Quail Island (Northern Territory)

Quail Island

LANDSAT true color image of
Quail Island Group, Northern Territory, Australia
Geography
Coordinates 12°31′08″S 130°26′06″E / 12.519°S 130.435°E / -12.519; 130.435Coordinates: 12°31′08″S 130°26′06″E / 12.519°S 130.435°E / -12.519; 130.435
Archipelago Quail Island Group
Total islands 3
Country
Australia
State Northern Territory
Region Top End

Quail Island is 26 miles from Port Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The island came into the news when SS Brisbane, an 85.8 metres long passenger, cargo and mail ship, built by A & J Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow, struck the nearby Fish Reef, while heading there with cargo from Hong Kong.[1]

Quail Island belongs to the Quail Island Group. The other two islands in the archipelago are Bare Sand Island (southwest of Quail Island) and Djadjalbit Island (south).[2]

The islands are known for being a breeding ground for flatback turtles.[3]

Defense training

The Quail Island Air Weapons Range was used a training ground for defense forces from 1945 to 1979.[3] There are large munitions scattered around the island as a result. A three-year clean-up began in 2011 to remove hazards such as unexploded ordnance.[4] Visitors such as tourists and recreational anglers have been banned from the islands during the clean-up process.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shipping Times: Launched 1874 - SS Brisbane
  2. 1 2 "Northern Territory islands off-limits while ADF clears bombs". The Australian (News Limited). 19 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Quail Island Group". 7:30 NT. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "Islands closed for unexploded bomb disposal". ntnews.com.au (News Limited). 25 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.


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