Whitsunday Islands

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Whitsunday Islands
Whitsunday group Australia en.svg
Aus - Whitsunday Islands.PNG
Geography
Location Queensland, Australia
Coordinates 20°18′S148°56′E / 20.300°S 148.933°E / -20.300; 148.933
Total islands74
Major islands Hamilton Island
Area282.82 km2 (109.20 sq mi)
Administration
Australia
StateQueensland
Largest settlement Hamilton Island (pop. 1350)
Demographics
Population1,570 (2014)
Pop. density5.551/km2 (14.377/sq mi)

The Whitsunday Islands are 74 continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, 900 kilometres (560 miles) north of Brisbane. [1] The northernmost of the islands are off the coast by the town of Bowen, while the southernmost islands are off the coast by Proserpine. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the commercial centre is Hamilton Island. The traditional owners of the area are the Ngaro people and the Gia people, whose Juru people has the only legally recognised native title in the Whitsunday Region. [2]

Contents

The islands are within the locality of Whitsundays and the local government Whitsunday Region. [3] In 2009, as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Whitsunday Islands became one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for their role as a natural attraction. [4]

Naming

On Sunday 3 June 1770, (the day WhitsunPentecost was celebrated on the Christian calendar) Captain James Cook sailed his ship H.M.B. Endeavour, through a broad expanse of islands which provided an unimpeded passage to the north. Cook named the passage "Whitsundays' Passage". [5] Cook's recorded times and dates are often questioned. Time quoted is simply local time (calculated at noon), the date recorded is a little more confusing. Cook recorded nautical time (the day starts at noon). Considering the International Date Line, and knowing today's date on the east coast of Australia is calculated at GMT+10, Cook's recorded date is fortuitously correct.

Whitsunday Islands Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia.jpg
Whitsunday Islands

There is some contention as to exactly which islands are within the informally named Whitsunday Islands, in particular those at the southern extremity and the inclusions to the west. What is certain is that they lie within the chain named Cumberland Isles by Captain Cook (now officially the Cumberland Islands) and a reasonably defined section of that chain and surrounding waters have become known worldwide as The Whitsundays, based on a contraction of the Whitsunday Islands designation.

Tourism

The Whitsunday islands are a popular tourist destination for travellers to Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef with the area being one of the most popular yachting destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. The islands received about 700,000 visitors between March 2008 and March 2009. [6]

The Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail [7] is a mix of seaways and short walks, crossing South Molle, Hook and Whitsunday islands. [8] The tracks across the islands are linked by seaways suited to kayaking, sailing or powerboating. Camping is available at eight camping areas on the three islands. Several islands have large resorts, offering a wide variety of accommodation and activities. Chartering a yacht or bareboating is a popular way to explore the seaways, beaches and coves.

The Ngaro Whitsundays Underwater Art Trail [9] is a series on sculptures of Turtle, Manta ray, Maori wrasse, Coral polyp and a traditional piece named Bywa. They are located in shallow water depths assessable for snorkelling.

Components

There are a total of 74 islands and islets among all the groups in the Whitsundays.

Whitsunday group

The most notable islands in the main Whitsunday group are named Dent, Hamilton, Hayman, Hook and Whitsunday which features the white sands of Whitehaven Beach.

Lindeman group

The best known island in the Lindeman group is its namesake Lindeman Island ( 20°26′44″S149°02′33″E / 20.4456°S 149.0425°E / -20.4456; 149.0425 (Lindemann Island) ). [10] However the largest island in the group is Shaw Island ( 20°29′12″S149°04′32″E / 20.4867°S 149.0756°E / -20.4867; 149.0756 (Shaw Island) ). [11]

Molle group

The most notable islands in the Molle group are Daydream Island (formerly West Molle Island), Long Island and South Molle Island.

Northern group

Some of the islands in the Northern group are Armit, Gloucester and Saddleback.

Table of islands

Listed below are islands of The Whitsundays, divided by group locality. Named rocks and islets can be found listed within the entry for the nearest island to that feature.

