▁the ▁Tor res ▁Stra it ▁of ▁Queensland , ▁Australia . ▁The ▁island ▁is ▁situated ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁Australian ▁main land ▁and ▁south ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁New ▁Guinea . ▁The ▁island ▁is ▁a ▁local ity ▁within ▁the ▁Tor res ▁Stra it ▁Island ▁Region ▁local ▁government ▁area . ▁The ▁town ▁of ▁Sa ib ai ▁is ▁located ▁on ▁the ▁north - west ▁coast ▁of ▁the ▁island . ▁In ▁the ▁, ▁Sa ib ai ▁Island ▁had ▁a ▁population ▁of ▁ 4 6 5 ▁people . ▁ ▁Most ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁is ▁held ▁under ▁native ▁title , ▁apart ▁from ▁some ▁government ▁infrastr ucture ▁and ▁historic ▁buildings . ▁ ▁Geography ▁The ▁island ▁was ▁formed ▁by ▁all uv ial ▁depos its ▁from ▁Pap ua ▁New ▁Gu ine an ▁rivers . ▁ ▁Sa ib ai ▁Island ▁is ▁a ▁fairly ▁large ▁low - lying ▁island ▁located ▁ ▁south ▁of ▁the ▁Pap ua ▁New ▁Guinea ▁main land . ▁Close ▁to ▁the ▁north ▁of ▁Sa ib ai ▁is ▁the ▁un in hab ited ▁K au am ag ▁Island , ▁separated ▁from ▁Sa ib ai ▁by ▁a ▁channel ▁that ▁is ▁ ▁long , ▁between ▁ ▁wide , ▁and ▁nearly ▁blocked ▁at ▁its ▁east ▁end . ▁ ▁The ▁island ▁is ▁about ▁ ▁in ▁length ▁by ▁ ▁in ▁width , ▁and ▁is ▁flat , ▁pre domin antly ▁mang ro ve ▁sw am pl ands , ▁with ▁the ▁highest ▁point ▁being ▁ ▁above ▁mean ▁sea ▁level , ▁and ▁pr one ▁to ▁flo oding ▁during ▁the ▁wet ▁season , ▁which ▁coinc ides ▁with ▁king ▁t ides . ▁A