 Hayman Island, 1973 | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Coordinates | 20°03′S148°53′E / 20.050°S 148.883°E /-20.050; 148.883 |
| Archipelago | Whitsunday Islands |
| Total islands | 74 |
| Area | 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi) |
| Length | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Width | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Queensland |
| LGA | Whitsunday Region |
Hayman Island is the most northerly of theWhitsunday Islands, off the coast ofQueensland, Australia.[1][2] The island is 294 hectares (726 acres)[3] and lies to the north-west ofHook Island. It is aprivate island open to the public, most famous for its luxury resort which was built in the 1950s byAnsett Transport Industries. The island is significant for tourism in Queensland. The resort is managed by theInterContinental Hotels Group.[4]
The region has been home to the Ngaro Aboriginal people for over 9,000 years, which is one of the earliest recorded Aboriginal groups in Australia.[citation needed]
Captain James Cook first charted these waters on hisvoyage in 1770.
In 1866, hydrographer CommanderGeorge Nares gave Hayman its name in honour of Thomas Hayman, the master of HMSSalamander in which they were travelling.[1] The two carried out many exploits together, becoming the first to pass through theSuez Canal and completing a dangerous navigation aroundAntarctica.[citation needed]
Edwin Embury, a schoolteacher, dreamer, and amateur scientist established a biological research laboratory on the island in 1933.[5] The abundant wildlife and proximity to theGreat Barrier Reef made Hayman an ideal base for scientific discovery.[6]
Whitsundays' fishermen Bob and Bert Hallam established the Great Barrier Reef Game Fish Angling Club in 1935, attracting local and international game fishing enthusiasts who arrived by coastal steamer. One of them wasZane Grey, American novelist, filmmaker and big game fisherman. Grey planted the firstcoconut palm on the island and, in 1936, Hayman became the idyllic tropical backdrop for his comedy drama filmWhite Death.[7]
In 1947,Ansett Transport Industries acquired the island.[8] Work began on the Royal Hayman Hotel, which was opened in 1950 by Australian Deputy Prime Minister,Arthur Fadden in anticipation of a royal visit to Australia, for which Hayman was granted aroyal charter. Arrival on Hayman was byCatalina and Sandringhamflying boat.[citation needed]
Hayman Island State School opened on 26 July 1956 under head teacher Elvira Davies.[9]
In July 1985, a two-year, $300 million project commenced to transform the island into a luxury resort.[10] The works were carried out byThiess Contractors[11] and in 1987 Hayman was invited to joinThe Leading Hotels of the World.[citation needed]
In May 1998, Hayman Island was sold to the BT Hotel Group.[8]
The resort undertook another significant renovation in 2001 and received many of its modernfive-star luxury amenities.[citation needed]
In June 2004, Mulpha Australia acquired Hayman, and, in January 2010, after almost six years of planning, design and environmental consultations, the final approvals were granted. The initial phase of this strategic plan has included revitalisation of the Hayman pool and the construction of luxurious newKerry Hill designed beach villas.[citation needed]
Hayman re-opened on 1 August 2011 after five months of extensive restoration on the island, due to the severe impact of Tropical Cyclone Anthony andCyclone Yasi earlier that year. This period of closure enabled Hayman to complete the repairs required to landscapes, guest and accommodation areas, activity facilities and essential infrastructure as well as undertake other planned projects.[citation needed]
In the surrounds of the resort, a newbotanical garden has some 33,000 new plants and 327 new plant species having been introduced by landscape designer, horticulturalist and personality,Jamie Durie, who was engaged to replant Hayman's 16 hectares of gardens.[12]
Hayman Island has atropical savanna climate (Köppen:Aw) with a hot, rainy season during the summer months and a warm, relatively dry season during the winter months.
| Climate data for Hayman Island (20º04'S, 148º53'E, 2 m AMSL) (1969-1985 normals and extremes, rainfall 1934-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 38.6 (101.5) | 33.5 (92.3) | 34.3 (93.7) | 31.6 (88.9) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.6 (83.5) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.3 (82.9) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.0 (87.8) | 35.0 (95.0) | 34.0 (93.2) | 38.6 (101.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.6 (87.1) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.6 (85.3) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.0 (78.8) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.0 (73.4) | 24.2 (75.6) | 25.9 (78.6) | 27.5 (81.5) | 29.6 (85.3) | 30.5 (86.9) | 27.4 (81.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.7 (72.9) | 20.4 (68.7) | 17.2 (63.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 19.2 (66.6) | 21.3 (70.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 24.5 (76.1) | 21.4 (70.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.5 (70.7) | 20.4 (68.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 12.7 (54.9) | 9.8 (49.6) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.2 (68.4) | 8.7 (47.7) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 240.3 (9.46) | 296.0 (11.65) | 226.6 (8.92) | 135.6 (5.34) | 119.8 (4.72) | 54.6 (2.15) | 39.1 (1.54) | 25.1 (0.99) | 16.9 (0.67) | 41.7 (1.64) | 57.1 (2.25) | 120.8 (4.76) | 1,406.2 (55.36) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) | 12.7 | 14.5 | 15.3 | 14.5 | 13.0 | 8.8 | 6.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 112.6 |
| Average afternoonrelative humidity (%) | 70 | 73 | 71 | 68 | 71 | 68 | 67 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 68 | 68 |
| Averagedew point °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) | 23.4 (74.1) | 22.4 (72.3) | 20.8 (69.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.5 (59.9) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.6 (65.5) | 21.2 (70.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 19.5 (67.2) |
| Source:Bureau of Meteorology[13] | |||||||||||||
Guests to the island arrive by Hayman's private fleet of luxury motor yachts, andprivate charterhelicopter orAir Whitsundayseaplane.
Hayman Island State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school at Hayman Island (20°03′23″S148°53′14″E / 20.0565°S 148.8873°E /-20.0565; 148.8873 (Hayman Island State School)). The school buildings and grounds are provided and maintained by the resort.[14][15][16] It is only for the children of workers and guests on the island.[17] From 2021 to 2023, enrolment numbers ranged from 2 to 8 students.[18] However, the staff turnover on the island also means a high turnover of students, some of them arriving from overseas countries with varying levels of English language skills.[19] As at 2024, it has two teachers, a teaching principal and an early childhood teacher.[15]
There are no secondary schools on Hayman Island nor nearby. Families often leave the island for this reason. Options for those remaining on the island includedistance education and boarding school.[19][20]
Hayman Island contributed to Australian popular culture when the television seriesBarrier Reef (originally titledMinus Five) was filmed at Hayman Island from September 1969.[21]
In 1972, the first people to row unaided across thePacific Ocean,Sylvia Cook andJohn Fairfax arrived at Hayman Island after spending 361 days crossing the ocean.[22]
In 1995, BritishLabour Party leaderTony Blair addressedRupert Murdoch and the leaders ofNews Corporation at Hayman Island, laying the groundwork for Murdoch's eventual support of the party at the1997 election.[23]
Notable guests have includedJane Fonda,Bill Gates,Bob Geldof,Anthony Hopkins,Chris Isaak,Nicole Kidman,Kellan Lutz,Slash andRod Stewart.[24]
