Umbakumba, Northern Territory

Umbakumba is a community located on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory, Australia, just off the mainland. The main languages spoken there are Anindilyakwa, an Australian Aboriginal language, and English. There are also a number of Yolŋu Matha speakers.[1] It is one of the three main settlements on the Groote Eylandt archipelago including Milyakburra and Angurugu, where Anindilyakwa is the predominate language that is spoken. According to the 2016 Australian Census, the population of Umbakumba was 503, an increase from 441 in 2011.

Umbakumba
Northern Territory
Umbakumba
Coordinates13°51′38.27″S 136°48′17.06″E
Population503 (2016)
RegionEast Arnhem Region

History

Macassan contact

Before European contact, Macassan and Bugis sailors would visit the area in search for trepang from around the early to mid 1700s. They introduced culinary delights such as tamarinds, chilli and beer. This continued until the introduction of the White Australia Policy by the Australian Government in 1906.[2] There are still evidence of the Macassans such as the wild tamarind trees which were introduced to the area through trade. The place name itself Umbakumba comes from the Malay word ombak-ombak which means ‘lapping of waves’.[3]

Frederick Harold Gray

Mr Fred H. Gray, a pearl and trepang trader, established the Umbakumba Native Settlement on an old Macassan trading post. He used the settlement as a base for trepanging and employed many of the indigenous locals during the 20s and 30s.[4]

In 1938 Umbakumba became renowned as the service and refuelling base for the Qantas Empire Airways flying boats that travelled the long-haul route between Sydney, Singapore and the south of England. During WWII, this converted to a Royal Australian Air Force flying base.[5]

Gray's position on the island was not endorsed by the CMS. When the support of the settlement from the CMS was withdrawn, Gray stated that he chose to continue with the work he had begun. In May 1956 the Northern Territory Administrator sent a letter to Gray stating that it was government policy only to approve of Missions run by recognised "Christian Missionary Organisations" which would exclude "the establishment and conduct of Missions by private individuals as proprietary concerns." The government subsidy that was paid to the Settlement was withdrawn.[6]

Church Mission Society

The Church Mission Society over control over the administration of the settlement in February 17th, 1958 with Keith Hart as superintendent. The settlement was renamed it Umbakumba Mission. By mid-1959, the indigenous population had grown to 175.[7]

They ran the mission until 1966 when it was taken over by the Welfare Branch of the Northern Territory government due to continuing staff shortages.[1] The population at the time was 214.

Present day

The Welfare Branch later handed administrative control of the township to a self-governing Aboriginal Community Council in 1973. In 2008 Umbakumba became part of the East Arnhem Shire Council.[8]

Demographics

According to the 2016 Australian Census, there were 503 people in Umbakumba. Of these 49.2% were male and 50.8% were female. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 95.6% of the population. The median age of people in Umbakumba was 25 years.

Traditional owners

The Mamarika Clan are the traditional owners of Umbakumba. Groote Eylandt’s Indigenous population has 14 clan groups, which make up the two moieties on Groote Eylandt. Umbakumba is one of the three main settlements on the Groote Eylandt archipelago where Anindilyakwa is the predominate language spoken at home including Milyakburra and Angurugu. The clans maintain their traditions and have strong ties with the people in the community of Numbulwar and on Bickerton Island.[1]

References
  1. "Umbakumba in detail". East Arnhem Regional Council. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  2. Bednall, James. "Temporal, aspectual and modal expression in Anindilyakwa, the language of the Groote Eylandt Archipelago, Australia". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Van Egmond, M-E. (2012). "Enindhilyakwa phonology, morphosyntax and genetic position." Doctoral thesis. University of Sydney. pp. 314–70.
  4. Find & Connect Web Resource Project, The University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University. "Umbakumba Settlement - Organisation - Find & Connect - Northern Territory". www.findandconnect.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  5. "History | Anindilyakwa Land Council". www.anindilyakwa.com.au. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  6. Find & Connect Web Resource Project, The University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University. "Umbakumba Settlement - Organisation - Find & Connect - Northern Territory". www.findandconnect.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  7. Keith, Cole (1971). Groote Eylandt Mission: A short history of the C.M.S. Groote Eylandt Mission 1921 - 1971. Church Missionary Historical Publications. ISBN 0 909821 00 3.
  8. Find & Connect Web Resource Project, The University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University. "Umbakumba Mission - Organisation - Find & Connect - Northern Territory". www.findandconnect.gov.au. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
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