View source for Weipa

{{This|the town|the local government area|Weipa Town}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = town
| name                = Weipa
| state               = qld
| image               = Weipa-cape-york-queensland-australia.jpg
| caption             = Weipa
| coordinates         = {{coord|-12.63|141.8786|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Weipa (town centre)}}
| pop                 = 4097
| pop_year            = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name=Census2021/>
| established         = 1961<ref name="explore">{{cite book |title=Explore Queensland |last=Penguin Books Australia |year=2002 |publisher=Penguin Books Australia |location=[[Camberwell, Victoria]] |isbn=0-14-300015-2 |page=60}}</ref>
| postcode            = 4874
| timezone            = [[AEST]]
| utc                 = +10:00
| dist1               = 651 <!-- road distances as per template instructions -->
| dir1                = NW
| location1           = [[Cooktown]]
| dist2               = 820
| dir2                = NW
| location2           = [[Cairns]]
| dist3               = 1359
| dir3                = NNE
| location3           = [[Mount Isa]]
| dist4               = 2492
| dir4                = NNW
| location4           = [[Brisbane]]
| lga                 = [[Weipa Town]]
| stategov            = [[Electoral district of Cook|Cook]]
| fedgov              = [[Division of Leichhardt|Leichhardt]]
| elevation           = 15
| maxtemp             = 32.8
| mintemp             = 21.9
| rainfall            = 1963.9
}}
'''Weipa''' ({{IPAc-en|w|iː|p|ə}})<ref>''[[Macquarie Dictionary|Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition]]'' (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. {{ISBN|1-876429-14-3}}</ref> is a coastal mining town in the local government area of [[Weipa Town]] in [[Queensland]].<ref name="qpnt">{{cite QPN|36899|Weipa|town in Weipa Town|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> It is one of the largest towns on the [[Cape York Peninsula]].  It exists because of the enormous [[bauxite]] deposits along the coast. The Port of Weipa is mainly involved in exports of bauxite. There are also shipments of live cattle from the port.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-10-13/weipa-cattle-shipment-to-indonesia-revives-live-export-hope/7928520|title=Weipa cattle shipment to Indonesia revives live export hopes in Cape York|last=McKillop|first=Charlie|date=13 October 2016|location=Australia|access-date=10 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610034707/https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-10-13/weipa-cattle-shipment-to-indonesia-revives-live-export-hope/7928520|archive-date=10 June 2019|url-status=live|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Weipa had a population of 4,097 people.<ref name="Census2021"/>

==Geography==
Weipa is on the western coast of the [[Cape York Peninsula]] facing the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]].<ref name="globe" />

Weipa is just south of [[Duyfken Point]], which was named by [[Matthew Flinders]] on 8 November 1802 after the ship ''[[Duyfken]]'' commanded by the Dutch explorer [[Willem Janszoon]].<ref>{{Cite QPN|10966|Duyfken Point|point in Cook Shire|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> It is claimed that Janszoon was the first European to sight the Australian coast in the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]] in 1606, 164 years before [[James Cook|Lieutenant James Cook]] sailed up the east coast of Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.duyfken.com/Dutch%20mariners/janszoon-1606|title=Janszoon 1606|website=Duyfken 1606 Replica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602174943/http://www.duyfken.com/Dutch%20mariners/janszoon-1606|archive-date=2 June 2019|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>

The town consists of three residential suburbs, [[Rocky Point, Queensland (Weipa Town)|Rocky Point]], [[Trunding, Queensland|Trunding]], and [[Nanum, Queensland|Nanum]], in addition to the industrial suburb of [[Evans Landing, Queensland|Evans Landing]]; these suburbs are contiguous. The town also includes the suburb of [[Weipa Airport, Queensland|Weipa Airport]], which is not connected to the other suburbs and contains the [[Weipa Airport|town's airport]].<ref name="globe">{{Queensland Globe|access-date=20 May 2022}}</ref>

==History==
===Traditional owners and languages===
[[Yupangathi language|Yupanguthi]] (Yuputhimri, Jupangati, Yupangathi, Nggerikudi, Yupungati, Jupangati) is an [[Australian Aboriginal language]] spoken on Yupanguthi country. 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.<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/173?embed=true|title=Yupanguthi|website=Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map|access-date=28 January 2020}}</ref>

Kugu Yi'anh is a language of Cape York. The traditional language area of Kugu Yi'anh includes landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cook Shire.<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/85|title=Kugu Yi'anh|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

