Punsand, Queensland

Punsand Queensland
Captain Cook takes formal possession of New South Wales on Possession Island, 1770
Punsand
Coordinates	10°43′26″S142°24′57″E / 10.7240°S 142.4158°E / -10.7240; 142.4158 (Punsand (centre of locality))
Population	19 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	0.128/km2 (0.330/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4876
Area	149.0 km2 (57.5 sq mi)
Location	27.9 km (17 mi) NNE of Bamaga 495 km (308 mi) NNE of Weipa 851 km (529 mi) NNW of Cooktown 1,022 km (635 mi) NNW of Cairns 2,692 km (1,673 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Torres
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal division(s)	Leichhardt
Suburbs around Punsand: Torres Strait Torres Strait Somerset Torres Strait Punsand Somerset Torres Strait New Mapoon New Mapoon

Punsand is a coastal and off-shore locality in the Shire of Torres, Queensland, Australia. ^[2] In the 2021 census, Punsand had a population of 19 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality of Punsand includes the north-western edge of the tip of Cape York Peninsula, as well as several of the nearby Torres Strait islands (from west to east):

• Little Woody Island ( 10°42′55″S142°20′39″E / 10.7153°S 142.3443°E / -10.7153; 142.3443 (Little Woody Island) ) ^[3]
• Great Woody Island ( 10°42′14″S142°21′10″E / 10.7040°S 142.3527°E / -10.7040; 142.3527 (Little Great Island) ) ^[4]
• Quoin Island ( 10°42′47″S142°22′13″E / 10.7130°S 142.3702°E / -10.7130; 142.3702 (Quoin Island) ) ^[5]
• Dayman Island, also known as Teran ( 10°45′42″S142°22′25″E / 10.7616°S 142.3737°E / -10.7616; 142.3737 (Dayman Island) ) ^[6]
• Meddler Island, also known as Gaibait ( 10°42′08″S142°22′58″E / 10.7022°S 142.3829°E / -10.7022; 142.3829 (Meddler Island) ) ^[7]
• Possession Island, also known as Bedanug ( 10°43′32″S142°23′53″E / 10.7256°S 142.3981°E / -10.7256; 142.3981 (Possession Island) ) ^[8]
• High Island, also known as Wurrka ( 10°43′31″S142°24′51″E / 10.7252°S 142.4142°E / -10.7252; 142.4142 (High Island) ) ^[9]

Punsand Bay is immediately north of the mainland section of the locality ( 10°42′53″S142°28′30″E / 10.7146°S 142.4750°E / -10.7146; 142.4750 (Punsand Bay) ). ^[10]

Possession Island is a national park known as Possession Island National Park. ^[11] Apart from this protected area, there is minimal land use in the locality, being mostly undeveloped. ^[12]

History

In 1770, the British navigator Lieutenant James Cook sailed northward along the east coast of Australia in the Endeavour , anchoring for a week at Botany Bay. Three months later, at Possession Island in Queensland, he claimed possession of the entire east coast he had explored for Britain. In his journal, Cook wrote: "I now once more hoisted English Coulers and in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took possession of the whole Eastern Coast... by the name New South Wales, together with all the Bays, Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said coast". ^[13]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Punsand had a population of 23 people. ^[14]

In the 2021 census, Punsand had a population of 19 people. ^[1]

Education

There are no schools in Punsand. For students living on the mainland, the nearest government primary and secondary school is Northern Peninsula Area State College, which has a primary and a secondary campus in Bamaga to the south-west. For students living on the islands, the options are distance education and boarding school. ^[15]

Attractions

Punsand Bay Camping is on the mainland off Bottom Crossing Road beside the bay ( 10°43′18″S142°27′49″E / 10.7216°S 142.4636°E / -10.7216; 142.4636 (Punsand Bay Camping) ). It provides cabins, camp sites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant. ^[16]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Punsand (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Punsand – locality in Shire of Torres (entry 41956)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 30 May 2019.
3. "Little Woody Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 19776)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
4. "Great Woody Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 14720)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
5. "Quoin Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 27852)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
6. "Dayman Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 9473)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
7. "Meddler Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 21496)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
8. "Possession Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 27370)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
9. "High Island – island in the Shire of Torres (entry 15848)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
10. "Punsand Bay – bay in the Shire of Torres (entry 27665)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
11. "Possession Island National Park – national park in the Shire of Torres (entry 51357)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 5 July 2025.
12. "Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use; Sugarcane areas". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
13. Cook, James. Journal of HMS Endeavour, 1769–1771. National Library of Australia, Manuscripts Collection, MS 1, 22 August 1770.
14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Punsand (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
15. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
16. "Punsand Bay Cape York Camping - Stay - Dine - Discover". Cape York Camping. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.