Tiwi Islands, Island group in Northern Territory, Australia.
The Tiwi Islands are an island group in the Northern Territory of Australia, consisting of Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands that together cover 8,320 square kilometers. They lie approximately 80 kilometers north of Darwin, separated by the Clarence Strait and the Apsley Strait.
Captain Gordon Bremer established Fort Dundas on Melville Island in 1824 as the first European settlement, which lasted until 1829 before being abandoned due to local resistance. Missionaries arrived later in the 20th century and established communities that now form the main settlements on the islands.
The inhabitants speak Tiwi, a language unrelated to other Australian languages, using distinct words for kinship and natural features. Visitors often see handmade baskets woven from pandanus fibers and carved burial poles that play an important role in ceremonies.
Travelers reach these islands by plane with Fly Tiwi or by ferry with SeaLink NT, which runs three times weekly between Darwin and Wurrumiyanga. Visitors require an entry permit available from the Tiwi Land Council, and many book guided tours to visit the communities and art centers.
The islands have the highest participation rate in Australian Rules Football in Australia, with 900 players in the Tiwi Islands Football League. Players from these communities have been recruited by professional teams in the AFL and continue the tradition of the sport, which is deeply rooted here.
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