Kugu Nganchara (also known as Wik, Wiknantjara, Wik Nganychara, Wik Ngencherr. See also related Wik languages) is a traditional language of the area that includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the [[Cook Shire]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/84?embed=true|title=Indigenous languages map of Queensland|website=State Library of Queensland|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

Kugu Muminh (also known as Kuku-Muminh. See also related Wik languages) is one of the traditional languages that includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the [[Cook Shire]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/83?embed=true|title=Indigenous languages map of Queensland|website=State Library of Queensland|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>[[File:Bauxite section on kaolinitic sandstone C 007-3.jpg|thumb|[[Bauxite]] section on kaolinitic sandstone, 1969 ]] [[Thaynakwith]] (also known as Awngthim, Tainikuit and Winduwinda) is an [[Australian Aboriginal language]] spoken on Western Cape York in the Weipa area taking in Albatross Bay and [[Mission River, Queensland|Mission River]]. The language region includes areas within the local government boundaries of Weipa Town Council and [[Shire of Cook|Cook Shire]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/129?embed=true|title=Thaynakwith|website=Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

===Weipa Mission===
In 1895, [[Presbyterian]] missionary Reverend Nicholas John Hey established a mission at the junction of Embley River and Spring Creek, which he called Weipa, which is believed to derive from the Anhathangayth word meaning "fighting ground". In 1932 the mission relocated approximately {{Convert|28|km|}} to Jessica Point, continuing under the same name,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weipatownauthority.com.au/western-cape-history|title=Western Cape History|publisher=[[Weipa Town Authority]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727074634/http://www.weipatownauthority.com.au/western-cape-history|archive-date=27 July 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref> Weipa Mission.<ref name=qg>{{cite web | title=Napranum | website=Queensland Government | url=https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories/community-histories-n-p/community-histories-napranum | access-date=11 October 2020 | archive-date=20 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520082158/https://www.qld.gov.au/firstnations/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories/community-histories-n-p/community-histories-napranum | url-status=live }} [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Attribution 4.0 International  (CC BY 4.0)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016190421/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |date=16 October 2020 }} licence.</ref>

Very restrictive legislation was enacted by the state of Queensland in 1911, making the [[Protector of Aborigines]] the legal guardian of every [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] and part-Aboriginal child (until he/she was 21), and the right to confine (or expel) any such person within any [[Aboriginal reserve]] or institution, and the right to imprison any Aboriginal or part-Aboriginal person for 14 days if, in the Protector's judgement, they were guilty of neglect of duty, gross insubordination or wilful preaching of disobedience. It also gave powers to the police to confine Aboriginal people to reserves to "protect them from corruption". This latter power was given by Comalco{{Clarify|date=January 2017|reason=how could police power be given by a company?}} in 1957 to justify the removal of Weipa Aboriginal people.<ref>''Massacres to Mining: The Colonisation of Aboriginal Australia'', p. 34. Jan Roberts. 1981. Dove Communications. {{ISBN|0-85924-171-8}}.</ref>

In 1932, the community had to relocate to its present site, at [[Jessica Point]] now called [[Napranum, Queensland|Napranum]] because of [[malaria]]. It is about {{convert|12|km|mi}} south of the present town of Weipa. At this time most of the people were [[Awngthim language|Awngthim]] but soon different tribes and clans and other communities were forcibly removed from [[Mapoon Aboriginal Mission Queensland|Old Mapoon]]. To prevent the spread of malaria, the [[Mapoon Aboriginal Mission Queensland|Old Mapoon]] settlement was burnt down on 15 November 1963.<ref>''Massacres to Mining: The Colonisation of Aboriginal Australia'', pp. 115–116. Jan Roberts. 1981. Dove Communications. {{ISBN|0-85924-171-8}}.</ref>

===Mining town===
In 1955 a geologist, [[Henry James Evans|Henry Evans]] (1912–1990), discovered that the red cliffs on the [[Aboriginal reserve]], previously remarked on by the early Dutch explorers and [[Matthew Flinders]], were actually enormous deposits of [[bauxite]] – the ore from which [[aluminium]] is made – and to a lesser extent [[tungsten]].

