Most of the islands were unincorporated until the 1970s, but Thursday Island had a town council going back to 1912. In 1939, the "Torres Strait Islanders Act" was passed by the Federal Government, allowing for a form of local government on each island. On 27 January 1942, after the fall of Singapore during World War II, the Australian government gave the order to evacuate all civilians from Thursday Island, which now became a military base. In 1946, civilians started returning to the island. In 1952 the Council was dissolved and replaced by administrators.