Aka as (Mulgrave Island) is an island 60km north of Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.
Badu Island once had a feared reputation as an island of headhunters. Warfare, turtle and dugong hunting were the main occupations of Badu men until the 1870s with turtle and dugong hunting continuing after this.
Pearlers established bases on the island during the 1870s and by the 1880s, the islanders depended on wages earned as lugger crew. At the same time, the first missionaries arrived.
At the peak of the shell industry in the late 1950s, the Badu fleet of 13 boats employed a workforce of 200 men. This also provided work for men from other islands. However, once the shell trade declined, many people moved to the mainland for work.
Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm
Contact: Alenka Morseu
Email: alenka.morseu@tsirc.qld.gov.au
Phone: 07 4083 2100 / 07 4083 2101
Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 7pm
Saturday – Sunday, 8am - 2pm
Contact: Damien Fitzpatrick and Kirsty Slattery
Address: Mairu Street, Badu Island, Qld, 4875
Email: badu@islandcaperetail.com.au
Phone: 07 4069 4847