Moreton island

Moreton Island is one of the largest sand islands in the world and forms much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay. Situated 40km's from Brisbane, the island is 38km long, and 9km across at its widest point and covers 185 sq. km.

Moreton Island is also part of the southern Queensland sand mass which includes the Cooloola coast, and islands of Fraser, Bribie and North Stradbroke.

The island consists entirely of sand apart from a small area of sandstone and rhyolite at Cape Moreton. Several different dune types, of differing ages are recognised by their form and soil development. Mt. Tempest is considered the highest coastal sand dune in the world at 285m.

One of the striking features of Moreton Island are the bare sand areas. The northern west coastline is dominated by a large sand-slip named "Yellow Patch" and the bare sand hills behind Tangalooma are a major tourist attraction.

Moreton Island supports a number of habitats - beach and dune communities, the rocky headland, lakes, streams, sedge and paperbark swamps, banksia heathlands, open woodlands, forests, mangroves and salt marshes.

The island is home to a variety of wildlife including birds such as the red-capped dotterell and thousands of waders which live along the beaches and in the wetlands and scrub.

Most of Moreton island has been declared a National Park to conserve and protect the natural areas, wildlife and historical sites and is also a recreation area managed for public use and enjoyment.

Island History

Moreton Island was a key centre during the early days of Brisbane’s penal settlement.

European settlement began in 1848 with a pilot station at Bulwer. Following several shipping disasters in the South Passage area, the northern channel became the main route to Brisbane.
Land sales started in 1863, and though a few cottages were built on the western side, most of the island was left to a few fisherman and oyster farmers. Goats and pigs were introduced in 1865 to provide food for shipwrecked sailors.

Cape Moreton lighthouse was the first lighthouse made from local sandstone and still operates today: By 1920, five more lighthouses were built, though only two now operate.

in 1890 a telegraph line was built down the island to link Bulwer with Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island.

Moreton Island was the centre for major coastal defence bases during World War I and II.
Remains of gun emplacements, fortifications and controlled mine facilities protecting Brisbane from sea attacks, can still be seen at Cowan Cowan and at Toompani Beach on the eastern side.

Between 1952 and 1962, Tangalooma operated a whaling station processing about 600 whales a year, mostly humpback. When the whaling station closed, the buildings were redeveloped into what now is Tangalooma Resort.

From 1947 to 1992 small areas of Moreton Island were mined but, mining operations ceased when leases were relinquished and the lands were added to the national park.