"View of Raffles Bay, with Croker's Island in the Distance" - From a sketch by PP King. Published in May 1825 by John Murray, London

Croker Island lies where the Arafura Sea meets the Timor Sea to the east of Cobourg Peninsular in the Northern Territory. The most northerly part of the Territory, Croker Island is 326 square km in size. At its highest point it is only 15 m about sea level.
The first native title claim to the seas around Australia under the Native Title Act to reach the High Court was the Croker Island Seas Claim, often dubbed the "Mabo of the Seas". The claim was brought by the Yammirr People, the traditional owners of Croker Island, which lies 200 kms to the north east of Darwin. The Croker case was decided by Justice Olney of the Federal Court in July 1998. The Court found that native title exists over the entire area of sea and sea-bed which was claimed (2,000 square kms). This was a landmark decision because it was the first time that Australian Courts had recognised that native title exists over the sea.
However the decision was otherwise disappointing for the Northern Land Council and the Aboriginal communities it represents. It was a narrow and limited decision which means that Croker Island traditional owners have limited say regarding developments on their sea country. This is because the Court characterised the native title as 'non-exclusive' and 'non-commercial'. In particular, the Court held that the Aboriginal law which provides that traditional rights are exclusive only applies to Aboriginal people, but not to non-Aboriginal people.
In December 1999 the Full Bench of the Federal Court delivered its decision regarding appeals by the Commonwealth Government, and by the traditional owners. The Commonwealth had argued that, for technical legal reasons, native title cannot exist in offshore areas. The Court unanimously rejected the Commonwealth's argument. The traditional owners argued that their native title is exclusive and means they have full control of their sea country. The majority of the Court rejected the traditional owners' argument although Justice Merkel dissented, holding that since English law has always recognised the concept of an 'exclusive fishery', offshore native title can also include an exclusive fishery.
Both the Commonwealth and the traditional owners lodged further appeals to the High Court. These were heard in February 2001, and a decision was delivered in September 2001. The High Court, by a six-to-one majority, upheld the Federal Court's decision. However, as is often the case, the decision left open a number of legal issues, including whether native title can include an exclusive fishery. Further cases will inevitably test this proposition.

European Discovery and Exploration

Croker Island was one of the first Australian geographical features to be named by Europeans. The island was named Cape Mauritius on 5th May 1623 by Jan Cartstensz, sailing aboard the Pera and Arnhem, after the Dutch ship East indiaman of that name which explored this coast in August 1618 under Captain Lenaert Jacobszoon. His second in command was none other than Willem Jansz, who had made the historic voyage of discovery in the Duyfken along the west coast of Cape York peninsula in 1606. The Mauritius left Table Bay on 18th June, 1818 and sailed east. The ship reached what appears to be North West Cape on 31st July. Before leaving the coast, a river was sighted and named Willem's River in honour of Willem Jansz. The river appears to be the Ashburton.
Though there are no official records of the Mauritius sailing a further 1,000 kms along the coast, personal documents of crew members and VOC officials indicate that it did. These documents suggest that Jacobszoon named Schildpad Eilanden (Turtle Island), Kape Verhagen, Sebastiaen's Baai, Kape Amsterdam, Kape Wesel (Cape Weasel), Wesels Eilanden and Compagnie Eilanden (Company Island), the company being the the Dutch East India Company [VOC]. Many of these names are still in use today. On sailing into a bight (Gulf of Carpentaria?) at latitude 130 S, Jacobszoon is reported to have turned his ship north for Banda.
200 years later, Phillip Parker King explored the northern coast of Australia, and during his visit there in April 1818, gave the island its present name. The name honours John Wilson Croker (1780-1857), a British statesman and author, born at Galway, Ireland. In 1802 he was called to the Irish bar and later entered Parliament as member for Downpatrick and continued to sit in parliament throughout his life. At the time of King's visit to the island, Croker was 1st Lord of the Admiralty who had authorised King's voyage of exploration.

About Croker Island

Croker Island is Aboriginal owned land, the traditional owners being the Yammirr people, and a permit from the Northern Land Council is required for all visitors. Many Aborigines acknowledge Croker Island as the birthplace of the Rainbow Serpent - one of the most important spiritual beings in tales of the Dreamtime. Its landscape is flat, covered with tropical rainforest and fringed by sandy beaches and coral reef. Birds such as brolga and jabiru are abundant, and anglers flock to try their luck with scores of trevally, queenfish, Spanish mackerel and mangrove jack. There is one general store on Croker, and supplies are flown in once a week from Darwin.
Croker Island has hot summer temperatures. The summer high temperature is approximately 32 °c. The summer low temperature is approximately 25 °c. The winter high temperature for Croker Island is approximately 30 °c. The winter low temperature is approximately 20 °c.

Visiting Croker Island

Jarbu Lodge is a small privately run fishing lodge on Croker Island offering access to exclusive locations, including a number of bays on the mainland. With enthusiastic and professional guides ready to ensure you target the species of your choice, including the unstoppable giant trevally, queenfish, barramundi, Spanish mackerel or mangrove jack, to test the limits of your line.
Only a limited number of people are able to visit Jarbu Fishing Lodge at any time, ensuring protection of the area and vast fish supplies. The accommodation is eco-bungalows built on a platform, to allow ample ventilation and cooling sea breezes through the lush tropical trees and plants that surround the lodge. More information

View Larger Map