Milingimbi Island
Encyclopedia
Milingimbi Island is an island off the coast of Arnhem Land
, Northern Territory
, Australia
. It is located approximately 500 km east of Darwin
and 250 km west of Nhulunbuy
. Its largest community is also called Milingimbi. The island is approximately half a kilometer off the mainland and forms part of the Crocodile Island Group
.
The Methodist
Overseas Mission
established Milingimbi in 1923. Most residents are Yolngu
Indigenous Australians
. The two main languages are Gupapuyŋu and Djambarrpuyŋu
, although several other languages are also spoken at Milingimbi. English is a second language for almost all Aboriginal residents of Milingimbi.
The Island has its own airfield, Milingimbi Airport
, with the airport call-sign MGT. Milingimbi is the site of a Bureau of Meteorology weather station.
The noted didgeridoo
maker and player Djalu Gurruwiwi
was born at Milingimbi.
The name Milingimbi is probably Djinaŋ in origin; it is Miliŋinbi, literally 'the place where the well is'. The island originally belonged to several Yan-nhaŋu
speaking clans.
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...
, 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...
, 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 located approximately 500 km east 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...
and 250 km west of Nhulunbuy
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory
Nhulunbuy is the name of the township created on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia when a bauxite mine and deep water port were established nearby in the late 1960s...
. Its largest community is also called Milingimbi. The island is approximately half a kilometer off the mainland and forms part of the Crocodile Island Group
Crocodile Islands
The Crocodile Islands are a group of islands belonging to the Northern Territory of Australia. They are located off the coast of Arnhem Land. One of the main islands in the group is Milingimbi Island, with other large islands including Mooroongga, Yabooma, Gananggaringur and Crocodile Islands...
.
The Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
Overseas Mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
established Milingimbi in 1923. Most residents are Yolngu
Yolngu
The Yolngu or Yolŋu are an Indigenous Australian people inhabiting north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yolngu means “person” in the Yolŋu languages.-Yolŋu law:...
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. The two main languages are Gupapuyŋu and Djambarrpuyŋu
Yolngu Matha
Yolŋu Matha is a cover term for the languages of the Yolngu , the Indigenous people of northeast Arnhem Land in northern Australia. .Yolngu languages have a fortis–lenis contrast in plosive consonants...
, although several other languages are also spoken at Milingimbi. English is a second language for almost all Aboriginal residents of Milingimbi.
The Island has its own airfield, Milingimbi Airport
Milingimbi Airport
Milingimbi Airport is an airport on Milingimbi Island in Australia. The airport received funding for security upgrades in 2006.-History:The airfield was constructed by Milingimbi Mission's Aboriginal residents on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.-Units based at...
, with the airport call-sign MGT. Milingimbi is the site of a Bureau of Meteorology weather station.
The noted didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
maker and player Djalu Gurruwiwi
Djalu Gurruwiwi
Djalu Gurruwiwi Djalu Gurruwiwi Djalu Gurruwiwi (first name also spelled Djalu; born at Milingimbi Mission on Wirriku Island, one of the smaller islands in the Wessel Islands group, Northern Territory, Australia, in the early 1930s (before World War II) is a senior member of the Galpu clan, of the...
was born at Milingimbi.
The name Milingimbi is probably Djinaŋ in origin; it is Miliŋinbi, literally 'the place where the well is'. The island originally belonged to several Yan-nhaŋu
Yan-nhangu
Yan-nhaŋu is an indigenous Australian language spoken by about 15 people in the Crocodile Islands, off of the coast of the Northern Territory...
speaking clans.