Notes, 1918-1928 (copies of the Torres Straits Daily Pilot from the Sir John Ferguson Collection) - NLA MS 3373

This material contains a variety of newspaper clippings from 'The Daily Pilot' which provide an insight into the Torres Strait economy and lifestyle during the introduction of religion.

Articles and letters relating to the English Carpentaria Association, 1867-1957 - NLA MS 5952

This manuscript hold Church of England documents that highlight the integrity of Islander women at various mission througout the Torres Strait while their Husbands are out at Sea on Pearling boats. This manuscript also documents limited language and accounts of Islanders depiction of before and after the Coming of Light (Gospel).

Records of the Torres Strait Regatta Committee, 1893-1895 - MS Acc12.142

This manuscript hold the records of the regatta on Thursday Island in 1895 including conditions and regulations for the race. It also includes letters, notes and journal of 1893 meeting minutes by committee.

Thursday Island, Queensland [picture] / [T.G. Glover] 1879

1 watercolour ; 11.4 x 36 cm. Depicting Thursday Island 1879

T. G. Glover, (1879), Thursday Island, Queensland, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138862920

Thursday Island Postcard Collection (1917-1920)

This postcard collection showcases Thursday Island in the early 20th century and provides an insight into what life was like for those who lived on the Island. The collection illustrates aspects of Thursday Island that are non existent because of development and a view of the colonial history on the island. The following are two images from forty in this collection.

[Five views of Thursday Island, including] Thursday Island from Military Hill, Victoria Parade, Sumai, native village, Quetta Memorial Cathedral, [ca. 1917-1920], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148875922

Unveiling of Dr. Wassell's monument [in front of the Victoria Institute building], Horn? Island, [Torres Straits], 1917, [1], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148875621

View of Thursday Island 1899

A panorama photo of Thursday Island which allows us to see what the 'Town of Thursday Island" looked like in 1899. This image is not yet available online.

Australian Information Service collection

Formerly the Australian News and Information Bureau, the Australian Information Service collection comprises over 2600 images.

Neil Murray & Australian News and Information Bureau, National Bank building at Port Kennedy, Thursday Island, 1956, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137748239

Australian Inland Mission collection

Assembled by the Rev. Fred McKay, the collection covers all aspects of the AIM and its work since its inception, particularly at the missions in Dunbar, Birdsville, Innamincka, Broome, Carnarvon, Oodnadatta, Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Beltana, Victoria River Downs and Port Hedland. Subjects include portraits of Aboriginal people, mission conditions, ministers of the Mission and their families, the doctors and nurses of the Aerial Medical Service. A large component were taken by Rev. John Flynn. The following image is part of this collection.

John Flynn, (1912), Customs House, Thursday Island, Queensland, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-142612395

Album of views of the Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, 1928-1929 / Charles Maurice Yonge

This album contain 114 photographs and is part of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition, 1928-1929 photographic collection. The images capture aspects of everyday life for Islanders and include people who are yet to be identified. The following view is from this album.

C. M. Yonge, View over Thursday Island with Prince of Wales Island in the background, Queensland, ca. 1928, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145043394

Douglas family photograph collection 1880-1940

A collection of photographs of the family and descendants of John Douglas, Queensland politician and grazier. Includes portraits of the family as well as photographs of St John's College, Sydney University; St Ignatius' College, Riverview.

The following is one of seven scenes taken at the time of the funeral of John Douglas on Thursday Island in 1904.

Soldiers at the funeral of John Douglas, Queensland politician and grazier, Thursday Island, Queensland, 1904, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151170976

Hurley collection of family, industrial, pastoral and scenic images, 1910-1950

This collection includes the following two photographs.

Frank Hurley, (1921), Pearl diver collecting shells from the beds of Torres Strait, Queensland, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151335501

Australian News and Information Bureau, (1948), Uniformed Thursday Island native women process prawns, Thursday Island, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137919848

These unidentified women were working in the Thursday Island Prawn Factory on TI between 1948 and 1971. If you can help us identify them, please let us know through Ask a Librarian.

Betty Foster and Mary Bowie interviewed by Karl Neuenfeldt and Lyn Costigan in the Torres Strait hula dancing oral history project

Betty Foster and Mary Bowie talk about their Hula Dancing experience and how Hula was a part of their lifestyle. Great praise was also given to Florence Savage for her teaching and natural dancing abilities. Foster and Bowie also share the culture of Hula dancing in the Torres Strait is uniquely apart of the region unlike the Pacific.

Four Men in traditional dress and holding ceremonial objects , Hammond Island , Queensland, approximately 1905

Men on Kiriri Island (Hammond Island) hold a dance mask and ceremonial objects. The man on the right is wearing a headdress of the type known as a dari. This image is not identified but is most probably of the Kaurareg people before they were forcibly removed to the village of Poid on Moa (Banks Island) in 1921 and 1922.

Otto Watson, Four men in traditional dress and holding ceremonial objects, Hammond Island, Queensland, approximately 1905, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138183479

Native canoe, which came alongside from Prince of Wales Island, Aug. 27th, 1855

Early depiction of Kaurareg People in canoe near Prince of Wales Island. This images is possibly one of the earliest depictions of Kaurareg people. This image provides a visual understanding of canoe shape and operation by Kaurareg islanders.

Thomas Baines, Native canoe, which came alongside from Prince of Wales Island, N[orth] Australia, Aug. 27th, 1855; Tom Tough and Monarch, Possession Island, Aug. 27th 1855, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134418063