Blue Water Empire

An introduction to the Torres Straits and a fascinating exploration of the concepts that shaped Torres Strait Islander culture and custom before white settlement.

The pearling boom brings thousands of strangers to the region and has a profound economic and cultural impact on the Torres Strait. Missionaries introduce Christianity which affect traditional language, dance and tradition.

After the collapse of pearling, many Torres Strait Islanders are forced to migrate to the mainland for work. Legendary leaders like Eddie Koiki Mabo and George Mye take huge strides towards returning autonomy to the Torres Strait island people, while the tragic sinking of the Malu Sara demonstrates the power still held by authorities over islander lives today.