The land of the Western Cape belongs to local Traditional Owner groups. Waypundun or Waypa is the original name of this area and is home of the Alngith people. The surrounding areas belong to a number of different groups including the:

- Thanikiwithi people, Traditional Owners of the Andoom area

- Peppan group who leased their land to the Royal Australian Airforce to establish the Scherger RAAF Base

- Anagthanigth people, traditional inhabitants of Myall Creek

Other local landownership groups include the Araithingwum, Liningith, Mbiywom, Mamngaith, Ndrra'ngith, Nggoth, Trotj and Ndrrava'Ngaith.

Weipa has close ties to numerous Aboriginal Communities on the Western Cape:

- Napranum (situated approx. 10kms from Weipa)

- Aurukun

- Mapoon

- Injinoo

- New Mapoon

Key Dates in History

10 June 1898 - Christian missionaries established the Embly River Mission at Spring Creek or what is now commonly known as Twenty Mile Creek.

July 1899 - Mrs JFG Foxton, wife of the Home Secretary, officially named the area 'Weipa'.

1955 - Wakmatha (Old Matthew) and George Wilson showed Harry Evans the bauxite country.

1956 - Enterprise Exploration and the Commonwealth Alumimium Corporation (Comalco) established the 'Top Camp' at what is now Napranum.

1957 - Comalco was awarded a mining lease from the Queensland Government 1958 with the issue of a Special Bauxite Mining Lease to the company.

1963 - The mine's first shipment of bauxite leaves teh Weipa port.

1965 - A new village at Weipa Mission was opened.

1966 - The Presbyterian Church handed management of the mission over to the Queensland Department of Native Affairs who subsequently re-named it Weipa South.

1967 - the new township of Weipa North was officially opened at Kumrumja (Rocky Point).

1990 - Weipa South became officially known as Napranum.

14th March 2001 - Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement (WCCCA) signed.