IslandCapitalAdjacent islets and featuresArea (km²)Population
Lindeman Islands Lindeman Island 30.3410
Baynham Island0.0740
Comston Island0.2360
Gaibirra Island0.3230
Keyser Island0.5770
Lindeman Island 6.78910
Little Lindeman Island0.490
Maher IslandJesus Point0.940
Mansell Island1.1770
OtherAnn Island, Cole Island0.2220
Pentecost Island1.250
Seaforth IslandNorth Beach0.2650
Shaw IslandNeck Bay, Burning Point15.620
Thomas IslandThomas Bay, Dead Dog Point2.230
Triangle Island0.1150
Volskow Island0.0320
Molle Islands South Molle Island 20.17150
Daydream Island Coral Beach, Lovers Beach, Mermaids Beach, Sunset Beach0.2330
Denman Island0.0950
Goat Island0.0470
Long Island Base Point, Fire Point, Happy Bay, Paradise Bay, Pelican Beach, Peppers Palm Bay, Sandy Bay, Spit Point10.680
Mid Molle Island0.130
North Molle Island2.6430
OtherGunn Island, Repair Island, Shute Island, Tancerd Island0.5880
Pine Island1.0630
Planton Island0.1140
South Molle Island Bauer Bay4.6640
Northern Group Gloucester Island33.561
Armit Island1.050
Double Cone Island0.40
Eshelby Island0.130
Gloucester Island26.80
Grassy Island1.290
Gumbrell Island0.470
Manta Ray Island0.320
Middle Island0.430
Olden Island0.430
Poole Island0.190
Rattray Island0.230
Saddleback Island0.580
Stone Island1.241
The Whitsunday Group Hamilton Island 198.751409
Bird Island0.0170
Black Island0.050
Border IslandCateran Bay3.0660
Cid IslandBench Point, Gilling Point2.950
Cowrie Island0.0240
Deloraine Island0.1720
Dent Island 4.132
Dumbell Island0.1410
Dungarra Island0.0940
Esk Island0.10
Fitzalan Island0.0540
Hamilton Island Crab Bay, South Head, Driftwood Bay, Coral Cove, Escape Beach, Broken Point, Sunrise Bay, Hideaway Bay, Catseye Bay, Pebble Beach, Airport Beach7.981350
Harold Island0.3450
Haslewood Island7.9410
Hayman Island Dolphin Point, Tower Point, Rescue Beach, Groper Point, Arkhurst Point, Blue Pearl Bay, Royal Hayman Hotel3.7850
Henning Island0.4960
Hook Island 54.875
Ireby Island0.0460
Langford Island0.0930
Lupton Island1.050
Nicolson Island0.1630
OtherBuddibuddi Island, Yuindalla Island, Petrel Island, Arkhurst Island, Plum Pudding Island0.9040
Perseverance Island0.3420
Teague Island0.5580
Titan Island0.0112
Whitsunday Island 1090
Wirrainbeia Island0.040
Workington Island0.3330
Whitsunday IslandsTotals282.821570

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Upstart National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

Cape Upstart is a national park in the locality of Guthalungra in the Whitsunday Region local government area of North Queensland, Australia, 1,016 km northwest of Brisbane.

South Cumberland Islands is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 831 km northwest of Brisbane. It is famous for the marine stingers which can be found in the waters of the park between October and May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitsunday Islands National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

Whitsunday Islands is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 920 kilometres (570 mi) northwest of Brisbane. It contains Whitsunday Island and 31 others.

The Cumberland Islands form a group of 70 islands at 20°34′S149°08′E on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Mackay in Queensland, Australia. They were discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitsunday Island</span> Island in Queensland

Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the Whitsunday group of islands located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hook Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Hook Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland. The island is almost uninhabited, quite rugged and almost completely contained within a section of the Whitsunday Islands National Park. The island has two prominent geographical features on the southern side of Hook Island; the Nara and Macona inlets, two fjord-like recesses that are used as anchorages for the Whitsunday tourist fleet. The island's northern coast is noted for its colourful underwater coral growths, to which snorkelling and diving enthusiasts are attracted.

