The islands have sea turtle hatcheries, bird life, giant clam ground, huge palms, World War II relics and massive sand flats.

The Torres Strait Islander people of Poruma are of Melanesian origin and lived in village communities following traditional patterns of hunting, fishing and trade for many thousands of years before contact was made with the first European visitors to the region.

Another operator named Captain Walton began employing men from Poruma to work as divers and crew on his vessels in the early 1870s.

[14] Letters Patent were issued by the British Government in 1872 creating a new boundary for the colony,[15] which encompassed all islands within a 60 nautical mile radius of the coast of Queensland.

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

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

After lengthy discussions, unpopular bylaws (including the evening curfews) were cancelled, and a new code of local representation was agreed upon.

A key section of the new act officially recognised Torres Strait Islanders as a separate people from Aboriginal Australians.

[31] During World War II, the Australian government recruited Torres Strait Islander men to serve in the armed forces.

While the Torres Strait Light Infantry were respected as soldiers, they only received one third of the pay given to white Australian servicemen.

[33][32] After World War II, the pearling industry declined across Torres Strait and Islanders were permitted to work and settle on the Australian mainland.

[34] The Torres Strait Treaty, which commenced operation in February 1985, contains special provision for free movement (without passports or visas) between both countries.

[35] 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.

[41][42] The Torres Strait Island Regional Council operates the Poruma (Ngalpun Ngulaygaw Lag) Library on Main Street.