The "''Comalco Act 1957''" revoked the reserve status, giving the company {{convert|5760|km2}} of Aboriginal reserve land on the west coast of the Peninsula and {{convert|5135|km2}} on the east coast of Aboriginal-owned (though not reserve) land.<ref>''Massacres to Mining: The Colonisation of Aboriginal Australia'', p. 97. Jan Roberts. 1981. Dove Communications. {{ISBN|0-85924-171-8}}.</ref> Mining commenced in 1960. In 1962, residents accepted Comalco's offer to rebuild the Jessica Point village at a cost of £150,000. By the time building began in 1965, it became clear that funding was inadequate to build houses for the whole community, which contributed towards the Presbyterian Church's decision to hand over responsibility for the mission to the [[Queensland Government]]. The community became known as Weipa South after this.<ref name=qg/>

The Weipa Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns was established in 1982.<ref name=":0" />

On 30 March 1985, the Weipa South community elected the Weipa South Aboriginal Council, and the Aboriginal reserve held by the government was transferred to the council on 27 October 1988 under a [[Deed of Grant in Trust]] (DOGIT). In 1990, the Weipa South community became known as [[Napranum]], meaning "meeting place of the people". The DOGIT lands became known as the Napranum DOGIT in 1991. In 1992, the [[Peppan people]], originally located to the east of Napranum, were granted [[freehold title]] to former Aboriginal reserve land, which had been leased to the Commonwealth for the construction of [[RAAF Base Scherger|Scherger Air Force Base]]. This was the first real compensation to the people of Napranum for use of their land.<ref name="qg" />

In 1995 a major industrial dispute occurred between Comalco and its workforce to maintain union coverage, pay and conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Liz |date=2020 |title=Defending Unionism: The Weipa Dispute, 1995 |url=https://commonslibrary.org/defending-unionism-the-weipa-dispute-1995/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}</ref>

On 1 January 2005, the Napranum Aboriginal Council became the [[Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council]].<ref name="qg" />

== Demographics ==
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the town of Weipa had a population of 3,899 people.<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL315098|name=Weipa (UCL)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the town of Weipa had a population of 4,097 people.<ref name="Census2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL315098|name=Weipa (UCL)|accessdate=20 June 2024|quick=on}}</ref>

==Climate==
Weipa has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen:]] Aw), with three distinct seasons, which vary in their intensity and duration. The [[wet season]], which runs from January to April, is characterised by high humidity, warm nights and heavy downpours, as well as occasional monsoonal lows and [[tropical cyclones]]. The [[dry season]], running from May to September, features hot and dry days, cooler nights and little rainfall. The build-up season, running from October to December, is oppressively hot and humid, with frequent days over {{convert|35.0|C}}, with infrequent, heavy downpours associated with severe [[thunderstorms]].

Temperatures remain hot year-round, with average maxima ranging from {{convert|31.1|C}} in July to {{convert|35.9|C}} in November. Average annual rainfall is {{convert|1968.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}, and the highest daily rainfall recorded was {{convert|356.0|mm}} during the passage of [[Tropical Cyclone Oswald]] on 23 January 2013.<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=27045 |title = Weipa Aero Climate (1972-2024) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref> Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|9.6|C}} on 3 August 1990 to {{convert|40.1|C}} on 29 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=27042 |title = Weipa Eastern Ave Climate (1914-2024) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref>

While most climate data was taken from [[Weipa Airport]], extreme temperatures were combined from the older Eastern Ave and newer Airport weather stations (1959–2024).
 
