Cape Moreton
![](../I/m/Moreton_Island_Lighthouse.jpg)
Cape Moreton is a rocky headland at the north eastern tip of Moreton Island in South East Queensland, Australia. The surrounding area is part of the Moreton Island National Park. Flinders Reef is 5 kilometres (3 mi) north-west of Cape Moreton.
The outcrop is mostly composed of sandstone, but also some conglomerate, siltstone and shale.[1] The whole of Moreton Island was formed by sand caught on and built up behind these rocks.
History
![](../I/m/Moreton_island.jpg)
On the 17 May 1770, James Cook sighted and named the point Cape Morton. By 1959 the island's second settlement begin at Cape Moreton. At one point a school was operating at Cape Moreton with a total of 15 children.[1] Until 1952 when it was abandoned, a telegraph line reached the point, via Amity on North Stradbroke Island.[1]
On 24 February 1894, the Aarhus sank about two nautical miles from the cape after striking Smith's Rocks. The hospital ship Centaur was sunk close to Cape Moreton in 1943 when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the ship, taking the lives of 268 people. The wreck was found on the 20 December 2009 in a steep walled gulley, 2,059 m below the ocean surface.
The MV Pacific Adventurer lost containers in high seas created by Cyclone Hamish and caused the 2009 southeast Queensland oil spill. The containers were located after a 10-day search, about 7 kilometres (4 mi) off the coast of Cape Moreton.[2]
Lighthouse
![](../I/m/Cape_Moreton_Light_aerial.jpg)
Cape Moreton Light was the first lighthouse established in Queensland. The 23 metres (75 ft) tall structure was constructed of locally quarried sandstone, and was built in 1857.[3] 35 "good conduct" prisoners were used for labour.[1]
A pilot station was established at Bulwer on the northern end of the island in 1848.[1] At one time there was a total of seven lighthouses in operation on the island.[1]
Cape Moreton Lighthouse Complex, consisting of the lighthouse, three keepers' cottages and associated structures, was registered on the Register of the National Estate in 1981.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Horton, Helen (1983). Islands of Moreton Bay. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. pp. 103—114. ISBN 0-908175-67-1.
- ↑ Andrew Wight (2008-03-28). "Navy locates missing containers". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ↑ Nolan, Carolyn; Robert Longhurst (1996). Brisbane's Moreton Bay:Our heritage in focus. South Brisbane, Queensland: State Library of Queensland. p. 52. ISBN 0-7242-7176-7.
External links
- "The Cape Moreton Lighthouse". Lighthouses of Queensland. Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
- "Cape Moreton Lighthouse Complex (entry AHD17189)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.