Palm Island: Island Nature and Community History

Palm Island, also known as Great Palm Island, is an Aboriginal community in northern Queensland, about 65 kilometres northeast of Townsville. The tropical island combines coastal scenery and forested mountain country; at the same time, the community’s history shapes the destination.

Island Nature and Reefs

The island’s landscape features include small coves, sandy beaches and fringing reefs, as well as freshwater streams and steep, forested mountains. At 548 metres, Bentley Ridge is the island’s highest point. This contrast is important to your impression of Palm Island: the description encompasses not just coves and beaches, but also streams and mountain country.

The reefs around Palm Island offer opportunities for fishing and diving. Local residents also make extensive use of them for hunting and gathering. Thus, both recreational activities and local use are part of the reef environment, but they reflect different contexts.

Community and History

The Bwgcolman Indigenous Knowledge Centre has operated as a local community library since 2010. It collects and preserves part of the local history. If you plan to visit the centre, check in advance about visiting arrangements.

The community observes Bwgcolman Day to honour and pay tribute to community members who were brought to Palm from their home. On Strike 57 Day, it remembers the hardships endured over working and pay conditions. The commemorations have different focuses: one honours people who were brought to Palm, while the other remembers working and pay conditions.

In 2018, Palm Island marked the centenary of the forced removal of Aboriginal people to the island. The community and Council held a programme from January to December to commemorate the past, present and future. As part of the commemorations, the Bwgcolman Indigenous Knowledge Centre developed a historical exhibition about the community’s history. The public programmes during this commemorative year shared Palm Island’s stories and truths with visitors.

Getting There from the Region

From Townsville, the Palm Island group can be reached by a 20-minute flight or a one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride; from Lucinda, the barge journey takes one hour. The distance of about 65 kilometres northeast of Townsville describes the geographic location, while the times given describe the duration of the journeys. These travel durations are not specific departure times. Check current services and schedules for your travel date. From Townsville, the 20-minute flight is the shortest of the journeys listed; the one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride takes longer. The one-hour barge journey departs from Lucinda and falls between the two Townsville connections in duration. For a time comparison, both the departure point and the mode of transport therefore matter.

Discover more destinations: Biboohra, Saint Kilda, Wandoan, Lucinda, O'connell, Flying Fish Point, Gindie, Oxenford

For the main travel overview: Queensland.