Townsville, Australia

Mungalla Aboriginal Cattle Station

Australian Frontier and Nywaigi People Discover the complicated history behind indigenous people and European settlers at a rural cattle station. The Mungalla Aboriginal cattle station was established by James Cassady, an Irishman who immigrated to Australia during the 1880s. At a time when confrontations between settlers and Aboriginals were often brutal, Cassady’s ranch was a safe haven for the local Nywaigi population. Today, the ranch is run by the Nywaigi Aboriginal Land Corporation; its mission is to improve the economic and social position of its Indigenous people. Take a guided tour of this working ranch, view artifacts and try your hand at throwing a boomerang. Learn about the ranch’s history and view a pictorial exhibit. Next, sit down to a traditional Aboriginal feast known as Kup Murri—a selection of meats, fish and vegetables cooked in an authentic underground pit oven. Then, you will return to your ship. * Moderate - Walking portions may be long and somewhat challenging with occasional step-ups, stairs and inclines. Total time walking or standing normally ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours.