Comalco weipa history book

Oct 30, 2019 the history of weipa the albatross is the only watering hole for weipas 3500 residents, most of whom work for the mining giant comalco, which developed the township 50 years ago. It is largely a daybyday account of the seven week strike against the unionbusting policies of the craowned mining company comalco. Official position of comalco on its mining activities. Weipa is the largest town just south of the northern tip of cape york peninsula, queensland, australia. We will be producing a written history of the comalco weipa apprentice program.

Were you involved in training comalco weipa apprentices. A brief history of comalco will suggest why its need for additional alumina is central to the transaction before us. To build the weipa bauxite mine, comalco 67% owned by cra forcibly removed two aboriginal communities from their land at weipa and mapoon. Weipa is the place to be for barramundi and you can catch some in the ancient water holes and 10 river systems within 150km of the town. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Department of south australias recommended booksor aboriginal studies, which suggests. The missions original location was at spring creek, 32 km inland, but it was moved to jessica point on the embley river in 1932. Fellow, department of economic history, institute of advanced studies at the australian. There are also shipments of live cattle from the port. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. Media in category weipa, queensland the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. The rubicon was part of the boundary between roman italy and the roman providence of gisalpine gaul the po valley. Moreover, the royalty rate imposed by the queensland government was actually almost the lowest in the world, at five cents a tonne compared with jamaicas twelve cents. The project will be bookended at the front by an overview of the reasoning and logic around the commencement of the comalco weipa apprenticeship program the how, why, when, who was responsible, etc, etc, followed by yearly chapters.

It is an unusual local government area as it is not governed and managed by a council elected by residents but rather by the company comalco which operates a bauxite mine in the area through a governing body called the weipa town authority. Reviewed by jennifer thompson this book by paddy gorman, editor of the cfmeu mining divisions journal common cause, is testimony to the courage and shrewdness of the 75 weipa strikers and their families. Comalco bauxite mining at weipa, cape york, queensland. Weipa is owned by the mining company comalco, a wholly owned subsidiary of rio tinto, and is the site of one of the largest bauxite mines in the world. Seventyfive award workers at weipa have been on strike for three weeks over wage rises for award workers.

In 1970 comalco industries ltd changed its name to become comalco ltd. This was the first block release of apprentices external to a tafe college in queensland for stage one of their training. History of rio tinto alcan in weipa comalco began mining activities at weipa, on the western cape york peninsula, in the late 1950s following the discovery of the vast bauxite resource by geologist harry evans in 1955 and the entry into a state agreement, endorsed by the then premier of the state of queensland and comalco. To view this protected post, enter the password below. Weipa bauxite mine book sustainable development report by comalco aluminium limited book.

Until 1966, when the presbyterian board of mission handed over control of weipa mission to the queensland government, the family history takes place within the con. Construction on our worldclass yarwun alumina refinery in gladstone, in queensland, australia, began in 2002, and the first alumina shipped in late 2004. To its north lies duyfken point, the area of first contact of europeans with the australian continent, according to recorded history. It was the worlds eighth largest aluminium company. The comalco weipa apprenticeship history project, is gathering a history of this unique training program, with the goal of creating a book that covers 30 years of apprentice training. The comalco weipa apprentice project comalco weipa. The mission became a government settlement in 1966 with continued attempts by comalco to relocate the whole community elsewhere.

Rio tinto aluminium previously known as comalco is now known as rio tinto alcan after rios takeover of alcan. Boat carrying bauxite samples for comalco to weipa, cape york, northern queensland 1957 picture wolf. Published on september 26, 2016 september 26, 2016 15 likes 12 comments. The md was familiar with the repco automotive supplier scheme in. It is actually still on the mining lease and doesnt belong to the cook shire as most of the rest of the peninsula. In 2000, comalco became wholly owned subsidiary of rio tinto. History of the comalco weipa apprentice program introduction the structured training system was implemented in weipa after the managing director md and general manager gm of the bauxite business unit scanned the environment for successful apprentice training schemes in australia. Conzinc formed comalco for the weipa project and formed a joint venture with the english rio tinto zinc conzinc riotinto of australia cra in 1962. Landscapes and regolith of weipa, northern australia. Weipa project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Title page comalcos crossing of the rubicon weipa rubicon, roo buh kahn is a stream near rimini, italy, that julius caesar made famous when he was governor of gaul. Weipa history the town itself was established about 50 years ago when its bauxite deposit was found worth mining, and was built by the mining company comalco at the time.

