Fitzroy Island
Native name:
Koba or Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee
Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island
Geography
LocationCoral Sea
Coordinates16°56′S 146°00′E / 16.933°S 146.000°E / -16.933; 146.000
Area11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation240 m (790 ft)
Administration
Australia
StateQueensland
LGACairns Region
Demographics
Population85 (2021)

Fitzroy Island
Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee Island
Queensland
Fitzroy Island is located in Queensland
Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island
Coordinates16°55′49″S 145°59′32″E / 16.9302°S 145.9922°E / -16.9302; 145.9922 (Fitzroy Island (centre of locality))
Population85 (2021 census)
 • Density7.33/km2 (18.98/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4871
Area11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
LGA(s)Cairns Region
State electorate(s)Mulgrave
Federal division(s)Kennedy

Fitzroy Island (originally Koba or Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee) is a continental island offshore from Cape Grafton, 29 km (18 miles) southeast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It is a locality in the Cairns Region.[1][2] In the 2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[3]

Geography

Fitzroy Island is a large tropical island, with some rainforest covering and its own fringe coral reef system. The island has a total area of 11.6 square kilometres.[4] The highest point of the island is 240 metres (790 feet) above sea level.[5]

Fitzroy Island is a 45-minute ferry ride (about 30 km; 20 miles) from Cairns and is surrounded by a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Nearly all of the continental island is protected within the Fitzroy Island National Park. Four walking tracks have been established to various parts of the island.[6]

Climate

Sunset over Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy enjoys a typical North Queensland tropical climate but with the added advantage of the cooling effects of the prevailing southeasterly ocean breezes for the majority of the year. Temperatures range from 24 to 31 °C (75.2 to 87.8 °F) in summer and from 19 to 25 °C (66.2 to 77.0 °F) in winter.

History

The island separated from the mainland about 8000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. There were Aboriginal visits, mainly for visiting hunting trips and recreation. The Yidiny people named the island "Gabar", meaning "lower arm", because of how it was partially submerged.[7]

Lieutenant James Cook named the island in 1770 after Augustus Henry Fitzroy.[2][8] The island was used for a considerable time as a significant Chinese quarantine station for the Queensland goldfields.[8] Subsequently, it was used as a mission school and, during World War II, as a coast watch station.[9]

The island has also been a significant lighthouse base, with the last permanent lighthouse structure on the main island still being an important attraction. Since the lighthouse closed, the marine community has been served by an automatic lighthouse, based on the adjacent Little Fitzroy Island. There has been both a giant clam farm at Welcome Bay, and there is now a tourist resort and day visitor centre.

In the 2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[10]

Attractions

The island is home to a 99-room resort with a restaurant, pool, swim up bar as well as a dive / activity centre.[11] Originally opened in 1981, property developer Doug Gamble bought and renovated the resort in 2010.[12] Island visitors can also spend time at Foxy's Bar and Cafe, a large Pacific Islands bar with a 70’s structural theming, situated right on the beach front, about 100 metres from the resort buildings.[13] The resort manages the camping area.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fitzroy Island – locality in Cairns Region (entry 48635)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Fitzroy Island (Goon-Gan-Jee Island) – Island in Cairns Region (entry 12563)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "2021 Fitzroy Island, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Locality boundaries - Queensland". www.data.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "QTopo (ArcGIS Web Application)". qtopo.information.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "About | Fitzroy Island National Park". Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Dixon, R. M. W. (1977). A Grammar of Yidiny. Cambridge University Press. p. 14-15. ISBN 9780521214629. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "About Fitzroy Island". Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 28 Radar Station, Fitzroy Island". Queensland World War II Historic Places. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "2021 Fitzroy Island, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "The Resort". Fitzroy Island. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island, Queensland: From nudist favourite to family friendly". The Wimmera Mail-Times. Fairfax Media. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Foxy's Bar & Cafe". Fitzroy Island. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fitzroy Island.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.