Goulburn Island Mission - Centenary 1916-2016
Community: Warruwi - (Goulburn Island Methodist Mission)
Location: Mardbalk (South Goulburn) Island -
Region: West Arnhem Land - 290km NE of Darwin.
Population: 400>500 during the Wet.
Language: Maung & some Walang, Gunwinggu, Djambarrpuyngu and Galpu.
Ties to: Minjilang on Croker Island – Gunbalanya at Oenpelli & Maningrida.
Land Title: Aboriginal freehold - NT Aboriginal Land Rights Act. (NLC)
Landholders: Yallama, Namarrawanyja, Murran, Mangalara and Mayirrgurlj.
Collective Names: 'Majakudu' - 'people of the islands'.
White people: Balanda
Aboriginal people: Arrakpi
Mission start: Reverend James Watson landed on Thursday 22nd June 1916.
Industry: Warruwi Fisheries & Aquaculture Knowledge Partnership Project – trepang etc - http://yagbaniac14.wix.com/aquacultureknowledgeproject#!about1/csto
Arts Centre: Mardbalk Arts & Culture Centre
Local Government: Warrawi Regional Authority - West Arnhem Regional Council.
Location: Mardbalk (South Goulburn) Island -
Region: West Arnhem Land - 290km NE of Darwin.
Population: 400>500 during the Wet.
Language: Maung & some Walang, Gunwinggu, Djambarrpuyngu and Galpu.
Ties to: Minjilang on Croker Island – Gunbalanya at Oenpelli & Maningrida.
Land Title: Aboriginal freehold - NT Aboriginal Land Rights Act. (NLC)
Landholders: Yallama, Namarrawanyja, Murran, Mangalara and Mayirrgurlj.
Collective Names: 'Majakudu' - 'people of the islands'.
White people: Balanda
Aboriginal people: Arrakpi
Mission start: Reverend James Watson landed on Thursday 22nd June 1916.
Industry: Warruwi Fisheries & Aquaculture Knowledge Partnership Project – trepang etc - http://yagbaniac14.wix.com/aquacultureknowledgeproject#!about1/csto
Arts Centre: Mardbalk Arts & Culture Centre
Local Government: Warrawi Regional Authority - West Arnhem Regional Council.
NTL PH0152/0277 - Pulling Teeth - Gordon Sweeney 1937 Goulburn Is.
Missionaries & mission staff:-
Rev. James Watson -
Miss Corfield - Constance Amy Corfield (1888-1968) was appointed as a missionary teacher to the newly created Mission Station on Goulburn Island (Arnhem Land) in 1916 by the Department of Overseas Missions of the Methodist Church. She was the first white women on the Island when she arrived on the 5th September 1916. She worked on Goulburn Island until 1920 when she returned to Sydney. Her diary of 16 August 1916 - 15 August 1919, transcribed by Deborah Stumer, 2008 (MLMSS 7880)
Mr & Mrs RE Lawrence -
Rev. Herbert Edward Read -
Rev. Leonard Kentish -
Rev. James Watson -
Miss Corfield - Constance Amy Corfield (1888-1968) was appointed as a missionary teacher to the newly created Mission Station on Goulburn Island (Arnhem Land) in 1916 by the Department of Overseas Missions of the Methodist Church. She was the first white women on the Island when she arrived on the 5th September 1916. She worked on Goulburn Island until 1920 when she returned to Sydney. Her diary of 16 August 1916 - 15 August 1919, transcribed by Deborah Stumer, 2008 (MLMSS 7880)
Mr & Mrs RE Lawrence -
Rev. Herbert Edward Read -
Rev. Leonard Kentish -
Goulburn Island Mission 1916
1st Service Glbn Is. 1916 Jesus Walking on the Sea.
L>R - Rev. Watson - Miss Corfield - Mr & Mrs RE Lawrence - A Ted Ryko image in the Karilyn Brown Collection NT Library PH0413/0045
'The Methodist Missionary Society of Australia, already heavily committed in Papua & New Guinea, moved into mission work in the Northern Territory in 1915. Money was scarce due to the war but a generous Adelaide man enabled the church to consider a mission in Arnhem Land. The Reverend James Watson was sent north & invited to accompany the Administrator on a visit to Bathurst Island & then up the East Alligator River to Oenpelli.
Paddy Cahill of Oenpelli organized horses & Aborigines to get Watson to the coast where the Maung tribe made him welcome & took him by canoe to Goulburn Is. (Warruwi) where he selected a mission site from which to assess need in the rest of Arnhem Land. Watson attempted to return south overland by bicycle to see firsthand the needs of Aborigines in Central Australia. From Pine Creek he rode as far as Elsey Station; then realised the dangers & was given a lift by horse & buggy back to Pine Creek. Someone else had earlier attempted the same journey & perished'.(Abridged from Ellen Kettle Health Services in the NT - a History 1824-1970 Vol1, p152)
Paddy Cahill of Oenpelli organized horses & Aborigines to get Watson to the coast where the Maung tribe made him welcome & took him by canoe to Goulburn Is. (Warruwi) where he selected a mission site from which to assess need in the rest of Arnhem Land. Watson attempted to return south overland by bicycle to see firsthand the needs of Aborigines in Central Australia. From Pine Creek he rode as far as Elsey Station; then realised the dangers & was given a lift by horse & buggy back to Pine Creek. Someone else had earlier attempted the same journey & perished'.(Abridged from Ellen Kettle Health Services in the NT - a History 1824-1970 Vol1, p152)
NTL image in Gordon Sweeney Collection
Watson & AE Lawrence arrived by lugger on 27 May 1916. This time the Aborigines were a little cautious due to the death of a Mr McPherson who had been collecting trepang on the other side of the island. This man had very likely died from malaria which had been widespread that year. He was buried by one of his Filipino staff.
