Cape Moreton facts for kids
Cape Moreton is a rocky point of land. It is found at the very top of Moreton Island in South East Queensland, Australia. The land around it is part of the Moreton Island National Park. A coral reef called Flinders Reef is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) north-west of Cape Moreton.
This rocky area is mostly made of sandstone. It also has some other types of rock like conglomerate, siltstone, and shale. Moreton Island itself was formed because sand got trapped and built up behind these strong rocks over a very long time.
History of Cape Moreton
On May 17, 1770, Captain James Cook saw this point of land. He was the one who named it Cape Morton. Later, in 1959, a second settlement began at Cape Moreton. At one time, there was even a school operating there for 15 children.
A telegraph line used to reach Cape Moreton. It came from North Stradbroke Island through a place called Amity. This line was used until 1952, when it was no longer needed.
Cape Moreton has also seen some shipwrecks. On February 24, 1894, a ship called the Aarhus sank. It hit rocks about two nautical miles from the cape. In 1943, during World War II, a hospital ship named the Centaur was sunk near Cape Moreton. A Japanese submarine attacked the ship, and 268 people died. The wreck was found on December 20, 2009. It was in a deep underwater valley, more than 2,000 meters (6,700 feet) below the ocean surface.
In 2009, a ship called the MV Pacific Adventurer lost some of its containers. This happened during a strong storm caused by Cyclone Hamish. This event led to an oil spill in the area. After a 10-day search, the containers were found about 7 kilometers (4 miles) off the coast of Cape Moreton.
Cape Moreton Lighthouse
The Cape Moreton Light was the very first lighthouse built in Queensland. This lighthouse is 23 meters (75 feet) tall. It was built in 1857 using sandstone from the local area. About 35 prisoners, who had shown good behavior, helped build it.
Before the lighthouse, a special station for ship pilots was set up in 1848. This station was at Bulwer, on the northern part of the island. At one point, there were seven lighthouses working on Moreton Island!
The Cape Moreton Lighthouse Complex is a group of buildings. It includes the lighthouse, three homes for the lighthouse keepers, and other related structures. This important historical site was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1981.