Comalco weipa photograph albums, version details trove. In 1997 the committee evolved into the present weipa town authority. Apr 30, 2011 the weipa township was built by comalco in the early 1960s and the port of weipa was officially opened in 1962. The mining sector and indigenous tourism development in weipa. The company then built a new town for its workers on the other side of the bay. Aboriginal people are thought to have inhabited this area for more than 40,000 years.

I have just received a book from entitled our name in history the mulcahy name which includes some interesting history and facts. History of the comalco weipa apprentice program introduction the structured training system was implemented in weipa after the managing director md and general manager gm of the bauxite business unit scanned the environment for successful apprentice training schemes in. On november 15, 1963, the mapoon community was arrested in the dead of night and everything their homes, the school, the shops was burnt to the ground. This paper outlines the aims, objectives and means by which a life of mine land use plan was established for comalco s bauxite mine at weipa. This means that currently, rtaw governs the weipa town area by virtue of the comalco act and agreement, within the limitations set out by those instruments, as if it were the local authority for the weipa town area. Comalco and have subsequently made their homes there. Hope this helps shane very hard not to know that there is a train. Amrun our flagship bauxite development which made its first shipment in december 2018 was built with advanced technology, innovation and a commitment to the western cape york community and strong partnership with the local wikwaya traditional owners. The development of amrun, our newest mine, completed in 2018, will extend the life of our weipa bauxite operations by decades. Title page comalco s crossing of the rubicon weipa rubicon, roo buh kahn is a stream near rimini, italy, that julius caesar made famous when he was governor of gaul. When the weipa mining township was built by comalco in 19641967, the queensland government decided to name the new town weipa north, and the former. The weipa apprentice program commenced in 1967, at the comalco bauxite mine in weipa, far north queensland.

The port of weipa is mainly involved in exports of bauxite. Scott admits to being a bit damaged the next morning. Respecting the environment and local communities is a priority for our operations. Due to the need to contain the spread of coronavirus covid19 the library building and reading rooms are closed to visitors until further notice. Our weipa operations in far north queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. The first commercial shipments of bauxite from weipa were made in 1963. A mine of information at weipa the world with nancy bates. Strike spreads over comalco writs at weipa green left. In 1967 the township of weipa was officially opened by the queensland premier frank nicklin. This book is a glowing, unashamedly partisan defence of her grandmothers identification and a passionate tribute to her life.

Without consulting the church or residents, the government negotiated with comalco to pass legislation in 1957 that facilitated mining on the majority of 2 mission. The comalco weipa apprentice group stands out as a shining example of a diverse range of young people from varied backgrounds and cultures across queensland who are now in their 40s and. In her 1997 book, the way we civilise, written on the basis of access to. The aboriginal and islander community of weipa south. Land units of the weipa region of australias cape york peninsula by m. The yupanguthi language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the landscape within the local government boundaries of the shire of cook and weipa region. The history of weipa port, north queensland, australia weipa is the largest town just south of the northern tip of cape york peninsula, queensland, australia. Audit of environmental conditions commonwealth aluminium corporation pty. Weipa apprentice history project faq the comalco weipa. Image cover and detail left inlet, weipa 1977 gouache 57. Comalco did eventually concede to a paltry oneoff payment of. Comalco realises the need to strategically plan for future mining activities and still minimise the impact of operations on the natural resources of the region.

They have maintained a blockade of small boats which has prevented the ore. Weipa located in the gulf of carpentaria in queensland and is the largest town in the cape york peninsula with a population of about 3000 people. However, when comalco denied any further financial obligation to provide for the welfare of weipas residents and the government eventually locked the church out of the mining negotiations, church resistance to mining leases on. Comalcos development of queensland bauxite, 19551975. Gs38, comalco weipa photograph albums, john oxley library, state library of queensland, australia.

Weipa south post office opened on 1 december 1967 and closed in 1982. Brief history population 921 approx traditional owners alngith people local government authority napranum aboriginal shire council po box 538, napranum via weipa weipa qld 4874 telephone. Organised and ran the first grade 1112 cooperative prevocational program between senior secondary, tafe and industry in queensland at comalco weipa, in 198687. Our weipa operations in far north queensland includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, shiploaders, an export wharf, two ports, power. This was the first block release of apprentices external to a tafe college in. Covid19 ask a librarian due to the need to contain the spread of coronavirus covid19 the library building and reading rooms are closed to visitors until further notice. Napranum department of housing and public works home. By bill mason brisbane national strike action looms in the mining industry as comalco took out legal writs against striking workers at the companys weipa bauxite operation on november 11.

