Native name: Koba or Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee | |
|---|---|
 Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island | |
 Interactive map of Fitzroy Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Coordinates | 16°55′58″S145°59′41″E / 16.9327°S 145.9947°E /-16.9327; 145.9947 |
| Area | 11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 240 m (790 ft) |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Queensland |
| LGA | Cairns Region |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 85 (2021) |
Fitzroy Island Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee Island | |
|---|---|
  Fitzroy Island | |
 Interactive map of Fitzroy Island | |
| Coordinates:16°55′49″S145°59′32″E / 16.9302°S 145.9922°E /-16.9302; 145.9922 (Fitzroy Island (centre of locality)) | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| City | Cairns |
| LGA | |
| Government | |
| • State electorate | |
| • Federal division | |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 85 (2021 census)[1] |
| • Density | 7.33/km2 (18.98/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (AEST) |
| Postcode | 4871 |
Fitzroy Island (originallyKoba orGabar orGoong-Gan-Jee) is acontinental island offshore from Cape Grafton, 29 km (18 miles) southeast ofCairns,Queensland, Australia. It is alocality in theCairns Region.[2][3] In the2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[1]
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 theGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park. Nearly all of the continental island is protected within theFitzroy Island National Park. Four walking tracks have been established to various parts of the island.[6]
Fitzroy has atropical monsoon climate (Köppen:Am) with a long, hot, wet season during the summer months, and a short, warm, relatively dry season during the winter months.[7]
| Climate data for Fitzroy Island Lighthouse (16º56'S, 146º00'E, 124 m AMSL) (1968-1991 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.6 (96.1) | 35.9 (96.6) | 33.3 (91.9) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 29.6 (85.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.9 (91.2) | 34.0 (93.2) | 39.9 (103.8) | 39.9 (103.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.6 (87.1) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.4 (84.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 25.9 (78.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.9 (76.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.8 (83.8) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.7 (87.3) | 27.7 (81.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.1 (75.4) | 23.8 (74.8) | 22.7 (72.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.6 (74.5) | 24.4 (75.9) | 22.1 (71.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.5 (65.3) | 13.9 (57.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 13.6 (56.5) | 13.3 (55.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.7 (67.5) | 20.6 (69.1) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 480.1 (18.90) | 477.5 (18.80) | 486.7 (19.16) | 303.1 (11.93) | 225.5 (8.88) | 124.1 (4.89) | 74.2 (2.92) | 72.1 (2.84) | 44.8 (1.76) | 46.6 (1.83) | 114.7 (4.52) | 214.4 (8.44) | 2,664.4 (104.90) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 14.9 | 16.9 | 18.4 | 17.3 | 15.6 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 7.6 | 11.2 | 141.3 |
| Average afternoonrelative humidity (%) | 75 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 69 | 68 | 69 | 72 | 75 |
| Averagedew point °C (°F) | 24.2 (75.6) | 24.4 (75.9) | 23.8 (74.8) | 22.4 (72.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 18.1 (64.6) | 17.9 (64.2) | 18.2 (64.8) | 19.1 (66.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 22.1 (71.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 21.3 (70.3) |
| Source:Bureau of Meteorology[8] | |||||||||||||
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. TheYidiny people named the island"Gabar", meaning "lower arm", because of how it was partially submerged.[9]
LieutenantJames Cook named the island in 1770 afterAugustus Henry Fitzroy.[3][10] The island was used for a considerable time as a significant Chinese quarantine station for the Queensland goldfields.[10] Subsequently, it was used as a mission school and, duringWorld War II, as a coast watch station.[11]
The island has also been a significantlighthouse 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 agiant clam farm at Welcome Bay, and there is now a tourist resort and day visitor centre.
In the2016 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 44 people.[12]
In the2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[1]
There are no schools on Fitzroy Island, nor nearby. The alternatives aredistance education and boarding school.[13]
The island is home to a 99-room resort with a restaurant, pool, swim up bar as well as a dive / activity centre.[14] Originally opened in 1981, property developer Doug Gamble bought and renovated the resort in 2010.[15] 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.[16] The resort manages the camping area.[10]
Fitzroy Island travel guide from Wikivoyage
