European History of Queensland's Moreton Island
This Sand Island has a Unique Place in Brisbane, Australia’s History
Sep 26, 2009
Moreton Island was first seen by Europeans when Captain Cook sailed past in 1770 on his famous voyage of discovery.
The Naming of Moreton Island
Cook named the island “Morton” after Lord Morton, the Earl of Morton and President of the Royal Society that supported science and astronomy, a major component of Cook’s voyage.
When Cook returned to England, his journal (and those of his companion Banks and Solander) were edited into a publication. In this work the name of the island was changed, possibly misspelt, to Moreton.
European History of Moreton Island
In 1799, the English navigator Matthew Flinders came ashore on the southern end of Moreton Island, during his circumnavigation of Australia. A fight broke out between the local aborigines and Flinders’ men at this point, so he named the place Skirmish Point.
In the 1840s, a pilot station was established on Stradbroke Island. This was used as a base for the pilots guiding ships through the South Passage between Moreton and Stradbroke Islands. In 1847 the paddle-steamer Sovereign came to grief on the southern end of Moreton Island. The local Aborigine tribe living on the island, the Ngugi, helped rescue many of the survivors. These aborigines were described by early explorers as "the happiest, healthiest and most self-sufficient race on the face of the earth."
After the wreck of the Sovereign ships entered Moreton Bay by the safer northerly route past the tip of Moreton Island. This prompted the relocation of the pilot station to Cowan Cowan on Moreton Island.
A lighthouse was established around this time on Cape Moreton on the northern tip of Moreton Island to warn shipping of the hazardous shoals and reefs in the area.
During World War Two a jetty and naval station were constructed at Tangalooma, a point on the western side of the island. After the war the island reverted back to its peaceful state with the pilots and a few fishermen.
Whaling at Tangalooma on Moreton Island
In the 1950s, a whaling station was established at Tangalooma. In 1954 a Blue Whale was caught and this caused adverse media attention for the whaling company.
The Moreton Whaling station plundered the waters around Moreton Island of migrating humpback whales until the whales were so depleted the whaling station was forced to close in 1961.
Though the waters around Moreton Island were plundered for resources, the island was spared the excesses the European settlers ravaged on other islands. The tropical vegetation on nearby St Helena Island was removed during its time as a convict penal colony in the early 1800’s
Moreton Island Geography
Moreton Island is formed of sand that supports dense vegetation. On the eastern side wiry grasses and shrubs hold the sand in place from the wind and waves of the Pacific Ocean. Inland are valleys and towering sandhills covered in tall gums, Casuarina and other native plants.
The south-east of Moreton Island has the Tangalooma Desert, rolling waves of sand dunes devoid of vegetation.
Mt Tempest, the world's highest sand dune, is located on Moreton Island.
In the northern area of the island the huge freshwater lake, Blue Lagoon, is surrounded by pure white sand and dense vegetation. This lake’s crystal-clear water attracts tours from the Tangalooma Island Resort, on the western side of the island.
Whale watching tours and dolphin feeding are also available from the Tangalooma Island Resort.
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