Moreton Bay Research Station

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The Moreton Bay Research Station is a marine biology research centre located on North Stradbroke Island, off the coast of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in Moreton Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Contents

History

Established in 1949 as the Dunwich Laboratory, the station was a facility established by the Queensland government. It was designed to encourage use and shared research between CSIRO fisheries division, [1] the Queensland Department of Harbours and Marine (Fisheries) and the University of Queensland. It was initially run by CSIRO staff, in particular, Dr J.M. Thomson [2] who lived on site from 1949 to 1953. [3]

Location

The station is located on North Stradbroke Island, a 27,700-hectare sand island, 30 minutes from Brisbane by boat. The island lies between the sub-tropical and temperate zones, and its waters feature a wide range of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. [4] Mud flats surround the island, providing an estuarine environment which supports worms and bivalves and other tiny organisms. There is also a large dugong population which feeds off the seagrass. Coral reefs remain close by at Peel Island. [5] [6]

Early research

Research at the station evolved from the study of oyster and sea mullet fisheries in Moreton Bay, to more general marine research. CSIRO abandoned the station in 1959, and it was taken over by the University of Queensland. Prof. William Stephenson, a biologist at the university, had used the station regularly as a teaching destination for undergraduate and postgraduate student field trips. He petitioned the Queensland government to permit the university to take over part of the station, and develop its teaching and research facilities. [3]

Development of the teaching facilities

The laboratory was renamed the Dunwich Marine Station (DMS) in 1961, becoming the first marine station managed by the University of Queensland. It would be joined by the Heron Island Research Station in the 1970s. Facilities were basic, with a bunkhouse, two-storey lab, engine room and kitchen/mess hall. Livestock roamed the streets and foreshore, and students had easy access to Rainbow Channel. [3]

In the 1990s, the facilities were showing wear and tear and needed to be upgraded for teaching purposes. Funding was sought from the university in 1997 to demolish the old buildings, and construct a modern, purpose-designed teaching and research facility. This would accommodate 96 students and researchers and provide high-speed internet access and a microwave internet link. The improved boating and diving facilities would attract scientists and researchers from all over the world. The new Moreton Bay Research Station and Study Centre (MBRS) was opened on 23 June 2000, [7] by the Honourable Peter Beattie, MLA, with funding provided by the University of Queensland, the Port of Brisbane Corporation, the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and Consolidated Rutile Limited (now Sibelco Australia). [3]

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The University of Queensland is a public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone universities, an informal designation of the oldest university in each state. UQ is also a founding member of edX, Australia's leading Group of Eight and the international research-intensive Association of Pacific Rim Universities.

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Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stradbroke Island</span> Island near Brisbane, Australia

Stradbroke Island, also known as Minjerribah, was a large sand island that formed much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Queensland until the late 19th century. Today the island is split into two islands: North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island, separated by the Jumpinpin Channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Stradbroke Island</span> Island that lies within Moreton Bay in the Australian state of Queensland

North Stradbroke Island, colloquially Straddie or North Straddie, is an island that lies within Moreton Bay in the Australian state of Queensland, 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of the centre of Brisbane. Originally there was only one Stradbroke Island but in 1896 it split into North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island separated by the Jumpinpin Channel. The Quandamooka people are the traditional owners of North Stradbroke island.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunwich Benevolent Asylum</span>

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Dunwich Public Reserve is a heritage-listed archaeological site at Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1827 to 1828. It is also known as Privy Pit, Convict Barracks, and Convict Store within the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 February 2000.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heron Island Research Station</span> Marine research station

Heron Island Research Station is a marine research station located on Heron Island, an island within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, 80 km from Gladstone, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is located at the leeward end of a coral cay on a 10 x 5 kilometre platform reef. Although the island had been used as a turtle cannery in the 1920s, after this was abandoned, it was taken over as a resort in the 1930s, by Captain Christian Poulsen. A number of researchers travelled to the island from the 1930s using the resort facilities. The island became a National Park in 1943, and following the end of World War II, saw the first groups of university students from the University of Queensland arrive. Today the island is divided into three sections - the resort, research station and National Park.

The Nunukul, also spelt Noonuccal and known also as Moondjan are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of three Quandamooka peoples, who traditionally lived on Minjerribah, in Moreton Bay Area and in mainland Brisbane regions.

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References

  1. ↑ "EXPERIMENTS BY C.S.I.R.O. - ON FISH FARMING AT MORETON ISLAND - Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) - 12 Dec 1951". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  2. ↑ "A Scientist Goes Fishing For The Answers - Why don't we cultivate oysters more? Why are mullet so scarce sometimes? - Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954) - 15 Aug 1950". Trove. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "History and Community Life - Moreton Bay Research Station - The University of Queensland, Australia". www.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  4. ↑ "About Us - Moreton Bay Research Station - The University of Queensland, Australia". www.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  5. ↑ "Moreton Bay Research Station". Radio National. 2000-06-27. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  6. ↑ West, Wells, John (1955-01-01). "Recent and subfossil corals of Moreton Bay, Queensland". 4.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Moreton Bay Research Station opens to public". UQ News. Retrieved 2017-04-21.

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