Darnley Island (Queensland)

Darnley Island
Native name:
Erub
A satellite image of Darnley Island
A map of the Torres Strait Islands showing Erub in the north-eastern waters of Torres Strait
Geography
LocationTorres Strait
Coordinates9°35′13″S 143°46′16″E / 9.587°S 143.771°E / -9.587; 143.771
ArchipelagoTorres Strait Islands
Total islands1
Administration
Australia
StateQueensland
Demographics
Population400
Darnley Island / Erub Island
Queensland
Darnley Island / Erub Island is located in Queensland
Darnley Island / Erub Island
Darnley Island / Erub Island
Coordinates9°35′06″S 143°46′12″E / 9.585°S 143.7699°E / -9.585; 143.7699 (Erub Island (centre of locality))
Population326 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density57.2/km2 (148.1/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4875
Area5.7 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Torres Strait Island Region
State electorate(s)Cook
Federal division(s)Leichhardt
Joe Rotumah's house on Darnley Island with India rubber planted in 1890-1898

Darnley Island or Erub in the native Papuan language, Meriam Mir, is an island formed by volcanic action and situated in the eastern section of the Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia.[2] It is one of the Torres Strait Islands and is located near the Great Barrier Reef and just south of the Bligh entrance. The town on the island is also called Darnley, but the locality is called Erub Island, both being within the local government area of Torres Strait Island Region.[3][4] In the 2021 census, Erub Island had a population of 326 people, with 292 (89.6%) identifying as Indigenous Australians.[1]

The effective community language is Brokan (Torres Strait Creole), though many people also still speak Meriam Mir, the traditional language.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Census2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Darnley Island – island (entry 9371)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Darnley Island – town (entry 9372)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Erub Island – locality (entry 46716)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 9 March 2017.