Dr Strangman, in 1907, noted that the Maung people had kept themselves aloof from intruders but they knew enough about white men to know there might be trouble over that death. As it happened there was none.
A few weeks later, at about midnight, the report of a gun was sounded out in the bay. The Aborigines soon awakened the white men to discover that Mrs Lawrence & Miss Amy Corfield had arrived by launch.
This was a turning point as the women greatly reassured the Aborigines & in a matter of days the first school started under a shady tree. (Ibid)
Dr Strangman, in 1907, noted that the Maung people had kept themselves aloof from intruders but they knew enough about white men to know there might be trouble over that death. As it happened there was none.
A few weeks later, at about midnight, the report of a gun was sounded out in the bay. The Aborigines soon awakened the white men to discover that Mrs Lawrence & Miss Amy Corfield had arrived by launch.
This was a turning point as the women greatly reassured the Aborigines & in a matter of days the first school started under a shady tree. (Ibid)
SLNSW image MPG 174 - 'First building at Goulburn Island, 1916 L>R Miss Amy Corfield; Rev. James Watson, Mrs & Mr Lawrence.
House building, a garden & digging wells had priority. It was hard work but with the women to cook & housekeep the men were freed to get on with the task. Miss Jean Tinney, a teacher with many years of experience in Papua, joined the staff.
All went well until May 1917 when a severe epidemic of malaria broke out. Dr Leighton Jones went out from Darwin & with a microscope diagnosed tertian malignant malaria. Six Aborigines had died prior to his arrival. Mr Lawrence became so ill with malaria that he & his wife had to retire from the mission after less than a year.
Mission staff came & went but some remained for many years. Reverend Watson sailed to Torres Strait in 1918 & brought back with him six Baduans, four men & two women.
The Baduans were Christians with skills in boat maintenance, gardening, basket weaving & many other roles so urgently needed in starting up a mission. (Ibid) {The disparity in dates etc is unresolved}
All went well until May 1917 when a severe epidemic of malaria broke out. Dr Leighton Jones went out from Darwin & with a microscope diagnosed tertian malignant malaria. Six Aborigines had died prior to his arrival. Mr Lawrence became so ill with malaria that he & his wife had to retire from the mission after less than a year.
Mission staff came & went but some remained for many years. Reverend Watson sailed to Torres Strait in 1918 & brought back with him six Baduans, four men & two women.
The Baduans were Christians with skills in boat maintenance, gardening, basket weaving & many other roles so urgently needed in starting up a mission. (Ibid) {The disparity in dates etc is unresolved}
Rev. HE Read - Mission House Goulburn Is. Bleakley 1928 - NAA A263/1
NTL PH 0049/0904 1/1/1950 Faye Cheater 'Sports Day on Goulburn Island'.
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Mission House Goulburn Is - NTL image
Warrawi Church 2015 - Aquaculture project image
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Philicia Antiques Adelaide S.A.
The images below have been printed as postcards, which was popular at the time. They are of unknown origin and the description is as given although it is thought that they are mostly images of Goulburn Island Mission and the notations at back are mostly in the same clear hand. The Postcards are currently for sale on eBay at $194 each. Assistance with correctly identifying these images would be appreciated.
Resources
Warrawi Jubilee, 1916-1966 : an account of the establishment and development of the Methodist missions in Arnhem Land, especially Goulburn Island / prepared by A.F. Ellemor, for the North Australia District of Methodist Overseas Missions. Ellemor, Arthur F. (Arthur Francis), 1906-
This collection has not been digitised -
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192484321?sortby=dateAsc&q=warrawi&c=picture&versionId=210507916
Title Goulburn Island: Mission scenes and material culture.
Creator Read, Herbert Edward,
Published 1925-1928
Description 59 prints black and white
Warrawi / South Goulburn Island (West Arnhem Land NT SC53-13)
Date or Place Goulburn Island, N.T., 1925-1928
Summary
This collection has not been digitised -
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192484321?sortby=dateAsc&q=warrawi&c=picture&versionId=210507916
Title Goulburn Island: Mission scenes and material culture.
Creator Read, Herbert Edward,
Published 1925-1928
Description 59 prints black and white
Warrawi / South Goulburn Island (West Arnhem Land NT SC53-13)
Date or Place Goulburn Island, N.T., 1925-1928
Summary
- Photographs taken by during his time working as a mission superintendent at Warrawi on South Goulburn Island. Subjects include: individual and group portraits; mission buildings including church and school; schoolchildren; weddings; thanksgiving service at beach; brass band; people awaiting rations at store; delivery of mail from Oenpelli; two boys sitting on turtle; women with baskets and mats that they made for sale in Darwin; women making basket with pandanus; ; group of men painted up for ceremony; women holding pigs brought back from North Goulburn Island; Herbert Read with children; mission lugger and other boats
- Digital access copies available
- Persons photographed include: Baidbagueria; Betty; Bert; Booroowadgee; Gadower; Gumaberra; Niabine Gunning?; Gwadoo; Injarapa [Injarappa]; John; Paulikim Keipert; Kiama; Llala; Mardeek and little Mary; Mayududjji; Mayoumibi [Mayoumbi. Mayourinibi]; Mayoru [sp]; Mayorunki; Miabine; Moldawi; Morgoodo; Mulwagock [Malwahgock]; Nagalama; Nagaland; Namaluda [Namaloota]; Nolemi; Noyear; Peter and family; Mr and Mrs Read, [Gum?]; Mrs Read [mother]; Willie; Yabbo;
- Caption list available
Image Number - oai:ultra0.aiatsis.gov.au:390856
- READ.H01.DF (D00013663-D00013721)