In 1993, comalco held elections to form a citizens advisory committee to assist in the administration of the town. Weipa town is a local government area in far north queensland, australia. Submit your story the comalco weipa apprentice project. It mines and manufactures bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium. History of the comalco weipa apprentice program the. The boys set off to test fishing spots and we elect to do the weipa mine tour. Comalco, bauxite bulkloader at weipa, north queensland 4 picture wolfgang sievers view of the comalco bauxite processing plant, gladstone, queensland picture wolfgang sievers explore. The fundamentals, or real story, refer to an intensive 17 year effort by cra to. Aerial view of comalco rail construction at weipa, north queensland, 1971 picture wolfgang sievers group of aboriginal rail construction worker at comalco s bauxite mine, weipa, north queensland, 1971. The formation of comalco stemmed from the 1955 discovery of substantial deposits of bauxite at weipa, australia.

The governor, lord rowallan, at the comalco plant in 1960 aot, ph30569 the first aluminium smelter in the southern hemisphere was built at bell bay near george town and commenced production in 1955. We have commenced the data gathering phase of the comalco weipa apprenticeship project between the years 1967 and 1997 inclusive 659 apprentices and we. The format will be along the lines of a yearly based narrative around a typical weipa year for the weipa apprenticeship group. Details of the weipa region and comalco are provided in section 5 and this is followed by a discussion of the aboriginal communities in the region and some relevant indigenous organi. Around the same time, elders of the mapoon and napranum communities asked comalco to trace archival papers, books and photographs relating to their. Kelly, struggle for the north australian book society, 1966. Comalco weipa, for example, currently at 11% indigenous employment, has set a target of 35% by 2010. Cape york collection catalogue, hibberd library, weipa, qld.

Comalco is involved in all five stages of aluminum production. Granted it may not have run a lot, but when they ran, you could hear all over weipa. The history of weipa port, north queensland, australia. Mapoon aboriginal and torres strait islander peoples. The company is a supplier of bauxite, alumina and aluminium products to both domestic and overseas markets. The impetus was the need for a secure supply of aluminium for defence purposes. These days, weipas population of almost 3000 is mostly made up of comalco employees. Historical background to the weipa aboriginal community.

Aboriginal affairs arrived asked bamaga birds boat born burnt called carry cattle church close comalco coming commonwealth conference cooktown council creek customs daughter department didnt elders everything families father feel fish five frank don gelam girl give given go back government ground hair hands happened happy harry toeboy head. This article examines the development of comalco, the company which mined australias largest bauxite deposits in queensland and was an essential part of australias entry into the world. The comalco weipa apprentice group stands out as a shining example of a diverse range of young people from varied backgrounds and cultures across queensland who are now in their 40s and 50s. I will seek the approval of to include some of the most interesting excerpts from the book in a family tree book.

During the late 1970s, comalco senior management wanted to provide their weipa workforce with information about the peninsula region as part of a plan to attract and retain longterm residents. Comalco is a supplier of bauxite, alumina and primary. The program ran through 1997 and 659 apprentices were trained by this system. Comalco and alcan began bauxite exploration on mapoon and weipa mission reserves in 1956, creating further confusion and conflict surrounding the future of the missions 28. We learn the history of the comalco operation that was expanded by new owners rio tinto from 2000. The comalco weipa apprenticeship history project, is gathering a history of this unique training program, with the goal of creating a book that covers 30 years. The weipa development was under comalco control and the aboriginal mission of napranum weipa south is the early settlement there, about 10 km south to the right along the river shore. The latter sediments that crop out on the onshore part of the subbasin include the units shown in figure 4. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast. Search the catalogue for collection items held by the national library of australia new search eresources user lists feedback help collection delivery times visitor update. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading history of ray county, mo. History yupanguthi yuputhimri, jupangati, yupangathi, nggerikudi, yupungati, jupangati is an australian aboriginal language spoken on yupanguthi country.

Land units of the weipa region of australias cape york. The comalco act of 1957 revoked the reserve status, giving the company 5,760 square. It covers the town of weipa on the western coast of the cape york peninsula. Expansions in 2012 doubled production, and today, yarwun produces more than three million tonnes of alumina per year, which is exported to customers in asia, the middle east and the pacific.