Lindeman Island is an island in the Lindeman Group of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The island was named by Captain Bedwell after his sub-lieutenant, George Sidney Lindeman whilst aboard the Royal Navy vessel HMS Virago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daydream Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Daydream Island is one of seven islands of the Molle Group, a sub-group of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. The island is small, measuring 1 km in length and 400 m at its widest point. The highest point on the island is 51 metres above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamilton Island Race Week</span>

Hamilton Island Race Week is a keelboat regatta set against the backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands, on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. It is one of Australia’s favourite yachting events and a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar. Competitors, family and friends come together to enjoy the convivial atmosphere and unique camaraderie of the event’s on-water and off-water carnival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayman Island</span> Island in Queensland, Australia

Hayman Island is the most northerly of the Whitsunday Islands, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The island is 294 hectares. It is a private island open to the public, most famous for its luxury resort which was built in the 1950s by Ansett Transport Industries. The island is a significant for tourism in Queensland. The resort is managed by the InterContinental Hotels Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehaven Beach</span> Beach on Whitsunday Island, Australia

Whitehaven Beach is on Whitsunday Island, Queensland, Australia. The island is accessible by boat, seaplane & helicopter from Airlie Beach, as well as Hamilton Island. It lies across from Stockyard Beach, better known as Chalkie's Beach, on Haslewood Island. The seven kilometres beach is known for its crystal white silica sands and turquoise coloured waters. The beach has tour barbeque and camping facilities.

The Ngaro are an Australian Aboriginal group of people who traditionally inhabited the Whitsunday Islands and coastal regions of Queensland, employing a seafaring lifestyle in an area that archaeologically shows evidence of human habitation since 9000 BP. Ngaro society was destroyed by warfare with traders, colonists, and the Australian Native Police. The Native Police Corps forcibly relocated the remaining Ngaro people in 1870 to a penal colony on Palm Island or to the lumber mills of Brampton Island as forced labourers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proserpine River</span> River in Queensland, Australia

The Proserpine River is a river in Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalkie's Beach</span> Beach in Queensland, Australia

Chalkie's Beach is located on the western coast of Haslewood Island in the Whitsunday Islands of Queensland, Australia. It lies across from the more popular Whitehaven Beach on the main Whitsunday Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclone Ada</span> 1970 tropical cyclone

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ada was a small but intense tropical cyclone that severely impacted the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia, in January 1970. It has been described as a defining event in the history of the Whitsunday Islands, and was the most damaging storm in the mainland town of Proserpine's history at the time. Forming over the far eastern Coral Sea in early January, the weather disturbance that would become Ada remained weak and disorganised for nearly two weeks as it slowly moved in a clockwise loop. Accelerating toward the southwest, the system was named Ada on 15 January. All observations of the fledgling cyclone were made remotely with weather satellite imagery until it passed over an automated weather station on 16 January. The extremely compact cyclone, with a gale radius of just 55 km (35 mi), intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone just before striking the Whitsunday Islands at 14:00 UTC on 17 January. At 18:30 UTC, Ada's eye crossed the coast at Shute Harbour. The cyclone made little inland progress before stalling northwest of Mackay and dissipating on 19 January.

The Gia people, also known as Giya, Kia, Bumbarra, and variants, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the state of Queensland. Little is known of them.

The Wiri are an Aboriginal Australian people of an area on the eastern side of the state of Queensland. They speak a dialect of the Biri language called Wiri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baradha people</span>

The Baradha people, also spelt Barada and Thar ar ra burra, and also known as Toolginburra, were an Aboriginal Australian people of Central Queensland not far inland from the east coast.

The Juru people, also known as Yuru, are a group of Aboriginal people of the state of Queensland, Australia.

Whitsundays is an island group locality in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia. It mostly consists of the Whitsunday Group of islands off the Queensland east coast in the Coral Sea, a mix of inhabited and uninhabited islands. In the 2021 census, Whitsundays had a population of 2,281 people.

References

  1. "Perfectly places: The Whitsundays: The place to live". Whitsunday Regional Council. p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. Prior on Behalf of the Juru (Cape Upstart) People v The State of Queensland (No.2) [2011] FCA 819 (26 July 2011), Federal Court (Australia).
  3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. "Trove - Archived webpage".
  6. Andrew Bain (21 November 2009). "The alternative Whitsunday". Brisbane Times . Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  7. Science, jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of Environment and (19 November 2009). "Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail". Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 8 March 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  9. "Ngaro Whitsunday Underwater Art Trail". tourismwhitsundays.com.au.
  10. "Lindemann Island – island in the Mackay Region (entry 19445)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  11. "Shaw Island – island in the Mackay Region (entry 30595)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 31 August 2021.