Thursday Island - Activities, Attractions & Shopping

In town, there are traces of the old Chinatown district around Milman Street, and a reminder of Queensland’s worst shipping disaster in the Quetta Memorial Church, way down Douglas Street, built after the ship hit an uncharted rock in the Adolphus Channel in 1890 and went down with virtually all the Europeans on board.

Much can be learned of Thursday Island’s history by a visit to the local cemetery; here Buddhists, Shintoists, Hindus and Muslims share their last resting place with Islanders and Europeans. A striking Japanese Pearl Divers Memorial sits amongst the many ornate tombstones overlooking Hammond Island to the north.

Step back to 1898 when you visit Green Hill Fort. Built in response to a Russian War scare, it’s now silent 6” breach loading guns still jut out menacingly over the islands’ main approaches. Once munitions storage space, the Forts’ underground tunnels and rooms today house the Torres Strait Museum. Museum displays include Pearling, Shipping and Military themes. Gab Titui Cultural Centre has beautiful work by local artists — bronzes and linocuts feature prominently. The two-story modern building is adorned with three feature sails and resembles the old pearl luggers. The Centre is an important element of the regional framework linking parts of local culture. The Ephraim Bani Gallery displays artifacts from some of Australia’s best Torres Strait collections. There are interpretive displays, workshop, and temporary exhibitions, as well as a cafe and gift shop.

There are a couple of supermarkets on Thursday Island, which will provide you with enough until you arrive at your next port!