Telegraph (Brisbane), Saturday 17
September 1927, p. 14
THURSDAY ISLAND
JUBILEE
1. Story of Its
Settlement: Scenic Beauty: Strategic Importance
Fifty years have elapsed since Thursday Island first was settled. It was
a very small village port then, but it afterwards rose to the dignity of a
municipality, became the administrative centre of the Anglican Diocese of
Carpentaria, and had a trade output which was greater in proportion to its
population than any other port in Queensland, or perhaps in Australia.
Scenic beauty
It is a revelation to these who
have not seen Thursday Island to find that it possesses great scenic charms.
The harbour is commodious, safe, and pretty, and the town nestles snugly on a
slope of the island, with a panorama of tropical follaged adjacent islands
which appeals very strongly to the lover of the beautiful in nature.
Approaching the island in fine weather, when the water of the strait is for all
the world like a crystal sea here and there in the pearling days dotted with the
luggers used in the industry, one realised that there was a beauty in the
tropics not to be found elsewhere.
Strategic Interest
The fact that Queensland's north-most port is situated on an island
instead of on the mainland is accounted for by the fact of the island strategic
importance. It is the key to the entrance to the inner route of Torres Strait.
The first settlement was at Somerset, on the mainland, but it was not long
before the advantages of the island were recognised, because of its fine
harbour, as well as of its sentinel position. Mr. E. B. Kennedy refers to this
fact In his "Early Days in Queensland."
First Officials
A reference to the blue book of Queensland for 1877 shows that Mr. H. M.
Chester was appointed police magistrate at Thursday Island, with the subsidiary
offices of sub-collector of customs and harbour-master on July 20 of that year.
Mr. Allan Wilke— the name given in the blue book as Wilkin— was appointed pilot
on September 14 of the same year.
The first reference to Thursday Island as a settlement in Pugh's Almanac
is contained in the volume of that important Queensland publication for the year
1884. The passage reads thus: "Thursday Island lies some 625 miles to the
northward of Townsville, off the extreme northern point of Queensland. It is
the rendezvous of the pearl shellers, where they meet the mail steamers, etc.,
and tranship their cargoes. It is also a harbour of refuge. Burns, Philp and
Co;, of Sydney, have the only store there. There is a police magistrate (H. M.
Chester), who acts as harbour-master, also as a sub-collector of customs (F. G.
Symes), and postmaster (D. Cullen). The sub-collector of customs acts as
savings bank officer, shipping master, and registrar for the district of
Somerset. The London Missionary Society makes this their headquarters for
receiving their provisions. The E. and A. Company makes this their first port
of call, and have a fine hulk— the Belle of the Esk — as their receiving ship,
where there is always a plentiful supply of coal. The B.I.S.N..Co, also used
their hulk. The Truganini or Gunga take all the Normanton cargo from here.
There are two hotels, the Torres Strait (G. Cockburn) and the Thursday Island
(T. McNaulty)."
The reference to the London Missionary Society is in regard to that
society's operations In New Guinea. The mail service mentioned, then run by the
Eastern and Australian Steamship Company, was that which had its eastern
terminus at Singapore, where it picked up mails from Europe and delivered these
from Australia. As showing the importance of Thursday Island's trade, even in these
days of its infancy, Pugh's for the year mentioned states: "The Customs
collections alone from this district arc between £9,000 and £10,000 per annum;
for the year 1883 the total receipts from Customs and licenses were £10,412.”
Healthy Climate
"The climate," Pugh's proceeds, "is very healthy, and the
year is divided into two seasons, the dry season, southeast monsoon, from March
till after full moon in December, and the wet season, north-west monsoon, from
full moon in December till the end of February." In his book, "The
Never Never Land, Mr. A. W. Stirling, B.C.L., F.R.S., refers to the salubriousness
of the climate of Thursday Island, and to the beauty and usefulness of the
harbour.
A Pioneer's Reminiscences
Mr. James Clark, so well-known as a pioneer in the pearl shelling
industry in Torres Strait, at present, is in the East Indies. Mr. P. P.
Outridge, now living at Redland Bay, however, has kindly furnished the
following reminiscences of his many years' association with Thursday Island: —
"I arrived in Thursday Island in October, 1882; the settlement had been in
existence for five years, and there were very few buildings outside of these
which were owned by the Government. The magistracy was situated on top of the
hill at Vivian Point, and commanded a fine view of the three entrances to the
harbour; the house was the largest of a row of five. Mr. H. M, Chester was the
Government Resident, and had charge practically of all the Government
departments. Next to the residency was the Court House, the rear part of which
was used ns the Post Office and Custom House. The chief officer in this
department was Mr. D. H. Duff. The Post Office was under the control of Mr. D.
D. Cullen, who also was junior customs officer. The next house in the row was
occupied by the water police, the force consisted of a sergeant and four
constables. The next building was the residence of the principal officer of
customs. The last building of the row was occupied by the harbour master and
pilot, Captain Alan Wilke, whose duty was to pilot vessels into the rather
difficult harbour, also to attend the various buoys and beacon's in the
vicinity.
