Northumberland Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters". Template:GeoGroupTemplate The Northumberland Islands are a scattered island chain off the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia.[1]

Geography and history

The Northumberland Islands are to the south-east of the city of Mackay roughly between the latitudes 21°S and 22°S. All islands are of the continental type. The island group was named by James Cook during his historic voyage along Australia's eastern seaboard in 1770, after the First Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy.[2] Both Cook and Matthew Flinders make note of the island group in their journals, Cook describing them as such:

Template:Quote

In 1855, a botany expedition led by naturalist Frederick Strange visited the islands on his ship Vision. Four of the expedition were killed by Aboriginal people at Middle Percy Island. Those killed were Frederick Strange and his assistant Richard Spinks, William Spurling (ship's mate) and Andrew Gittings (ship's cook and steward). Captain Chimmo of the Royal Navy vessel Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., sailed to the island and conducted an investigation. He decided to take ten of the islanders prisoner. These prisoners, including three women and three children, were sent to Sydney for trial. One child died in custody and the rest were eventually shipped back to Gladstone.[3][4]

The island group is remote, and apart from charter flights to Marble Island they are accessible only by private yacht.

The Northumberland Islands are further subdivided into smaller groups: the Bedwell Group, Beverley Group, Broad Sound Islands, Duke Islands, Flat Isles, Guardfish Cluster and Percy Isles (within the locality The Percy Group). The islands are listed below, with the geographical coordinates of the largest islands given. Only the major islands of each group are listed.

Bedwell Group

Name origin: Staff Commander E. P. Bedwell, surveyor [5]

  • Calliope Island
  • Connor Islet
  • Innes Island
  • George Island
  • Poynter Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Beverley Group

Name origin: Unknown [6]

  • Beverlac Island
  • Digby Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Double Island
  • Henderson Island
  • Hull Island
  • Keelan Island
  • Knight Island
  • Minster Island
  • Noel Island
  • Prudhoe Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Broad Sound Islands

Script error: No such module "labelled list hatnote". Name origin: Situated at the mouth of Broad Sound, a vast inlet named by Cook in 1770 [7]

  • Long Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Quail IslandScript error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Tern Island
  • Wild Duck Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Duke Islands

File:Hunter Island looking toward Tynemouth Island.jpg
Western side of Hunter Island looking toward Tynemouth Island (Duke Islands)

Name origin: Unknown [8]

  • Alnwick Island
  • Bamborough Island
  • Cheviot Island
  • Hexham Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • High Peak Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Hunter Island
  • Iron Islet Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Marble Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Otterbourne Island
  • Shields Island
  • Steep Island
  • Tweed Island
  • Tynemouth Island

Flat Isles

Name origin: Named by Flinders in 1802 due to their height [9] - Avoid Island is the highest at 33 metres above sea level

  • Aquila Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Avoid Island
  • Flock Pigeon Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Red Clay Island

Guardfish Cluster

Name origin: Unknown [10]

  • Bluff Island
  • Curlew Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Tinonee Peak Island

Percy Isles

File:A frame yacht club on Middle Percy Island, Australia.jpg
A-Frame yacht club on Middle Percy Island (Percy Isles)

Template:Also Name origin: Named by Flinders in 1802 after the Duke of Northumberland's family name [11]

  • Hotspur Island
  • Shrewsbury Rock
  • Middle Percy Island Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • North East Island
  • Pine Islet
  • Pine Peak Island
  • South Percy IslandScript error: No such module "Coordinates".
  • Sphinx Island
  • Walter Island

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Script error: No such module "Portal". Script error: No such module "Navbox".