Location Northern Australia Area 5.5 km² | State Queensland | |
 | ||
Possession Island is a small island in the Torres Strait Islands group off the coast of far northern Queensland, Australia. It is known as Bedanug or Bedhan Lag by its Sovereign Original inhabitants, the Kaurareg people.
Contents
Map of Possession Island, Punsand QLD 4876, Australia
Possession Island is located at the centre of the Possession Island National Park, an area of 5.10 km² established as a Protected Area in 1977 and managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
History
During his first voyage of discovery, British explorer, then Lieutenant James Cook sailed northwards along the east coast of Australia, landing at Botany Bay. Reaching the tip of Queensland, he named and landed on Possession Island, just before sunset on 22 August 1770, and declared the coast British territory in the name of King George III. Cook wrote in his journal: "I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took possession of the whole Eastern Coast...by the name New South Wales, together with all the Bays, Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said coast."
In 2001 the Kaurareg people successfully claimed native title rights over the island (and other nearby islands).