Horne & Thursday Islands

On Friday 22 we went on a cruise to the above Islands.  This date was a memorable date as on 22 August 1770 Cook claimed this content for England.  The plaque below on "Possession Island" marks the place where he landed and made this declaration.

Horne Island was used as an army base during WWII,  there was a lot of WWII information, photos etc.

Neil with a replica of the "Great Chief" of Horne Island who declared that all his people follow the Christian ways they were taught by the missionaries. (The natives were head hunters)

Frangipani tree in garden,  the perfume was so sweet and delicate.

Wharf at Horne Island and the boat we travelled in.  There were about 10 of us.

We then went to Thursday Island,  the views were just magic,  Our tour guide was a local called "Frank Cook" who lectures at university,  he drove us around in a 12 seater mini bus.  There are 137 Torres Strait Islands with only 18 inhabited.  Population 10,000, 4 languages spoken, 60% of the secondary students go on to uni,  there is a primary, secondary, tafe and uni on Thursday Island.

Defence was setup during the late 1800's for fear of invasion from Russia.

We lunched Australia's most northern pub - fish, chip and salad.

This croc was waiting for us when we returned to Seisia.