Nola Ward Page - Booby Island - Ngiangu

hips passing through the Torres Strait encounter the historic lighthouse on Booby Island (known as Ngiangu by the Kawrareg people) so named for the huge booby bird population. 

Prior to automation the lighthouse lamp was maintained manually, and the ‘Carpentaria’ was anchored nearby to serve as temporary light.  When needed it would be towed to this magnificent rock by various lightships such as the Wallach, Lumen, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Moreton which also gave sea-going careers to some T.I. local lads as crew. 

The shoreline shed housed the seacraft LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo). 

During this era the late Mr Ron Shipway on this “Tambo Lady” brought mail and supplies to the families living on the Rock, who ordered from T.I. stores (Burns Philip, Farquhar’s, IIB, M&L Racey, PH Mendis, G&D Laifoo, See Hop, See Kee & Sons, etc).   

150 plus years on the Torres Strait Pilots’ invaluable service continues to guide ships through our reefs and the Great Barrier Reef with Booby being the boarding and drop off location.  “Waiben” was one of the pilot launches. 

Unique with all its caves is the famous “Post Office” cave used as a maritime post office for passing ships since the 19th century. 

Alone, day old baby Esther Patricia Hope Everett born on New Year’s Eve - passed New Year’s Day 1924-25 (100 years ago) was the daughter of a lighthouse keeper, lays at peace in her grave, watched by the booby birds and sheltered by the surrounding coral reef.