Thursday Island is unusual in that it is part of Australia, but does not have any history of the aboriginal peoples or culture that characterizes the rest of Australia – nor do any of the Torres Strait Islands. These islands also do not exhibit the culture of Papua New Guinea. The people are Melanesian and the culture is very similar to that of other Melanesian islands. We had hoped for a cultural experience, but aside from a small art museum, a WWII fort, and a cemetery honoring the Japanese pearl divers, there was nothing that we could see that touted that history and culture.
Our stop was really only for a half-day and the entire stop consisted of a ten-minute tender trip from our anchorage to the town; a twenty-minute walk for several blocks in exhausting heat; a five-minute stop for a refrigerator magnet; a ten-minute tender ride back to the ship. The rest of the day was just another sea day.
Thursday Island does hold a strategic position as the central administrative area for the Torres Strait Islands of Australia. It is only a short hop from the islands to Papua New Guinea. There are about 3000 people on the island and aside from the occasional cruise ship, there is absolutely nothing to do.
Here are a few pix that I took. You will notice the absence of people in most of them. The islanders know enough to stay indoors when it is this hot…
The view on the approach to Thursday Island.
“Welcome to Thursday Island” and here is what you are really here for – the restrooms…
It is beautiful.
This sculpture is another greeting a little further up the walk from the restrooms and is really a better welcome to the island.
We are now on the way to Darwin. After Darwin, we change course slightly and head up into Malaysia and Indonesia and parts north. Stay tuned…
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