Mornington Island

Mornington

Native name: Kunhanhaa
Mornington Island from space, September 1991
Mornington
Geography
Location	Gulf of Carpentaria
Coordinates	16°30′S 139°30′E / 16.500°S 139.500°E / -16.500; 139.500
Archipelago	Wellesley Islands
Total islands	22
Area	1,018 km2 (393 sq mi)[1]
Coastline	302 km (187.7 mi)[1]
Highest elevation	150 m (490 ft)
Highest point	unnamed
Administration
Australia
State	Queensland
Local Government Area	Shire of Mornington
Largest settlement	Gununa
Demographics
Population	1007 (2001)
Pop. density	1/km2 (3/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Aboriginal Australians

Mornington Island, also known as Kunhanhaa, is an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Shire of Mornington, Queensland, Australia. It is the northernmost and, at 1,018 km² (393 sq mi),^[1] the largest of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The largest town, Gununa, is in the south-western part of the island.

The Lardil people are the traditional owners of the island, but there are also Kaiadilt people, who were relocated from nearby Bentinck Island, as well as people of other nations on the island. The Mornington Island Mission operated from 1914 until 1978, when it was taken over by the Queensland Government, which had proclaimed the islands an Aboriginal reserve in 1905. The Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation owns and manages an art centre, MIArt, and dance troupe, the Mornington Island Dancers.