Batavia Aboriginal Freehold

The lands our Corporation hold are locally known as Batavia Station or Batavia Downs.

Our Ancestors and Old people walked this land along the Wenlock River, with its freshwater creeks, waterfalls, lagoons and swamps, living of the land, teaching their descendants, looking after our important and unique sites of significance.

Many Atambaya, Northern Kaanju and Yinwum people were shot, poisoned or hunted off our homelands when European people first came through our country in the 1880s, looking for cattle grazing areas and stringing up the Telegraph line.

Our Ancestors and Old people who found refuge at the Moreton or McDonnell Electric Telegraph stations were shifted or moved to missions or settlements at Weipa, Mapoon, Cowal Creek (Injinoo), Lockhart and elsewhere in Queensland.

The land was bought by the State Government in the 1970s for experimental cattle grazing.  The former caretaker is the current Occupation Licence holder.

Our Elders still hold valuable knowledge of the land, the freshwaters, the many places, native animals and plants – our named places, camps and totems.  Some of our younger people have been able to travel to Batavia for work, training and holidays.  Many members live far away from the land and want to reconnect with Country.