 The view of Magnetic Island from theCastle Hill, Townsville | |
 Palm Islands location | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Area | 52 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 497 m (1631 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Cook |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2,475 (2021[1]) |
| Pop. density | 40/km2 (100/sq mi) |
Magnetic Island (Wulguru:Yunbenun) is an island 8 kilometres (5 mi) offshore from the city ofTownsville, Queensland, Australia. This 52 km2 (20.1 sq mi) mountainous island inCleveland Bay has effectively become a suburb of Townsville. The island is accessible from Townsville Breakwater to Nelly Bay Harbour by ferry. There is a large 39.5 km2 (15.3 sq mi)[2] National Park and bird sanctuary and walking tracks can be taken between the populated bays and to a number of tourist destinations such as theWorld War II forts.
The island is a holiday destination with many hotels and several resorts in operation to cater for all levels of service. The public facilities and infrastructure on the island are managed by theTownsville City Council. The island is part of theelectoral district of Townsville in theLegislative Assembly of Queensland, and part of the federal seat ofHerbert, which is represented byPhillip Thompson.
There are five settlements, namelyArcadia,Horseshoe Bay,Nelly Bay,Picnic Bay, andWest Point. Geographic features includeRocky Bay, Picnic Bay andHawkings Point, around its southern extremity, a bay, Nelly Bay to the east-north-east of Rocky Bay, followed byGeoffrey Bay, withBremner Point as its northern arm. Horseshoe Bay is on the northern coast, andCockle Bay Reef off the western coast.
In the2021 census, Magnetic Island had a population of 2,475 people.[1]
The Wulguru name for the island isYunbenun. The first European accounts of the island come fromCaptain James Cook who, in 1770, while navigating the Australian coast, called the islandMagnetical Island, as a magnetic pull interfering with his vessel's compass appeared to emanate from the island.[3] People have since explored the general area of Magnetic Island with various instruments to discover what might have caused the effect that Cook reported, but nothing has been discovered. Local names for the island are "Maggie Isle",[4] "Maggie Island",[5] or "The Island".
Yunbenun is the traditional land of theWulgurukaba people.[6] It had a transient population ofAboriginal people well before European exploration of the area. They had seasonal camps at a number of bays, and travelled between the island and mainland usingcanoes. A number of Aboriginal burial sites are said to exist on the island, but have so far not been identified.[citation needed] Aboriginalmiddens and cave drawings can still be found in a number of bays around Yunbenun. Folklore of the local Wulguru tribe recounts a long association with the island and annual migrations to the mainland to avoid expeditions of head-hunters fromPapua New Guinea and theTorres Strait, which used the northern trade winds to travel south along the Queensland coast. This head-hunting nearly ceased following the arrival of missionaries, led by Samuel MacFarlane to the Torres Straits in 1871.[7]
J.M. Black, funded byRobert Towns, founded the township of Townsville on the mainland nearby. As Townsville developed through the mid-19th century, Magnetic Island became a valuable location for the gathering ofhoop pine andgranite, the latter of which was used in the reclamation of land for the Port of Townsville, and for construction of Townsville's Customs House.[7]
Picnic Bay was named after its popularity as a picnic spot for European tourists from the mainland during the 19th century[citation needed], before Magnetic Island was first inhabited by Europeans. In the mid-19th century the island became a popular location for the collection of stone and coral needed for development on the mainland. Even substantial quantities of gold were mined in 1886.[8]
In 1875, the island was set aside as aquarantine station although it took another ten years for the proper facilities to be set up at West Point. In November 1884 theQueensland Government accepted a tender from Leisner and Sparre to construct the quarantine station for £3645.[9] It was only after the tender was accepted that the site onWest Point on the north-west was actually chosen.[10]
In 1896Cyclone Sigma tore across the island and through Townsville.[11] At least 23 people died, many buildings destroyed and boats wrecked.[12][13][14] The ketchLalla Rookh was torn off its moorings and found later on Magnetic Island.[15] (She was able to be recovered and continued to carry loads of timber up and down the coast, until being wrecked off the Queensland coast in 1899.[16][17][18])
By 1890 a resort had been started in Picnic Bay. In 1898Robert Hayles Sr was so impressed by the potential of Magnetic Island he sold his other interests to build a resort on the island. Hayles was responsible for much of the development of Magnetic Island through tourism. In 1901 he started a regular ferry service to the island with his ship theBee. Twelve months later this ship was wrecked on the rocks at Nobby Head, Picnic Bay, and thePhoenix was built by Hayles' sons to replace the vessel. The Hayles company remained operating services to Magnetic Island with a large number of different vessels until 1988.[citation needed]
Magnetic Island became an important defensive position duringWorld War II because of its proximity to Townsville, an important military base, and its views overCleveland Bay, a significant anchorage and assembly point for large fleets and convoys operating in the south Pacific. As such, theMagnetic Battery,(AKA The Forts) an artillery battery and observation post, was built in the hinterland of Florence, Horseshoe and Arthur Bays. Picnic Bay also became a popular defence force rest and relaxation camp following the commandeering of a resort in the bay in 1939.
