Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders, ranging from small rocks that are uncovered at high tide to islands larger than 1,000 square kilometres. The islands of Australia are spread across the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. Some of the islands that are owned by Australia include Tasmania, Melville Island, Kangaroo Island, Rottnest Island, Magnetic Island, Green Island, Bruny Island, Hamilton Island, Christmas Island, Macquarie Island, and K'gari, the world's largest sand island.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of islands within maritime borders | 8,222 |
| Largest islands by area | Tasmania, Melville Island, Kangaroo Island, Groote Eylandt, Bathurst Island, K'gari, Flinders Island, King Island, Mornington Island |
| Largest islands by population | Tasmania, Bribie Island |
| Territories | Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, Christmas Island, Macquarie Island |
| Popular tourist islands | Rottnest Island, Magnetic Island, Fitzroy Island, Green Island, Bruny Island, Hamilton Island, Flinders Island, Kangaroo Island, K'gari |
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K'gari, Queensland
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed sand island located along the southeastern coast of Queensland, Australia. The island is part of the Wide Bay-Burnett region, lying approximately 250 km (160 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane, and is within the Fraser Coast Region local council area. K'gari is the traditional name for the island in the language of the local Butchulla peoples, meaning 'paradise'.
The island is known for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes, including wide-open beaches, shifting sand blows, iridescent waters, and an abundance of marine life. It offers a range of holiday resorts and wilderness camping options, attracting up to 500,000 visitors each year. K'gari is the largest sand island in the world, stretching over 123 kilometres in length and 22 kilometres at its widest point, with an area of 184,000 hectares.
The history of K'gari includes a significant connection to the Indigenous Butchulla people. In 1847, European settlers arrived and named the island "Fraser Island" after Captain James Fraser, whose ship, the Stirling Castle, was shipwrecked off the coast of the island in 1836. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Queensland Government operated a site on the island for the relocation and incarceration of Indigenous people, known as the Bogimbah facility. The Bogimbah facility was described as lacking adequate medical supplies, food, and shelter, with prevalent mosquito-borne diseases.
In June 2023, the Queensland Government officially announced the reinstatement of the traditional name, K'gari, recognising and honouring the island's Indigenous heritage. Today, K'gari is a popular tourist destination, offering a unique blend of natural wonders and cultural significance for visitors to explore and cherish.
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Fraser Island
The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, under the traditional name of "K'gari". The Butchulla people have a creation story for the island, in which Yendingie came down from the sky and made the sea and the land. When he arrived at Hervey Bay, he was joined by Princess K'gari, a beautiful white spirit. Together, they made the island and its abundant nature.
European settlers arrived in 1847 and named the island "Fraser Island" after Captain James Fraser, master of the Stirling Castle, who was shipwrecked and died on the island in 1836. The ship was holed while travelling through the Great Barrier Reef and was beached on what was then known as the Great Sandy Island. Captain Fraser died, leaving his wife Eliza and the second mate, Mr Baxter, living among the local people. They were found six weeks later by a convict, John Graham, who spoke the Aboriginal language.
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Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia. They are a popular tourist destination for travellers to Queensland and the
The Whitsunday Islands are centred on Whitsunday Island, which features the iconic Whitehaven Beach, known for its pure white sand. The commercial centre of the islands is Hamilton Island, which is also home to an airport that services direct flights from several major Australian cities. The traditional owners of the area are the Ngaro people and the Gia people, whose Juru people have the only legally recognised native title in the Whitsunday Region.
The Whitsunday Islands are a mecca for sailing, diving, and snorkelling, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to swim with turtles or fly over the famous Heart Reef. The Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail is a mix of seaways and short walks crossing South Molle, Hook, and Whitsunday Islands, with camping available at eight camping areas on three islands. Several islands also have large resorts offering a wide variety of accommodation and activities.
The Whitsunday Islands were named by Captain James Cook, who sailed through a broad expanse of islands in the area in 1770. The date recorded by Cook is a little confusing, as it was calculated at noon, and the International Date Line must be considered when interpreting his records.
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Macquarie Island
The island was discovered by Frederick Hasselborough, an Australian, on 11 July 1810, while looking for new sealing grounds. He claimed Macquarie Island for Britain and annexed it to the colony of New South Wales in 1810. The island was named for Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. In 1890, the Colony of New Zealand requested permission to annex the island from Lord Onslow, the Governor of New Zealand, Philip Fysh, the Premier of Tasmania, and the Lord Knutsford, the Secretary of State for the Colonies. However, Tasmania refused to consent to the transfer, and the British government supported this decision.
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Lord Howe Island
The Lord Howe Island Group comprises 28 islands, islets, and rocks. The most notable of these, apart from Lord Howe Island itself, is the uninhabited Ball's Pyramid, a volcanic sea stack located about 23 km (14 mi) to the southeast of Howe. The underwater world around Ball's Pyramid is home to a unique coral community with giant fan corals and rare fish species.
The Lord Howe Island Act 1981 established a "Permanent Park Preserve" covering about 70% of the island. The island was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2007 and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of global natural significance. The surrounding waters are protected as the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, which is one of the best diving spots in the world with more than 60 dive sites.
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Frequently asked questions
Macquarie Island and Flinders Island are part of Tasmania.
K'gari, Magnetic Island, and Fitzroy Island are part of Queensland.
Lord Howe Island is part of New South Wales.
Kangaroo Island is part of South Australia.
Melville Island, Groote Eylandt, and Bathurst Island are part of the Northern Territory.
