History of the Shire

We are located approximately 30 kilometres north of Cape Tribulation and 60 kilometres south of Cooktown. Our climate is that of the wet tropics and access to our community can be cut off in times of heavy rain which is normal in the ‘wet’ season.

Eastern Kuku-Yalanji country is diverse and includes ancient rainforest, coastal mountains, expansive valley areas,coastline and reef, and is approximately 70,000 hectares in size. Kuku Yalanji homelands are included in two World Heritage listed areas, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Wet Tropics.

The township of Wujal Wujal is surrounded by lush rainforest covered mountains with numerous creeks and streams that flow into the Bloomfield River where saltwater crocodiles thrive. 

Camping, hunting and collecting bush foods is a part of everyday life in Wujal Wujal. For thousands of years, Kuku-Yalanji have used their knowledge of their environment to hunt and harvest local foods

Our people still enjoy obtaining their food from the land, the river and the nearby ocean and cultural knowledge is passed on between generations as is the language spoken by each of the clans. Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council was formed in 1980 and is responsible for delivering essential services to the community of approximately 470 people.

You can learn our languages.

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