Basilisk, Queensland

Basilisk Queensland
HMS Basilisk, on the voyage from Brisbane to Cape York, 5 February 1871, after which the locality is named
Basilisk
Coordinates	17°40′15″S145°59′42″E / 17.6708°S 145.9950°E / -17.6708; 145.9950 (Basilisk (centre of locality))
Population	0 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.000/km2 (0.00/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	16.5 km (10 mi) S of South Johnstone 26.6 km (17 mi) S of Innisfail 116 km (72 mi) S of Cairns 255 km (158 mi) NNW of Townsville 1,611 km (1,001 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Cassowary Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Hinchinbrook
Federal division(s)	Kennedy
Suburbs around Basilisk: Mena Creek Boogan Camp Creek Germantown Moresby Bombeeta Basilisk Warrubullen Japoonvale Walter Lever Estate No 5 Branch Warrubullen Bombeeta

Basilisk is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Basilisk had "no people or a very low population". ^[1]

Geography

The locality is almost entirely composed of the Basilisk Range which rises from land close to sea level at the east to a series of unnamed peaks of from 200 to 400 metres. ^[3] The central and southern area of the locality forms the Basilisk Range National Park. ^[4] While the northern part of the locality is freehold land, it is mostly undeveloped. The land use in the west of the locality is grazing on native vegetation. ^[5]

History

The name Basilisk was the original name of the nearby town South Johnstone until 1954. ^[6] The name comes from the Royal Navy ship HMS Basilisk which, under the command of Captain John Moresby, undertook hydrographic surveys off the coast in the early 1870s. ^[3] The neighbouring locality of Moresby was named after the captain, ^[7] while the nearby Mourilyan Harbour and related places are named after the ship's first lieutenant, Thomas Longley Mourilyan. ^[8]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Basilisk had "no people or a very low population". ^[9]

In the 2021 census, Basilisk had "no people or a very low population". ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Basilisk. The nearest government primary schools are South Johnstone State School in South Johnstone to the north, Mourilyan State School in Mourilyan to the north-east, and Mena Creek State School in neighbouring Mena Creek to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail Estate to the north. ^[10]

There are also non-government schools in South Johnstone and Innisfail's surburbs. ^[10]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Basilisk (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Basilisk – locality in Cassowary Coast Region (entry 45677)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
3. "Basilisk Range – range in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 1811)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2025.
4. "Basilisk Range National Park – national park in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 51096)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2025.
5. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
6. "South Johnstone (entry 45231)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 13 September 2015.
7. "Moresby – town in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 22804)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2025.
8. "Mourilyan Harbour – harbour in the Cassowary Coast Region (entry 23230)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 19 July 2025.
9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Basilisk (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
10. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2025.