{{Weather box
| location = Weipa (12º37'48"S, 141º52'48"E, 20 m AMSL)  (1990–2024 normals, extremes 1959–present)
| single line = yes
| metric first = yes
| Jan record high C = 37.5
| Feb record high C = 35.7
| Mar record high C = 35.7
| Apr record high C = 35.3
| May record high C = 35.5
| Jun record high C = 35.5
| Jul record high C = 35.7
| Aug record high C = 35.9
| Sep record high C = 38.6
| Oct record high C = 40.1
| Nov record high C = 39.6
| Dec record high C = 39.2
| Jan high C = 32.0
| Feb high C = 31.5
| Mar high C = 31.9
| Apr high C = 32.3
| May high C = 31.9
| Jun high C = 31.2
| Jul high C = 31.1
| Aug high C = 32.2
| Sep high C = 34.5
| Oct high C = 35.8
| Nov high C = 35.9
| Dec high C = 34.0
| Jan mean C  = 28.2
| Feb mean C  = 27.9
| Mar mean C  = 28.0
| Apr mean C  = 27.7
| May mean C  = 26.7
| Jun mean C  = 25.7
| Jul mean C  = 25.1
| Aug mean C  = 25.6
| Sep mean C  = 27.3
| Oct mean C  = 28.9
| Nov mean C  = 29.7
| Dec mean C  = 29.2
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 24.3
| Feb low C = 24.3
| Mar low C = 24.0
| Apr low C = 23.0
| May low C = 21.5
| Jun low C = 20.1
| Jul low C = 19.1
| Aug low C = 18.9
| Sep low C = 20.0
| Oct low C = 21.9
| Nov low C = 23.5
| Dec low C = 24.3
| Jan record low C = 20.0
| Feb record low C = 20.1
| Mar record low C = 19.1
| Apr record low C = 14.4
| May record low C = 12.7
| Jun record low C = 10.2
| Jul record low C = 9.9
| Aug record low C = 9.6
| Sep record low C = 13.9
| Oct record low C = 13.2
| Nov record low C = 17.8
| Dec record low C = 20.1
| Jan avg record high C  = 35.1
| Feb avg record high C  = 34.1
| Mar avg record high C  = 34.1
| Apr avg record high C  = 33.9
| May avg record high C  = 33.4
| Jun avg record high C  = 33.0
| Jul avg record high C  = 33.1
| Aug avg record high C  = 34.5
| Sep avg record high C  = 36.9
| Oct avg record high C  = 38.1
| Nov avg record high C  = 38.2
| Dec avg record high C  = 37.0
| year avg record high C = 38.6
| Jan avg record low C  = 22.5
| Feb avg record low C  = 22.6
| Mar avg record low C  = 22.1
| Apr avg record low C  = 20.5
| May avg record low C  = 18.4
| Jun avg record low C  = 16.2
| Jul avg record low C  = 15.1
| Aug avg record low C  = 15.3
| Sep avg record low C  = 16.8
| Oct avg record low C  = 19.0
| Nov avg record low C  = 20.9
| Dec avg record low C  = 22.4
| year avg record low C = 14.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 500.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 501.4
| Mar precipitation mm = 404.0
| Apr precipitation mm = 111.4
| May precipitation mm = 19.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 3.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 1.6
| Aug precipitation mm = 4.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 1.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 20.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 92.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 291.6
| year precipitation mm = 1968.5
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 16.1
| Feb precipitation days = 15.6
| Mar precipitation days = 14.8
| Apr precipitation days = 7.3
| May precipitation days = 1.9
| Jun precipitation days = 0.4
| Jul precipitation days = 0.4
| Aug precipitation days = 0.5
| Sep precipitation days = 0.4
| Oct precipitation days = 1.4
| Nov precipitation days = 4.9
| Dec precipitation days = 11.5
| Jan afthumidity = 73
| Feb afthumidity = 76
| Mar afthumidity = 70
| Apr afthumidity = 59
| May afthumidity = 52
| Jun afthumidity = 49
| Jul afthumidity = 44
| Aug afthumidity = 41
| Sep afthumidity = 37
| Oct afthumidity = 39
| Nov afthumidity = 46
| Dec afthumidity = 60
| Jan dew point C = 24.0
| Feb dew point C = 24.3
| Mar dew point C = 23.4
| Apr dew point C = 21.5
| May dew point C = 19.4
| Jun dew point C = 17.8
| Jul dew point C = 15.9
| Aug dew point C = 15.2
| Sep dew point C = 15.5
| Oct dew point C = 17.0
| Nov dew point C = 19.3
| Dec dew point C = 22.4
| Jan sun = 164.3
| Feb sun = 144.1
| Mar sun = 186.0
| Apr sun = 234.0
| May sun = 254.2
| Jun sun = 237.0
| Jul sun = 254.2
| Aug sun = 275.9
| Sep sun = 285.0
| Oct sun = 303.8
| Nov sun = 285.0
| Dec sun = 232.5
| Jan percentsun = 41
| Feb percentsun = 41
| Mar percentsun = 49
| Apr percentsun = 66
| May percentsun = 71
| Jun percentsun = 69
| Jul percentsun = 72
| Aug percentsun = 76
| Sep percentsun = 79
| Oct percentsun = 79
| Nov percentsun = 75
| Dec percentsun = 58
| source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_027045_All.shtml 
|title = Weipa Airport Climate Statistics (1972-2024) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
|access-date = July 16, 2024}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_027042_All.shtml 
|title = Weipa Eastern Ave Climate Statistics (1914–2024) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
|access-date = July 16, 2024}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/
|title = Climate data online (Site number: 027045)
|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology
|access-date = 30 Jun 2025}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==

