Napranum is a part of Western Cape York Peninsula and is home to approximately 1,000 Indigenous people who are descended from as many as 40 different groups from around Cape York Peninsula.
The community of Napranum is 6 kilometres from Weipa and 800 kilometres from Cairns on the west coast of Cape York. It is only accessible by road for 4–6 months of the year, but has a sealed road access to Weipa.
Formerly known as Weipa South, Napranum which means ‘meeting place’ was established in 1898 by the Presbyterian Church. In 1957, Comalco was granted a mining lease covering the majority of mission reserves with no compensation to Aboriginal communities.
Napranum was officially gazetted as the place–name to replace Weipa South in September 1990 and the DOGIT lands became known as the Napranum DOGIT in 1991. Napranum has become an increasingly prosperous community with modern facilities such as the Yepenyi–Awumpun art gallery, Mary Ann Coconut library and Indigenous Knowledge Centre, new Council offices, a health centre, retirement home, supermarket, a war memorial, workshops and many new houses being built in the past ten years.
The traditional owners of Napranum are the Anathangayth, Alngith, Peppan, Thanakwithi, Wathyn and Wik Waya people (National Indigenous Australian Agency, 2021). Today the Napranum community is thriving and has a population of over 1,000 residents. The Mayor of Napranum is Janita Motton and her focus is to build the independence of the Napranum Community, maintain and improve strong, positive relationships between Council, Community members and Stakeholders within Napranum, Weipa and surrounding Communities in the Cape.
Photos thanks to Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council
© Western Cape Chamber of Commerce 2024
