[4] The Ugarem-Le lived in village communities following traditional patterns of hunting, fishing, agriculture and trade for many thousands of years before contact was made with European visitors to the region.

The island's European name was bestowed by Captain William Bligh in 1792 during his second breadfruit voyage to the Pacific, after Philip Stephens, First Secretary to the Admiralty.

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

The strike protested 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 the 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.

[22][23] During World War II in 1941, the Australian Government began recruiting Torres Strait Islander men to serve in the armed forces.

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

In December 1978, a treaty was signed by the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments that described the boundaries between the 2 countries and the use of the sea area by both parties.

[26][27] The Torres Strait Treaty, which has operated since February 1985, contains special provision for free movement (without passports or visas) between both countries.

[28] 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.

This Act conferred local government type powers and responsibilities upon Torres Strait Islander councils for the first time.

The Aboriginal reserve on the island, held by the Queensland Government, was transferred on 21 October 1985 to the trusteeship of the council under a Deed of Grant in Trust.