Far away from their islands, they maintain their connection to country – and their rich maritime history.Pearling diving was once the major employer of Torres Strait islanders.
Hundreds of luggers worked Australia’s northern coast from Broome to Mackay.
For 100 years pearl diving was the mainstay of the Torres Strait islands economy but the collapse of the industry in the 1960s marked the start of a mass migration by islanders to the mainland to look for work.
