Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales

For the island and nature reserve, see Cabbage Tree Island (John Gould Nature Reserve).

Cabbage Tree Island is a locality in Ballina Shire located in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales.^[2][3] It is a mostly Aboriginal community.

Cabbage Tree Island New South Wales
Cabbage Tree Island
Coordinates	28°58′47″S 153°27′23″E
Population	89 (SAL 2021)[1]
Postcode(s)	2477
LGA(s)	Ballina Shire
State electorate(s)	Ballina
Federal division(s)	Page

History

The island was reportedly settled by three Aboriginal pioneers in 1885, including "Bubba" Cook, ancestor of many islanders today.^[4] The islanders engaged in cane farming and had their own food gardens, reportedly living self-sufficiently.^{[citation needed]}

In 1893 the island was designated an Aboriginal reserve, with Aboriginal people moving there from the region, and Cabbage Tree School opening.^[5]

In 1911 a government manager was installed,^[6] and the island was then run by various government Aboriginal welfare agencies until the mid-1970s. The manager's permission was required in some periods to leave the island.^[7] The welfare agencies provided regular food rations. Many of the islanders worked as cane cutters or other cane labourers. Young women often went to work as domestic servants in Sydney.^{[citation needed]}

In the late twentieth century government management was transferred to a local Aboriginal land council, which maintains the houses on the island. The school continued in operation.^{[citation needed]}

2022 floods

Buildings were damaged by the 2022 floods and residents were moved to temporary housing pods in Wardell and Ballina. The school on the island was temporarily relocated to Wardell in November 2022.^[8]

By March 2023, residents were frustrated by a lack of permission to return.^[9]

In September 2023, the Jali Aboriginal Land Council (Jali LALC) announced that the island homes would not be rebuilt, but the residents would be relocated to new homes on the mainland, due to "unacceptably high risk" from flood.^[10]

Facilities

As of 2023^[update] the school is known as Cabbage Tree Island Public School.^[11]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the population of Cabbage Tree Island was 78.^[12] In the 2021 census, it had increased to 89 persons.^[13]

Notable people

• Frank Roberts (1899–1968), paternal grandfather of Rhoda Roberts, went to the segregated school there.^[14]
• Frank Roberts Jnr, father of Rhoda Roberts, grew up in the reserve^[15]