Milingimbi Island

Geography

Milingimbi lies approximately 440 km east of Darwin and 200 km west of Nhulunbuy.

Climate

Milingimbi has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) with a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. On average, the island experiences 87.1 clear days and 92.8 cloudy days per annum. Extreme temperatures ranged from 39.6 C on 24 November 1975 to 8.9 C on 20 July 1965. The wettest recorded day was 19 April 1964 with 264.9 mm of rainfall.

The Milingimbi weather station recorded climate data for temperature, precipitation, solar exposure, 9 am conditions and 3 pm conditions. It was closed in 2003. |Jan record high C = 37.0 |Feb record high C = 38.8 |Mar record high C = 35.2 |Apr record high C = 35.6 |May record high C = 35.6 |Jun record high C = 34.7 |Jul record high C = 32.0 |Aug record high C = 33.9 |Sep record high C = 35.0 |Oct record high C = 36.7 |Nov record high C = 39.6 |Dec record high C = 38.0 |Jan record low C = 18.0 |Feb record low C = 19.5 |Mar record low C = 18.3 |Apr record low C = 17.4 |May record low C = 11.7 |Jun record low C = 10.8 |Jul record low C = 8.9 |Aug record low C = 11.0 |Sep record low C = 13.9 |Oct record low C = 15.0 |Nov record low C = 17.7 |Dec record low C = 16.7 |Jan dew point C = 24.7 |Feb dew point C = 24.8 |Mar dew point C = 24.1 |Apr dew point C = 23.0 |May dew point C = 21.6 |Jun dew point C = 19.7 |Jul dew point C = 18.9 |Aug dew point C = 19.0 |Sep dew point C = 20.5 |Oct dew point C = 21.9 |Nov dew point C = 23.2 |Dec dew point C = 24.0 |access-date = January 13, 2026}}

A newer weather station at the airport was open in 2003. It records temperature, precipitation and solar exposure.

|Jan record high C = 37.6 |Feb record high C = 37.4 |Mar record high C = 38.7 |Apr record high C = 35.8 |May record high C = 35.2 |Jun record high C = 35.0 |Jul record high C = 34.3 |Aug record high C = 35.0 |Sep record high C = 36.6 |Oct record high C = 38.1 |Nov record high C = 37.8 |Dec record high C = 39.5 |Jan record low C = 20.1 |Feb record low C = 20.5 |Mar record low C = 21.3 |Apr record low C = 19.6 |May record low C = 15.2 |Jun record low C = 10.0 |Jul record low C = 11.2 |Aug record low C = 12.1 |Sep record low C = 14.2 |Oct record low C = 18.3 |Nov record low C = 20.7 |Dec record low C = 22.3 |access-date = January 13, 2026}}

History

Aboriginal people have occupied the area for more than 40,000 years. It was an important ritual centre for the great ceremonies conducted by the Indigenous inhabitants. The Yan-nhangu-speaking Yolngu people are the traditional owners of Milingimbi and its surrounding seas and islands. In 1923, the Methodist Overseas Mission established a mission on the island, which attracted Aboriginal people from eastern clan groups. They included Gupapuyŋu- and Djambarrpuyŋu-, as well as Wangurri- and Warramirri-speaking people. Thomas Theodor Webb (1885-1948)

The island was bombed by the Japanese during World War II and most of its population moved to nearby Elcho Island. After the war, the island continued to be used as a Royal Australian Air Force base, before the missionaries returned in 1951.

Edgar Almond Wells was superintendent at the mission in the 1950s. Like Webb before him, he was interested in the Yolngu people's art, not only for the income it brought to the mission when sold, but also as means to better understand the Indigenous people's culture. The Musée d'ethnographie de Genève in Switzerland holds a wooden carving of a cormorant (wurran), a clan totem collected by Wells.

The mission administered the island until 1974, after which management was transferred to Milingimbi Community Incorporated. In 2008 Milingimbi, became part of the East Arnhem Regional Council, which took over local government.

Language

English is a second, third or fourth language for most Aboriginal residents of Milingimbi. A successful bilingual program of the Milingimbi CEC, started in 1974, was stopped. Bilingual education continues on some of the surrounding outstations, run by traditional owners concerned to support the linguistic, cultural and biological diversity of the Crocodile Islands. To that end, the Yan-nhangu traditional owners have started the volunteer Crocodile Islands Rangers project to promote sustainable livelihood activities for local people in local languages.

Facilities

The island has its own airfield, Milingimbi Airport, with the airport call-sign YMGB, and is also the site of a Bureau of Meteorology weather station. The island also has its own ALPA (Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation) store, post office and an art gallery. Milingimbi has a community library serviced by East Arnhem Regional Council.

Notable people

• Binyinyuwuy Djarrankuykuy was a leading Aboriginal artist from the island of Milingimbi. His works are held in major museums around the world.
• Tom Djäwa, an artist and community leader and elder, was part of recordings that appeared on the Voyager Golden Record, along with Mudpo and Waliparu.
• Artist David Malangi attended school at Milingimbi in his childhood.
• According to one account, the noted didgeridoo maker and player, Djalu Gurruwiwi, was born at Milingimbi.
• Northern Territory senior Australian of the Year 2012, Laurie Baymarrwangga, was the senior djungaya (manager) of Milingimbi Island. She was awarded the 2011 Northern Territory Innovation and Research Award for her projects, including the development of a Yan-nhaŋu Dictionary (1994–2012) and her work with the Crocodile Islands Rangers. In 1935, Baymarrwangga was photographed by Donald Thomson at Milingimbi and at Murrungga.
• Danzal Baker (known professionally as 'Baker Boy') is an influential music artist hailing from Milingimbi

Citations

Sources

• {{Cite book| chapter = 'The Myalls' ultimatum': Photography and Yolgnu in Eastern Arhem Land, 1917 | editor-last = Lydon | editor-first = Jane | chapter-url = https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=401103155909878;res=IELIND
• {{Cite news| title = Remembering the bombing of Milingimbi
• {{Cite news| title = Gurruwiwi, a living Yolngu legend
• {{Cite thesis| type = Doctoral thesis| title = Time and Tide: in the Crocodile Islands: Change and Continuity in Yan-hnaŋu Marine Identity
• {{Cite book| chapter = The Language of 'Spiritual Power': From Mana to Märr on the Crocodile Islands | editor-last = Toner | editor-first = Peter | chapter-url = http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p325141/pdf/ch111.pdf
• {{Cite book| chapter = Ecological community and species attributes in Yolnghu religious symbolism | editor-last = Willis | editor-first = Roy | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gc7YCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA190
• {{Cite web| title = Milingimbi
• {{Cite web| title = No Ordinary Place – The Art of David Malangi
• {{Cite book| chapter = Djinang (NT) | author-link = Norman Tindale | chapter-url = http://archives.samuseum.sa.gov.au/tindaletribes/djinang.htm

References

1. "Climate classification maps: Köppen - all classes". [[Bureau of Meteorology]].
2. "Milingimbi Climate (1923-2003)". [[Australian Community Media]].
3. "Milingimbi Airport Climate (2003-2025)". [[Australian Community Media]].
4. "Milingimbi Mission".
5. Taylor, Luke. "Aboriginal bark painting".
6. (5 September 2018). "Reconnecting Milingimbi's objects and the descendants of their creators".
7. "About us {{!}} Crocodile Islands Rangers".
8. "Libraries".
9. "Binyinyuwuy Djarrankuykuy :: The Collection :: Art Gallery NSW".
10. (2021-10-08). "Baker Boy: 'I wanted to show those kids back in community that they can succeed'".