The island slowly expanded following the end of theSecond World War. In 1953, Centaur House, a memorial convalescent and rest hostel for nurses, was officially opened in Geoffrey Bay.[19]
In late December 1971Cyclone Althea hit the North Queensland coast directly crossing Magnetic Island. The island, along with much of the mainland, was devastated with 90% of the island's houses damaged or destroyed, some simply lifted off their foundations and tossed into trees. The island, along with the mainland, soon recovered.
In July 2012, a six hectare (15 acre) section of the island was granted to theWulgurukaba Yunbenun Aboriginal Corporation underfreehold title and a further 55 hectare (135 acre) section under aDeed of Grant in Trust.[20]
In 2009, as part of theQ150 celebrations, the Magnetic Island was announced as one of theQ150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction".[21]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,107 | — |
| 2011 | 2,199 | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 2,335 | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 2,475 | +6.0% |
| Source:Search Census data - Australian Bureau of Statistics | ||
In the2006 census, Magnetic Island had a population of 2,107 people.[22]
In the2011 census, Magnetic Island had a population of 2,199.[23]
In the2016 census, Magnetic Island had a population of 2,335 people.[24]
In the2021 census, Magnetic Island had a population of 2,475 people.[1]
Geographic features include Rocky Bay, Picnic Bay and Hawkings Point (around the settlement named Picnic Bay) around its southern point,[25] a bay and settlement called Nelly Bay to the east-north-east, Horseshoe Bay on its northern coast, and Cockle Bay Reef off the western coast.[26][27]
The island is a haven for wildlife. 76% of the island is Magnetic Island National Park,[2] which is mostly located on the steep hilly interior and rugged north-western side. The highest point on the island isMount Cook reaching 497 m (1,631 ft) above sea level.[3] Acitizen science project at Magnetic has over 3500 observations of 1126 species with the most observed species thekoala and the most observed marine species thegoldstripe butterflyfish.[28]
Magnetic Island is famous for its fishing opportunities. Fish around the island include:mackerel,giant trevally,queenfish,coral trout,blackspot tuskfish,tuna, fingermark,red emperor andsea perch.
As of 2013, there are over 800koalas estimated to be present on the island; this population represents the northern limit of their geographic range.[29]
The areas of the island that are not covered by the conservation area are open for development subject to local authority approval. As of 2018 the island was undergoing an economic boom.[citation needed]
The wreckage ofSSCity of Adelaide is located off the shore of Cockle Bay, the island and is a popular tourist attraction.[30]
The five villages of the island, which contain most of the population of 2017 (as of the census of population)
| Place | Area (km2) | Population | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Bay | 9.7 | 484 | 49.9 |
| Arcadia | 5.2 | 257 | 49.4 |
| Nelly Bay | 5.2 | 973 | 187.1 |
| Picnic Bay | 2.8 | 359 | 128.2 |
| West Point | 28.4 | 35 | 1.2 |
| Magnetic Island | 51.3 | 2107 | 41.1 |
Magnetic Island has a number ofheritage-listed sites, including:
Magnetic Island State School is a government primary school atNelly Bay. The nearest government secondary school isTownsville State High School inRailway Estate in the Townsville mainland.[33]
The Magnetic Garbutt branch of theQueensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall at 42 Lancaster Street,Garbutt.[34]
Other groups include:
Annual events include:[49]
To find out more visitwhatsonmagneticisland.com.au
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
This Wikipedia article incorporates text fromCentaur House Memorial Hostel, Magnetic Island (22 February 2018) published by theState Library of Queensland underCC BYlicence, accessed on 16 May 2022.
19°08′S146°50′E / 19.133°S 146.833°E /-19.133; 146.833
| International | |
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| National | |
