South Stradbroke Island

South Stradbroke Island

Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Minjerribah Nickname: South Straddie
NASA Landsat Image of South Stradbroke
Geography
Location	Moreton Bay
Coordinates	27°51′S 153°25′E / 27.850°S 153.417°ECoordinates: 27°51′S 153°25′E / 27.850°S 153.417°E
Length	21 km (13 mi)
Width	2.5 km (1.55 mi)
Administration
Australia
State	Queensland
Region	Gold Coast, South East Qld
Local government area	City of Gold Coast
Demographics
Population	101 (as of 2011 census)
Ethnic groups	Quandamooka people

The South Stradbroke Island (Indigenous: Minjerribah^[1]), colloqually South Straddie,^[2] is an island that lies within Moreton Bay in the Australian state of Queensland, south of Brisbane and forms the northern end of Gold Coast. The 21 kilometres (13 mi) by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) sized island is the smaller one of the two Stradbroke Islands and lies very close to the mainland.^[3] The island has hundreds of wild wallabies that are usually human orientated. They are also well known for stealing bread from tents and cabins, and joining campers at their fires.

One of more than 360 islands within Moreton Bay, the southern end of South Stradbroke Island fronts the Broadwater, and the tip marks the Gold Coast Seaway, only a matter of metres from the mainland at Southport Spit. In the northeast is Tipplers Passage which separates the island from many smaller islands within the bay closer to the mainland. The east coast borders the Coral Sea.

South Stradbroke Island consists mainly of sand dunes, remnant livistona rainforest and melaleuca wetlands.^[4] The island also has unique flora and fauna. The golden wallaby is endemic to the island and the agile wallaby, once more common to the region, has now retreated to the island.^[5]

The population of the island at the 2011 census was 101,^[6] but the number of people on the island swells significantly during the holiday season.

History

In the north the island is separated by the Jumpinpin Channel from the larger North Stradbroke Island. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. In that year the island was separated by a storm from North Stradbroke Island. An earlier storm caused a passing vessel carrying rum to run ashore. The locals from Southport trudged across the sand dunes to collect the rum from the shipwreck. They used plows to lower the height of the dunes to near sea level so that collecting the rum was easier. The next storm caused the island to split into two. The new tidal channel caused large changes to the channels and islands within southern Moreton Bay. Coastal managers are concerned that eventually one day Jumpinpin may repair itself which may cause problems for tidal waterway management including fish stocks, dugong habitat, erosion and flooding.^[1]

Some land clearing for cattle grazing conducted in the early 20th century has occurred.^[7] During the 1950 to 1960s sand-mining was conducted at the northern ocean beach area but reserves were limited.^[3] From the 1870s onwards the island's inner shores were used as camp grounds for holders of oystering licences.^[3] A small township called Moondarewa with 156 surveyed lots, was established at the island's southern tip. By 1953 the island's natural movement north had washed away most of the settlement.^[3] Also once located at the southern end was a small area of vine scrub rainforest that attracted significant bird-life.^[1]

In 2009, some filming was done on the island for the 2011 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.^[8]

Heritage listings

South Stradbroke Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including Dux Hut.^[9]

Accommodation facilities

The island is a tourist destination. There are numerous campsites including an anchorage for the Southport Yacht Club and Dux Campsite, owned by The Southport School. Tipplers was purchased by the Gold Coast City Council in 2009. Due to ongoing encroachment of the sand dunes, the Council-run Bedrooms Campsite was closed in 2013. The Council has three alternate campgrounds: Tipplers that accommodates up to 100 tents with gas BBQs, a children's play area, and a kiosk that has basic camping supplies including ice and firewood;^[10] and North and South Currigee that together accommodates up to 80 tents with access to BBQs, a children's play area, and a mini kiosk for basic camping supplies.^[11]

Ramada Couran Cove Island Resort is located on the north side of South Stradbroke Island Resort; located approximately forty minutes from Surfers Paradise, the Couran Cove Island Resort provides a range of quality accommodation options, fine dining and the opportunity to see native Australian animals in the forest.^[12] The resort was established by Ron Clarke and originally opened in 1997 as an eco-tourist resort.^[13] While the resort is not marketed as such now it does incorporate a number of environmental design features and technologies.

Recreation

One of the much loved and fiercely challenged sporting battles on the island is the annual Currigee Cup, held each year on New Years Day, and has been running since 1965. The origin of the race was supposed to be a bet amongst local residents - Messers, Beckman and Knowlman, who decided to take their on-shore differences to sea, and have now created what is now one of the most unknown, yet most tightly challenged nautical battles in South-East Queensland. The committee for the cup now changes from year to year, composed of family members of the island.

Almost all the families staying on the southern part of the island take part in the races, of which there are many for each class of boat, including lasers, hobie cats and trailer-sailers. The course weaves its way through the Broadwater, part of Moreton Bay and finishes up in various parties along the island. A sandcastle competition is held in the afternoon. The main award is the prestigious Currigee Cup, awarded to the most gallant crew, not necessarily the fastest.

An 1,800-hectare (4,400-acre) conservation park provides access to native wildlife. The park is suitable for hiking, rock climbing and ocean fishing.^[14]

See also

• List of islands of Queensland

References

1. "South Stradbroke Island history". Gold Coast history and heritage. City of Gold Coast. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
2. "Visiting South Straddie". Gold Coast Tourist Parks. City of Gold Coast. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
3. Horton, Helen (1983). Islands of Moreton Bay. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. pp. 96—102. ISBN 0-908175-67-1.
4. "Guide to Stradbroke Island in Queensland". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Digital). 24 November 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
5. "Wallabies". Eco-Online. Queensland Museum. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "South Stradbroke Island (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
7. Hundloe, T. (2015). "The impacts on the Gold Coast's terristrial environments". In Hundloe, Tor; McDougall, Bridgette; Page, Craig. The Gold Coast Transformed: From Wilderness to Urban Ecosystem. Csiro Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 1486303307. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
8. Scott, Peter (6 November 2009). Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Transcript and streaming audio). Interview with Steve Austin. 612 ABC Brisbane, ABC Local Radio. Mornings with Steve Austin. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
9. "Dux Hut (entry 602012)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
10. "Camping: Tipplers". Gold Coast Tourist Parks. City of Gold Coast. 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
11. "Camping: North and South Currigee". Gold Coast Tourist Parks. City of Gold Coast. 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
12. "Homepage". Couran Cove Island Resort. Ramada Couran Cove. 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
13. Buckley, Ralf (2003). Case Studies in Ecotourism. CABI. p. 194. ISBN 0851997694. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
14. "South Stradbroke Island, Gold Coast". Gold Coast Tourism. 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

External links

Media related to South Stradbroke Island at Wikimedia Commons