On the island there was one general store, owned by Mr. James Burns.
This business was later formed into one of the branches of Burns, Philp, and
Co. Ltd., whose establishments are all over Australia and the islands. The
manager of the firm at that time (1882) was Mr. Vivian R. Bowden, now the head
of a well-known firm trading In Japan.
Annexation Expedition
It was In March, 1882, that the Government Resident left for New Guinea
in the Government schooner Pearl to hoist the British flag, and, under
instructions to take possession of that part of New Guinea not claimed by the
Dutch. The schooner was laden with large quantities of the trade for distribution
amongst the natives of Port Moresby. The position of the Imperial authorities
in repudiating the action is well known, and as events proved it was a matter
of the greatest regret that the annexation was not completed.
Early Pearling
Vessels
In the early 80's the communication with Brisbane was by the steamer
Coren (Captain James Lawrie), of the Q.S.S. Company Limited. She made monthly
trips, taking supplies to the various pearling stations, and bringing pearl shell
on the return trip. It was very interesting to observe the doings on the
arrival of the steamer. In those days the pearling stations, or as they were
called, shelling stations, were located on the various Islands round Thursday
Island, and each station had a smart little fore-and-aft schooner yacht of from
30 to 50 tons register to transport the shell from the stations and carry the
provisions back. Some of the shelling firms were Mr. F. L. Jardine of Somerset,
with the schooner Victory; Captain George Pearson, of Marbiag Island, with the
schooner Lord Loftus; Messrs. Kelly and Cussen, of Prince of Wales Island, with
the schooner Regent Bird; and Captain J. A. Riddel, of Prince of Wales Island,
with the schooner Dairymaid. This vessel, which was of 30 tons register, was a
topsail schooner with a large wooden centreboard and was a very fast sailer.
Then there was the firm of Messrs. Scott, Henderson, and Co., with the schooner
Osprey. The largest firm of shellers at one time was the Queensland Pearl
Fishery Company, Limited, which had one station at Wai-Weer Island, with a schooner
of the same name (Wai-Weer). It also had a station at Roko Island, near
Possession Island, where Captain Cook landed and hosted the British flag. Roko station schooner was the Two Brothers.
Another large station was owned by Captain Joseph Tucker. It was located at Goode
Island, and possessed a beautiful little vessel called the Dauntlett. There
were several other shelling stations on the various islands, owned respectively
by Messrs. James Clark, George Smith, Albert Collis, George Kerr, Captain
Parkyne, Captain W. R. Mogg, and others. On arrival of the Corea the various schooners
would manoeuvre to get alongside the steamer first, and it was a revelation to
witness the skilful handling of the vessels on getting their lines aboard, and
so secure the best berths. Eventually there would be half a dozen vessels
alongside.
Pearling Boom
At that time shelling was very brisk, a new and very rich patch of shell
was discovered west of Torres Straits. It was locally known as the old ground,
was very extensive and very prolific. Largo quantities of shell were obtained each
fortnight. Everyone was doing well and much money was circulated. The water was
shallow, being from 6 to 10 fathoms in depth, and the ground extended out to
sea. The fleet was not very large at that time, but on discovery of the old
ground all haste was made by the progressive shellers to increase the fleets.
Mr. James Clark, then in Brisbane, purchased the oyster cutter Amy, and loading
her up with stores and shell cases, left Brisbane in September, 1882, with a
crew consisting of Messrs. John Tolman, Wm. Wilson, and P. P. Outridge. After a
very fine run of 11 days, Thursday Island was reached and the Amy was soon in
commission. Speed was the first consideration, because fine, weather prevailed
in the last four months of the year, and consequently good catches, were made.
Later two boats were built for Mr. James Clark in Brisbane by Mr. Harry McCleer,
one was called the Banana, the other the
Cocoanut.
Noted White Diver
Jack Tolman was given a trial as diver of the Banana and was very successful.
He turned out to be one of the very best white divers in Torres Straits, and
was always known as "Jack Banana." A fairly large number of white
divers were engaged in the industry in those days, because the money was large
and easily earned. Any young fellow possessing physique and grit could dive
successfully in the comparatively shallow water of the old ground. Although
there were many white divers employed, the majority of divers were South Sea
Islanders (from Rotuneah principally). Malays and Manilla men, a few Japanese
were employed, but not in such numbers as today.
Ships That Passed
In those times it was most interesting to observe the sailing ships passing through the straits. A good view of them could be obtained by climbing the hill to the signal station, at Goode Island, where Captain Walter Powell (afterwards stationed at Cape Moreton) was light keeper and signaller. It was the day of sailing ships. Coal was convoyed to the East from Newcastle, large quantities being sent to Java, Singapore, and China. The route being very dangerous, several ships would sail in company, so that if one got into trouble the other could render assistance. Frequently six full-rigged ships would he passing at one time generally under easy sail. When off Goode Island, with the most dangerous part of the route passed, full sail would be set and the vessels would soon disappear out of sight to the westward.
