Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire is located in Far North Queensland, about 2,000 kilometres north-west of the Brisbane CBD, and about 400 kilometres north of the Cairns CBD. Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire is bounded by the Coral Sea in the north and east, and Cook Shire in the south and west.
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire includes part of the locality of Hope Vale, with the remaining part being located in Cook Shire.
Land Use
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire includes an Aboriginal community and surrounding rural areas. The Shire encompasses a total land area of about 1,100 square kilometres.
Indigenous Meaning
The original inhabitants of Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire were the Guugu Yimithirr or Thubi Warra Aboriginal people who continue to live throughout the area and have strong traditional ties with the land.
Settlement
Traditionally, indigenous people lived in the area, and continue to do so. In 1886 the Lutheran Church established the Aboriginal community of Cape Bedford Mission at Elim Beach. A second mission site was established in 1887 at Hope Valley. In 1900 the Elim Beach site closed, with consolidation at the Hope Valley site. In 1942, during WWII, the population of nearly 300 people was evacuated to southern communities, so that land could be used by the army. The Mission was re-established in 1949 when Aboriginal people were relocated. In 1967 mining of silica commenced at Cape Flattery. In 1986 a Deed of Grant in Trust was granted, creating the Hope Vale Aboriginal Council. The population fluctuated from the 1990s, but generally remained between 800 and 1,000 people.
Major Features
Major features of Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire include Elim Beach, the Hope Vale township, Hope Vale Arts & Cultural Centre, Hope Vale Primary Health Care Centre, Elim Beach Campground, the McIvor River, Hope Vale Indigenous Technology and Knowledge Centre and Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (Hope Vale Campus).