[[File:Mining equipment at the Comalco bauxite mine; Weipa.jpg|thumb|Mining equipment at the Comalco (now Rio Tinto Aluminium) bauxite mine; Weipa, 1995]]
The present town was constructed mainly by [[Comalco]] (now called [[Rio Tinto Group|Rio Tinto]]), a large aluminium company, which began making trial shipments of bauxite to [[Japan]] in 1962. A railway was constructed to transport the ore from the mine at Andoom to the export facility at Lorim Point.<ref>'''''The Heavy-duty Industrial Railway at Weipa''''' Buckland, John L. [[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], June, 1975 pp143-148</ref> [[Weipa bauxite mine]] is among the world's largest. Using figures from 2006, ''Reuters'' reported that it ranked third in the world, with capacity and production at 15.5 and 16.1 million tonnes respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL15774125 |title=FACTBOX-World bauxite reserves and production |work=Reuters|date=6 February 2007 |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723061629/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL15774125 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Education ==

There are two schools in Weipa.

The [[Western Cape College]] is a government co-educational school; it provides early childhood ([[kindergarten]]), primary and secondary schooling. It is on the corner of Central and Eastern Avenues in [[Rocky Point, Queensland (Weipa Town)|Rocky Point]] ({{Coord|-12.6269|141.8805|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Western Cape College}}).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://westerncapecollege.eq.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx|title=Western Cape College|publisher=Western Cape College|access-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202014111/https://westerncapecollege.eq.edu.au/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 1,073 students with 93 teachers (90 full-time equivalent).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://westerncapecollege.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/WesternCapeCollegeSAR2015.pdf|title=2015 School Annual Report|publisher=Western Cape College|access-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202004051/https://westerncapecollege.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/WesternCapeCollegeSAR2015.pdf|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>

St Joseph's Parish School is a Roman Catholic co-educational primary school at 2 Boundary Road, Rocky Point ({{Coord|-12.6293|141.8802|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=St Joseph's Parish School, Weipa}}). Opened in 2016, the school only offered enrolment in years P–3 but expected to be able to offer enrollment across all primary levels (P–6) in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stjosephsweipa.qld.edu.au/about-us/join-us/|title=Join Us|date=18 November 2015 |publisher=St Joseph's Parish School|access-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013709/http://www.stjosephsweipa.qld.edu.au/about-us/join-us/|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/St-Josephs-Newsletter-1-May-2015.pdf|title=School newsletter|date=April 2015|website=Catholic Education|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]]|access-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307154309/http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/St-Josephs-Newsletter-1-May-2015.pdf|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

==Amenities==

[[File:Weipa DC (5423512673).jpg|thumb|Former Weipa Immigrant Detention Centre, 2010. It closed in 2014.]]
Weipa has a visitor's centre, swimming pool, bowling green, golf club, tennis and squash courts.  There are netball and basketball courts as well as football fields.  [[Weipa Town Authority]] operates a public library at Hibberd Drive in Weipa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/weipa/hibberd_library|title=Hibberd Library|website=Public Libraries Connect|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005707/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/weipa/hibberd_library|archive-date=3 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref>

At Nanum the shopping precinct has a Woolworths supermarket, bakery, coffee shop, travel agent, clothing shop, post office, newsagency / sports shop and butchers.  There is also a chemist, camping and fishing store and within walking distance is a gift shop, furniture and whitegoods store, credit union and [[Centrelink|government social security]] office.  At Evans Landing there are a hardware store and a number of mechanical workshops.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://queenslandplaces.com.au/weipa |title= Weipa |publisher= Centre for the Government of Queensland |access-date= 17 January 2011 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110307191649/http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/weipa |archive-date= 7 March 2011 }}</ref>

St Joseph's Catholic Church is on Boundary Road at Rocky Point. It is within the Weipa Parish of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Weipa Parish|url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/weipa.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118203307/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/weipa.html|archive-date=18 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]]}}</ref>

== Sport and recreation ==
A number of well-known sporting clubs represent the local area, including Carpentaria Golf Club, Weipa BMX Club, Weipa Bowls Club, weipa Darts Club, Weipa Squash Club, Weipa Tennis Club and Snooker club [[Weipa RLFC]] and  Weipa Cricket Club who play home games at Andoom Oval.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weipatownauthority.com.au/sport-recreation | title=Sport & Recreation }}</ref>

