[6][7] The north-western island group is located close to the Papua New Guinea border and forms the most northern point of Australia's territory.

Situated on a narrow coastal strip, Dauan is well known throughout the Torres Strait for its freshwater permanent springs, fertile soil and steep hills.

[8] Strong kinship and trade ties continue to exist between the people of Dauan, Boigu and Saibai and coastal Papuan communities.

[14] Captain William Bligh, in charge of the British Navy ships Providence and Assistant, visited Torres Strait in 1792 and mapped the main reefs and channels.

Two South Sea Islander lay pastors, Josaia and Sivene, were appointed to work as missionary teachers at Dauan and Saibai.

LMS missionaries revisited Dauan and Saibai in 1872, and found that Josaia and Sivene had been accepted by the Islanders and given land by the local chiefs.

[6] Dauan was often used as a place of sanctuary by the people of Boigu and Saibai, as it was surrounded by reefs and strong currents that were difficult for the raiders to negotiate in their canoes.

[26] Letters patent were issued by the British Government in 1872 creating a new colony, which encompassed all islands within a 60 nautical mile radius of the coast of Queensland.

[28][29] The new legislation enabled the Queensland Government to control and regulate bases for the beche-de-mer and pearling industries which had previously operated outside its jurisdiction.

[6][30] Around 1900, a member of the London Missionary Society, Reverend Walker, established a philanthropic business scheme named Papuan Industries Limited.

The strike was a protest against government interference in wages, trade and commerce and called for the lifting of evening curfews, the removal of the permit system for inter-island travel, and the recognition of the Islanders’ right to recruit their own boat crews.

Unpopular local Protector J D McLean was removed and replaced by Cornelius O'Leary, who established a system of regular consultations with elected Islander council representatives.

[6][43][44] During World War II, the Australian Government recruited Torres Strait Islander men to serve in the armed forces.

[50] Free movement between communities applies to traditional activities such as fishing, trading and family gatherings which occur in a specifically created Protected Zone and nearby areas.

[1] Torres Strait Island Regional Council operate an Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) at Main Street.

Projects were delivered during school holidays and covered themes such as art, language, music to capture and enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history.

At the end of the week-long project, an interactive bilingual book, called The Coming of the Light Dauan Island was created using original artwork.

[59] In 2018, a parish on Dauan Island became the first in the Torres Strait to enter the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, a structure within the Catholic Church for former Anglicans.