Melville Island, Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
Melville Island or Yermalner Island lies in the eastern Timor Sea
, off the coast of the Northern Territory
of Australia
. It is west of the Cobourg Peninsula
in Arnhem Land
and north of Darwin
.
The largest community/town on the island is Milikapiti
, pop. 559. The second village is Pirlangimpi (Pularumpi, formerly Garden Point), pop. 440, 27 km west of Milipakpiti, on the west coast of Melville Island. About 30 more people live in five family outstation
s.
At 5786 square kilometres (2,234 sq mi) it is just outside the 100 largest islands in the world, but is the second biggest island in Australia
, after Tasmania
(and excluding the continental landmass). It is also known in the Tiwi language
as Yermalner. Only 55 metres (180.4 ft) south of its southern tip is Irrititu Island, with an area of 1.6 square kilometre (0.617763453748056 sq mi) .
Together, Melville Island and Bathurst Island are known as the Tiwi Islands
.
It is said that the first European to sight the island was Abel Tasman
in 1644, although this is now disputed. Melville Island's most likely first European discovery was probably made by the Portuguese, as Aborigines encountered by the explorer Phillip Parker King (son of governor of New South Wales
Philip Gidley King
) in 1818, were found to know some Portuguese words.
King named it for Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
, first lord of the Admiralty
, who is also commemorated by the much larger Melville Island
in the Canadian
arctic
. Shortly after this, the British made the first attempt to settle Australia's north coast, at the short-lived Fort Dundas
.
The climate is tropical.
Timor Sea
The Timor Sea is a relatively shallow sea bounded to the north by the island of Timor, to the east by the Arafura Sea, to the south by Australia and to the west by the Indian Ocean....
, off the coast of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is west of the Cobourg Peninsula
Cobourg Peninsula
The Cobourg Peninsula is located 350 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is deeply indented with coves and bays, covers a land area of about 2,100 km², and is virtually uninhabited with a population ranging from about 20 to 30 in five family outstations, but...
in Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
and north of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
.
The largest community/town on the island is Milikapiti
Milikapiti, Northern Territory
Milikapiti is a village on the northern coast of Melville Island, Northern Territory, Australia. It is by air from Darwin.Tiwi Travel fly twice daily to and from Darwin servicing Milikapiti.The flight takes approximately 25 minutes...
, pop. 559. The second village is Pirlangimpi (Pularumpi, formerly Garden Point), pop. 440, 27 km west of Milipakpiti, on the west coast of Melville Island. About 30 more people live in five family outstation
Outstation
Historically, an outstation was a subsidiary homestead or other dwelling, on Australian sheep or cattle stations which were large enough to have more than a day's travel between different parts of the property....
s.
At 5786 square kilometres (2,234 sq mi) it is just outside the 100 largest islands in the world, but is the second biggest island in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, after Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
(and excluding the continental landmass). It is also known in the Tiwi language
Tiwi language
Tiwi is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on the Tiwi Islands, within sight of the coast of northern Australia. It is one of about 10% of Australian languages still being learned by children....
as Yermalner. Only 55 metres (180.4 ft) south of its southern tip is Irrititu Island, with an area of 1.6 square kilometre (0.617763453748056 sq mi) .
Together, Melville Island and Bathurst Island are known as the Tiwi Islands
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of ....
.
It is said that the first European to sight the island was Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman
Abel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the VOC . His was the first known European expedition to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands...
in 1644, although this is now disputed. Melville Island's most likely first European discovery was probably made by the Portuguese, as Aborigines encountered by the explorer Phillip Parker King (son of governor of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Philip Gidley King
Philip Gidley King
Captain Philip Gidley King RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He is best known as the official founder of the first European settlement on Norfolk Island and as the third Governor of New South Wales.-Early years and establishment of Norfolk Island settlement:King was born...
) in 1818, were found to know some Portuguese words.
King named it for Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville
Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville KT, PC, FRS was a British statesman, the son of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount. Dundas was the Member of Parliament for Hastings in 1794, Rye in 1796 and Midlothian in 1801. He was also Keeper of the Signet for Scotland from 1800...
, first lord of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, who is also commemorated by the much larger Melville Island
Melville Island, Canada
Melville Island is a vast, uninhabited member of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago with an area of . It is the 33rd largest island in the world and Canada's eighth largest island. Melville Island is shared by the Northwest Territories, which is responsible for the western half of the island, and...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
. Shortly after this, the British made the first attempt to settle Australia's north coast, at the short-lived Fort Dundas
Fort Dundas
Fort Dundas was a short lived British settlement on Melville Island between 1824 and 1828 in what is now the Northern Territory of Australia. The establishment of the settlement caused the border of New South Wales to be moved west from the 135th meridian to the Western Australia border .The...
.
The climate is tropical.