.

A majority of the residents are involved in some way with the Island's new three major industries of pearling, crayfishing and trochus.

Thursday Island is the most developed island in the Torres Strait Islands group. Located just north of Cape York Peninsula, Australia's most northern point, Thursday Island offers tourists an inviting glimpse into a lovely cultural mosaic.

Thursday Island, now identified as one of the last great frontiers in Australia, holds some great Australian history. In 1880 Thursday Island acted as the defence centre for Australia and evidence of this still exists in that the cannons still remain in place. Thursday Island is rich in history. In 1893, the Green Hill Fort was built on fears of a Russian invasion.

The Japanese Pearl Memorial is dedicated to the hundreds of pearl divers who died from decompression sickness. Thursday Island was also important during World War II as a base for Australian and American troops. Today, the main industries on the island are pearling and fishing. The island is only about three square kilometres and is a wonderful destination to enjoy a relaxing holiday.

Thursday Island also has facilities such as a sporting complex for basketball and volleyball, an Olympic size swimming pool, a football oval, a primary and secondary school, a general hospital (outpatient), the Torres Strait Campus (Tafe) - part of James Cook University, ambulance and police services.