Torres Strait Island Regional Council - Mabuiag Island

Mabuiag Island, formerly known as Jervis Island and traditionally called Gumu, is a picturesque community located 100 kilometers north of Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. Home to approximately 250 residents, the island is characterized by its lightly vegetated terrain, basaltic rock formations, and well-watered environment. The community comprises two moieties: the Gumuligal of Wagedagam on the northwest side and the Mabuygilgal people of the Paipaidagam on the southeast side. The primary language spoken is the Gœmulgau Ya sub-dialect of Kala Lagaw Ya. Access to Mabuiag Island is facilitated by fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and boats, with goods transported via sea and air freight. The island boasts several facilities, including an airport, council office, cultural resource center, outdoor rugby oval, undercover basketball court, and marine infrastructure. The Mabuiag Indigenous Knowledge Centre, established in 2002, serves as a hub for library services and community engagement. The Mabuygiw Rangers play a vital role in environmental conservation, undertaking activities such as native seed collection, plant propagation, weed and feral animal control, and traditional ecological knowledge preservation. The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) supports these initiatives, recognizing the rangers' critical role in maintaining the unique land and sea environments of the region.