Weipa Fishing Classic and Weipa Rodeo Association

== Gallery ==

<gallery class="center">
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Central Avenue road.jpg|Main road through Weipa township
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Mission River bridge.jpg|Weipa Mission River bridge 
File:AU-Qld-Weipa coastal bay.jpg|Coastal beach and bay near Wallaby Island
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Nanum beach.jpg|Coastal beach at Nanum suburb 
File:AU-Qld-Weipa caravan park.jpg|Raised cabins at caravan park near the beach 
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Lake Patricia freshwater pond.jpg|Former mining pit, now a freshwater pond 
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Woolworths car park.jpg|Car park at Woolworths shopping centre, mostly 4WDs
File:AU-Qld-Weipa police station.jpg|Weipa police station 
File:AU-Qld-Weipa Trunding suburb housing.jpg|Standard style of housing in Trunding suburb
File:AU-Qld-Weipa sunset from Nanum beach area.jpg|Sunset over the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]]
</gallery>

==See also==

{{Portal|Queensland}}
* [[Weipa Airport]]
*[[RAAF Base Scherger]], also former site of Weipa Immigrant Detention Centre
{{Clear}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Moon, Ron & Viv. 2003. ''Cape York: An Adventurer's Guide''. 9th edition. Moon Adventure Publications, Pearcedale, Victoria. {{ISBN|0-9578766-4-5}}
*Moore, David R. 1979. ''Islanders and Aborigines at Cape York: An ethnographic reconstruction based on the 1848–1850 'Rattlesnake' Journals of O. W. Brierly and information he obtained from Barbara Thompson''. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. Canberra. {{ISBN|0-85575-076-6}} (hbk); {{ISBN|0-85575-082-0}} (pbk). USA edition {{ISBN|0-391-00946-X}} (hbk); {{ISBN|0-391-00948-6}} (pbk).
*Roberts, Jan. 1981. ''Massacres to Mining: The Colonization of Aboriginal Australia''. Dove Communications, Blackburn, Victoria. Rev. Australian ed. Previous ed: CIMRA and War on Want, 1978, London. {{ISBN|0-85924-171-8}}.
*Premier's Department (prepared by Connell Wagner). 1989. ''Cape York Peninsula Resource Analysis''. Cairns. {{oclc|220913048}}
*Roth, W.E. 1897. ''The Queensland Aborigines''. 3 Vols. Reprint: Facsimile Edition, Hesperian Press, Victoria Park, W.A., 1984. {{ISBN|0-85905-054-8}}
*Ryan, Michelle and Burwell, Colin, eds. 2000. ''Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland: Cooktown to Mackay''. Queensland Museum, Brisbane. {{ISBN|0-85905-045-9}} (set of 3 vols).
*Scarth-Johnson, Vera. 2000. ''National Treasures: Flowering plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia''. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association, Cooktown. {{ISBN|0-646-39726-5}} (pbk); {{ISBN|0-646-39725-7}} Limited Edition – Leather Bound.
*Sutton, Peter (ed). ''Languages of Cape York: Papers presented to a Symposium organised by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies''. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. (1976). {{ISBN|0-85575-046-4}}
*Wallace, Lennie. 2003. ''Cape York Peninsula: A History of Unlauded Heroes 1845–2003''. Central Queensland University Press, Rockhampton. {{ISBN|1-876780-43-6}}
*Wynter, Jo and Hill, John. 1991. ''Cape York Peninsula: Pathways to Community Economic Development''. The Final Report of The Community Economic Development Projects Cook Shire. Cook Shire Council.

==External links==

{{Commons category|Weipa, Queensland}}
*[http://monolith.com.au/capeyork/drive-to-cape-york.html "A Cape to Adventure"] A description of a 4WD journey to Cape York by Roderick Eime
*[http://www.cooktowns.com/ Cooktown Shire Official web page]
*[http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an21527894 Collection of photographs taken by Wolfgang Sievers in 1957 "Presbyterian Mission Station Weipa" held at National Library of Australia, Canberra]
*[http://queenslandplaces.com.au/weipa University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Weipa]
*[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/11l3i0/alma997016354702061 Napranum cha Newspaper], [[State Library of Queensland]]- digitised issues of Weipa newspaper produced by Weipa South Community Editorial Committee
*[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99184216979802061 Weipa People Documentary], State Library of Queensland

{{Weipa Town}}
{{Far North Queensland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Far North Queensland]]
[[Category:Coastal towns in Queensland]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Queensland]]
[[Category:Mining towns in Queensland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1898]]
[[Category:Gulf of Carpentaria]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Weipa Town]]
[[Category:Bauxite mines in Australia]]