Fitzroy Island (Queensland)
Native name: Koba or Gabar or Goong-Gan-Jee | |
|---|---|
 Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Coordinates | 16°56′S 146°00′E / 16.933°S 146.000°E |
| 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 Cairns, Queensland | |
|---|---|
  Fitzroy Island | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 16°55′49″S 145°59′32″E / 16.9302°S 145.9922°E |
| Population | 85 (2021 census)[1] |
| • Density | 7.33/km2 (18.98/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 4871 |
| Area | 11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Time zone | AEST (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.[2][3] In the 2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[1]
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
Fitzroy has a tropical 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) |
| Average precipitation 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 afternoon relative humidity (%) | 75 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 69 | 68 | 69 | 72 | 75 |
| Average dew 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] | |||||||||||||
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.[9]
Lieutenant James Cook named the island in 1770 after Augustus 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, during World War II, as a coast watch station.[11]
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.
Demographics
In the 2016 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 44 people.[12]
In the 2021 census, Fitzroy Island had a population of 85 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools on Fitzroy Island, nor nearby. The options are distance education and boarding school.[13]
Attractions
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]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Fitzroy Island (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Fitzroy Island – locality in Cairns Region (entry 48635)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Fitzroy Island (Goon-Gan-Jee Island) – Island in Cairns Region (entry 12563)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Locality boundaries - Queensland". www.data.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "QTopo (ArcGIS Web Application)". qtopo.information.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "About | Fitzroy Island National Park". Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland. 19 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Fitzroy Island Lighthouse Climate Statistics". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Fitzroy Island Lighthouse Climate Statistics". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Fitzroy Island (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "The Resort". Fitzroy Island. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Foxy's Bar & Cafe". Fitzroy Island. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
External links
Fitzroy Island travel guide from Wikivoyage
